Well it is officially the season of mock drafts; ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. picked Ronnie Stanley for the Ravens in his first mock draft of the year. You have to subscribe to be an ESPN insider if you want to see the whole mock draft but thankfully ESPN’s Jamison Hensely told everyone who the Ravens were picking in Kiper’s mock draft. Is Kiper Jr.’s pick for the Ravens a good one?
Related: NFL Draft Profile: Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame
It is hard to argue with it making sense. The Ravens don’t know what their offensive line will look like until they know if Kelechi Osemele is coming back to Baltimore. Even with Osemele, Eugene Monroe doesn’t seem to be the answer at left tackle. Monroe has had on and off injuries and hasn’t played up to expectation when he has been on the field. If the Ravens think Stanley is the left tackle of the future it is hard to knock them for the pick.
Even with the logic behind Stanley to the Ravens holding up, the Ravens have greater need at the receiver and defensive back positions. If the Ravens took Stanley over a player like Laquon Treadwell, it would be hard to swallow. Treadwell could be the Ravens first elite wide receiver and he would change the whole outlook on offense. If the Ravens drafted Stanley instead of Jalen Ramsey it would be equally frustrating. Ramsey is a great looking cornerback prospect who could help repair a broken secondary.
Stanley is my favorite offensive tackle prospect though. He is an overly athletic 6’5″ 315 pound tackle who has all the physical tools to be successful. The sixth overall pick is an appropriate time for Stanley to come off the board. What I really like about Stanley is his ability to get into the second level of a defense in the running game. This talent could bring back the big running plays that the Ravens missed so dearly in 2015.
The Ravens have a rare chance here. It isn’t often that the team picks this high in the NFL Draft. The Ravens have been to the playoffs six times in the last eight seasons. Whoever they take with the sixth overall pick has to help them get back to being Super Bowl contenders.
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It is like a multiple choice question test. There are three options. One answer is the most correct, while the other options are partially correct. You have to pick the most correct answer. To me the Ravens should focus on getting a star receiver or a star cornerback. That of course is assuming they can find a way to lock down Osemele to a long-term contract.