NFL Draft: Ravens Can’t Pass Up On Reuben Foster
By Tyler Beard
The Baltimore Ravens Can’t Pass Up On Reuben Foster
The Ravens came into the offseason with glaring holes on defense and found veterans to patch them up. Tony Jefferson and Brandon Carr were brought in to help fix up the secondary, while Ladarius Webb was brought back for depth.
There’s still a few needs left though, as the Ravens may turn to young pass rushers to replace Elvis Dumervil. The other position that hasn’t been addressed is Zach Orr’s replacement at inside linebacker.
Orr’s forced retirement put some more stress on the front office this offseason and there wasn’t any attractive options on the market. Patrick Onwuasor and Kamalei Correa are in-house options to start in training camp, unless the Ravens make the move to draft yet another Alabama product.
Countering Opinion: 3 Draft Alternatives To Reuben Foster
This Tide Player Can Make Things Roll:
Reuben Foster’s aggressive playing style made him the top inside linebacker in the draft, but off-the-field issues dropped his stock. Immaturity issues followed Foster throughout college and it showed when he was asked to leave the NFL Combine for arguing with the medical staff.
Things got worse for Foster after he reportedly failed a drug test, which has raised more red flags for the Alabama star. Once see as sure top 10 pick Foster looks to have fallen down the board and the Ravens could have the chance to select him.
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?
This would be a dream-scenario for the team, as Ozzie Newsome could bring in another Alabama player to come play on a defense that needs a physical, inside presence next to C.J. Mosley.
Foster proved to be one of the most dominant players in college football last season, as he finished with 115 tackles and five sacks. He was a consistent highlight-reel, including a big hit on LSU’s Leonard Fournette.
One of the most impressive things on Foster’s tape is his ability to find the football and his tackling ability. There are some shades of Ray Lewis in his play.
Foster’s red flags are concerning, but one would hope Eric Weddle and C.J. Mosley could help keep him in check. You’d also like to think that he would want to shed the immaturity issues and prove his value on the field.
The Bottom Line:
The talent is certainly there and the Mosley/Foster duo could do wonders for the Ravens’ defense.
The front office will have a tough time with their pick if Foster is still on the board, as the team needs help at defensive end, wide receiver and offensive tackle. However, the Ravens always take the best player available and its hard to imagine anyone available at pick No. 16 ranked higher than Foster.
Next: Ravens Draft: Plans A-C For The First Round
We’ll find out just how much of a landslide Foster takes on Thursday and you can expect him to put on a Baltimore hat if he falls just far enough.