2017 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens Best Case Scenario
1st Round #16 Overall WR Corey Davis Western Michigan
Mike Williams leads the pack of receivers in this class, but there is no way he falls down the board to #16. Last year, I wrote a lengthy article on why the Baltimore Ravens should draft Ezekiel Elliott just the Cowboys to snag him at #3. Corey Davis from Western Michigan stays on the board long enough for the Ravens to snag him.
Breshard Perriman and Mike Wallace offer big play, speedster style, but with the retirement of Steve Smith, Baltimore lacks a possession receiver. Davis’ size and route running ability make him an interesting prospect. A highly productive receiver, he caught 331 balls over his four-year career including 52 touchdown receptions.
Besides Williams, no other receiver in this class compares to Davis. John Ross will come off the board early because of his record setting speed, but his size and durability are a huge question mark. Davis offers a large body to throw to with little injury baggage.
With that said, an ankle injury forced him to miss the combine and the Western Michigan pro-day. He played mostly against weak MAC competition, so his numbers were inflated by his sheer dominance over the competition. However, against Wisconsin this year, he still got six ball for 73 yards and a touchdown.
With Smith retired, Joe Flacco needs another reliable target to make chain moving plays. Perriman and Wallace can take the top off a defense, but their games aren’t suited to that style of play. Adding Davis with TE Dennis Pitta, Flacco would have two options who can separate in short yardage situations.