Ravens Draft: Weak OT Class
Ravens Must Not Take OT with 6th Pick
Every year offensive lineman, specifically left tackles, are taken in the top-10 picks in the NFL Draft. It’s almost something that the league does blindly. The 2016 draft will prove this statement to be true. The offensive tackle crop in this draft is rather weak.
More from Ebony Bird
- Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
- The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
- Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
- Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
- Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?
Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley have been projected as top-10 picks. In fact odds are that Tunsil is the number one pick overall. Stanley has been projected as a possible pick for the Baltimore Ravens. While both of these players look the part, there are some things that teams should be concerned about.
Let’s start with Mr. Tunsil. He is the perfect example of a prospect that looks the part, so decision makers ignore everything else. Tunsil is a thick and strong 6’5″ 310 pounds. The problem is he does not move his feet. Tunsil relies too heavily on the fact that he is bigger and badder than his opponents. In the NFL everyone is big and strong.
Technique is more important than just having the ideal size. How many 6’5″ wide receivers have failed to meet expectations of their elite frames? The same thinking must apply to the offensive tackle position.
When watching Tunsil, it is clear that sometimes there is a disconnect with his upper body and his lower body. He stops his feet and leans into the block. How is this not a red flag?
Ronnie Stanley looks the part too. Stanley is 6’6″ and 312 pounds. Yes he’s big, but he’s not built the way a top-tier tackle should be. He has a lean upper body. He does not have the prerequisite power. With Stanley the big draw is that he’s so quick and athletic. That quickness can’t come at the expense of power. No team can justify taking a player this high, who has such a concerning flaw, in his game.
Tunsil and Stanley have the opposite problem. Tunsil is a brute force that lacks polish. Stanley is a quick footed tackle who lacks elite power. Neither tackle merits a top-10 selection. Yet it is clear that both of them will be picked that high.
Next: Could Myles Jack Be Next Ray Lewis
The Ravens must be cognizant of these prospect’s flaws. They have something they have not had in such a long time, an early draft choice. They cannot waste the pick on an offensive tackle that will never be the star they are looking for.