Deforest Buckner Could Shine With The Ravens
One of the players that has been speculated to be a Baltimore Ravens draft target is DeForest Buckner. Buckner is the explosive defensive end from Oregon. He is the seventh ranked player on the Ebony Bird Big Board. If the Ravens draft Buckner with the sixth overall pick, it will be because they covet him as the best player available.
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While the Ravens could certainly make use of an overly athletic 3-4 defensive end, it isn’t what they need most. Buckner could be a dominant player in the NFL, so the potential pick still makes sense. The Ravens defensive line would be more athletic than any 3-4 defense in the NFL. Timmy Jernigan on one side, Brandon Williams on the nose, and Buckner on the other side… that almost isn’t fair.
Buckner is an explosive athlete who fires off the snap of the football. He has a long body that aides him in the trenches. We’re talking about a 6’7″ 291 pound defensive lineman who can run a 5.05 second 40 yard dash, and can do a broad jump of 116 inches. Those NFL Combine numbers prove one thing, this is a special type of athlete.
Buckner flashed so much talent with the Oregon Ducks. He had 10.5 sacks last season, and he totaled 18 sacks in his four seasons of College Football. Buckner racked up 232 total tackles with 36 of them behind the line of scrimmage. That is great production from a defensive lineman prospect. It cannot be ignored.
The Ravens may have other needs, but let’s not ignore that this is the type of player the Ravens typically draft. He is a freak athlete, with a rare skillset. He will help stuff running plays and get after quarterbacks. I have a hard time imagining that this is a tough sell to Ozzie Newsome and company, when you look at their draft history.
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Buckner is a very intriguing prospect. He may not fill the Ravens biggest needs, but he would make the team better. Buckner may be too appealing to ignore with the sixth overall pick.