Mel Kiper Mock Draft 3.0: Baltimore Ravens Grab a Talented Cornerback

Feb 23, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Marcus Peters runs with the ball after catching a pass in a workout drill during the 2015 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

After straying a bit from conventional thought and selecting a tight end/wide receiver in his first mock and another tight end in his second mock, the Mel Kiper mock draft 3.0 has the Baltimore Ravens making a more realistic choice – a cornerback. Kiper is joining his fellow ESPN draft mate Todd McShay in pegging Marcus Peters as the 26th pick in the 2015 draft.

Kiper’s reasoning for mating Peters with the Ravens is quite simple, and it meshes with Ozzie Newsome’s desire to build depth on the roster.

"This is a spot where the Ravens can either look to help their own passing game by adding a wide receiver, or look to stop the opposition’s by hitting a big need at cornerback. Last year, injuries played a big role in Baltimore’s pass defense essentially falling apart, a reminder that depth at cornerback is crucial. I’ve noted before Peters has some question marks — he was dismissed from the team at Washington this past season — but if it’s purely a question of talent, he’s a potential steal at this point in the first round. He has loads of natural ability, with playmaker instincts to go with very good ball skills."

As I noted before, I love the idea of the Ravens selecting Peters in the first round. He is a top ten, maybe even top five talent at a huge position of need for the team. If the Ravens brain trust feels like Peters has put his prior transgressions behind him, he would be a steal at the end of the first round. We haven’t heard any news, good or bad, that came out of Peter’s meetings from the combine. Which may or may not be a bad thing.

What we do know is that Peters’ combine performance was rather underwhelming. I for one think that the public often puts too much stock in these kinds of things, however. Sure, sometimes a dominant physical performance helps uncover a draft diamond in the rough. But freakish stats and numbers don’t always translate to productive NFL careers.

If the Ravens feel comfortable that Marcus Peters has put the past behind him and he is available at number 26, the pick is pretty obvious. The Ravens had no qualms selecting Jimmy Smith in a very similar scenario, and that has worked out pretty well so far. Peters, like Smith, possesses all the qualities of a top flight cornerback.

It’s not often that I agree with Mel Kiper, admittedly. But I also give credit where credit is due, and this time I think that he and McShay are making the right choice. Obviously we don’t have a clue what Ozzie and company are thinking, or what will happen once the clock starts ticking next month. But if the Ravens do indeed select Marcus Peters in the first round, I can honestly say I’ll be very happy.

Next: Marcus Peters' scouting report: what makes him special?

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