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Baltimore Ravens Round Table: Predicting The 16th Pick

By Chris Schisler

Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) in action during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Western Michigan Broncos wide receiver Corey Davis (84) in action during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2017 Cotton Bowl game at AT&T Stadium. The Badgers defeat the Broncos 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Ryker Fyfe (17) throws the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) defends during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2016; Nashville , TN, USA; Nebraska Cornhuskers quarterback Ryker Fyfe (17) throws the ball as Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) defends during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

Isaias Fernandez Makes His Pick:

With the departure of Elvis Dumervil and an aging Terrell Suggs, the Baltimore Ravens certainly need help in the pass rushing department. The Ravens finished with 33 sacks last year which put them 19th in the NFL in that category. I’m certain that the Ravens would be ecstatic to get back to sacking opposing quarterbacks 48 times like they did back in 2013. Baltimore would love to bolster their already impressive defense with a powerful, young pass rusher.

When analyzed on film , the 6’3″ 265 pound edge rusher uses his quickness and agility in order to get around opposing tackles and reach the quarterback. He usually moves to the outside of the offensive linemen and this allows him to contain certain plays in the run game as well. Barnett finished with 13 sacks his Junior year at Tennessee which was number one in the SEC and finished his college career with 32 sacks in total.

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The Ravens could ultimately go in many different directions with the 16th overall pick. And although there is a lot of depth at pass rusher this year, I believe that Barnett is a top 10 talent that the Ravens should not pass up on. There will still be plenty of options at receiver in the second round of this years draft including JuJu Smith-Schuster out of the University of Southern California which is a possession receiver that the Ravens would love.

The mindset for Ozzie Newsome during the 2017 NFL Draft should be simple: Re-establish the Ravens defensive culture. With some extra help in the pass rush, the Ravens defense could be elevated to new heights in 2017 and return to playing January football in early 2018.

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