The NFL Draft is on Thursday night. Cornerback is still in play for the Baltimore Ravens:
The NFL Draft is approaching quickly and soon speculation and educated guessing will turn into reaction and analysis. The Ravens certainly dulled the need for help in the secondary in free agency. Tony Jefferson pairs perfectly with Eric Weddle. Brandon Carr makes the cornerback position a lot stronger. However the Ravens can still justify adding to the secondary on Thursday night.
The Ravens are heavily invested at the safety positions. In back to back offseasons they have signed Weddle and Jefferson. Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker are therefore off the table for the Ravens. The cornerback position is a different story though.
Brandon Carr is 30 and Jimmy Smith has an on and off again relationship with a full slate of health. Carr has been a dependable player, in fact he’s never missed a start. That being said, he’s just a Band-Aid at the position and we all know it. The Ravens need a long-term answer at the cornerback position.
Mock Draft: FanSided Mock Draft: Ravens Select Marlon Humphrey
4 Possible Options:
I have five cornerbacks ranked in the top 32 on the Ebony Bird Big Board. Marshon Lattimore should be long gone by the time the Ravens pick. The prospects that could be there include the following:
- Marlon Humphrey (Alabama): A physical cornerback with all the physical tools. He had 81 total tackles five interceptions and three forced fumbles in two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
- Quincy Wilson (Florida): Wilson has great cover skills and ideal size. He had three interceptions in the 2016 season.
- Gareon Conley (Ohio State): Conley is a great athlete. He needs some work on technique but he is going to be good
- Tre’Davious White (LSU) White is fast and feisty. He picked off six interceptions at LSU in the past four seasons.
The Ravens play Ben Roethlisberger twice per season. They also have to stop Aaron Rodgers, Derek Carr and Matthew Stafford this season. The Ravens need all they can get.
Next: 3 Draft Alternatives To Reuben Foster
The Bottom Line:
Cornerback is a position that the Ravens could choose to upgrade on Thursday. If the Ravens don’t see Corey Davis or Mike Williams fall to them they can’t force it at wide receiver. Ozzie Newsome may feel most comfortable with the corners on the board, and if so, that’s where they’ll go. If the Ravens get a Marlon Humphrey or a Quincy Wilson, it would be awfully hard to complain about it.