Alabama WR Calvin Ridley would be the perfect pick for the Ravens at 16th overall. If he is selected before Ozzie and co. get the chance to take him, they should use the unusual depth of the 2018 receiver class to their advantage and trade back in the draft.
Calvin Ridley has been at the center of nearly all conversations involving the Ravens so far this offseason. In just about everything from mock drafts to just fans chatting about their offseason wish-lists. At this point, Ridley has all but actually been selected as the Ravens first-round draft choice… And for good reason.
Calvin Ridley is the most NFL-ready wide receiver in this year’s draft class. Ridley was productive in his time at Alabama, posting 224 receptions for 2,781 yards, and nineteen touchdowns over three seasons. He has experience running all the routes on the tree, and his quick feet allow him to separate from defenders when moving into his breaks. Most importantly, Ridley has a strong pair of hands. He has no trouble snatching the ball out of the air, and catching it away from his body. For a Ravens team full of wide outs that have seemingly ALL struggled to catch the football, it can’t be overstated how important it is to add a pair of sure hands to the roster.
Sometimes Life (and the draft) is Unfair:
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The only problem is, will Ridley make it to the 16th pick? Although the Ravens are one of the most obvious wide receiver-needy teams, they aren’t the only one. The Chicago Bears are another team that’s running low on offensive play-makers and are a threat to take Ridley with the #8 pick.
If the Ravens are as high on Ridley as everyone thinks they are, there’s a decent chance that they would have to trade up to get him. Since that’s not ever been the way Ozzie does things, it’s easy to imagine if Ridley is taken before the Ravens are on the clock, they may choose to trade back, and here’s why:
The 2018 draft class is completely loaded at the wide receiver position in the second and third-rounds. While Calvin Ridley is undoubtedly the most NFL ready in this draft class, there is a good chance he’s off the board before the Ravens can get him. If so, there isn’t another receiver of his caliber that would be worth using such a high draft pick on. So rather than reach for another receiver too early, the Ravens should trade back and acquire another pick or two.
The Buffalo Bills strike me as potential trade partners. With the 21st and 22nd overall picks, they may look to trade up in the draft and take a quarterback.
Plenty of Playmakers In The Draft:
Ryan Mink caught up with Ravens assistant GM Eric DeCosta at the 2018 Senior Bowl. This is what he had to say: “This year I think the strength of the draft at the wideout position is there might be eight or nine guys that you feel comfortable taking in the second and third rounds.”
Here are eight talented receivers that are projected to make up the second and third rounds:
Courtland Sutton 6’4” 218lbs (SMU)
Equanimeous St. Brown 6’5” 203lbs (Notre Dame)
Christian Kirk 5’11” 200lbs (Texas A&M)
Auden Tate 6’5” 225lbs (Florida State)
Anthony Miller 5’11” 190lbs (Memphis)
D.J. Moore 5’11” 215lbs (Maryland)
James Washington 6’0” 205lbs (Oklahoma State)
Simmie Cobbs Jr. 6’4” 220lbs (Indiana)
Next: Rating Ravens level of need at each position
While we all would love to see the Ravens take Ridley with the 16th overall pick, if he goes off the board early, it would appear that trading back would gift them with the opportunity to potentially draft multiple players out of this very talented and productive group, rather than just one if they decided to stay put at #16.