Ravens Draft: 3 reasons Derrius Guice makes sense at 16
The Baltimore Ravens need to do great things in the 2018 NFL Draft. Derrius Guice would be a good place to start:
The Baltimore Ravens are heading towards a vitally important NFL Draft. Running back may not be a desperate need, but the Ravens can’t say no to play-makers in any form. In that spirit, we take a look at Derrius Guice. Poaching talent from LSU is never a bad idea. Guice looks like he could be a north and south runner who can slash through any defense. Ravens fans have been saying one word on repeat for awhile now; that word is play-maker. Guice would come in and make a difference.
The Ravens running back position isn’t exactly a empty space on the roster. Alex Collins rushed for 973 yards in 2017. Buck Allen is a decent player and Kenneth Dixon returns to the action. I’m not trying to talk down drafting Guice though; he merits the 16th pick in the draft.
If Calvin Ridley is off the board (which he likely will be) Guice would probably be the best player available. It would just happen to be a best player available who scored 32 touchdowns from scrimmage during three years in the SEC.
Reason 1: WR Heavy Draft:
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The first reason to draft a running back is the availability of wide receivers. One thing about good work in the NFL Draft is that if you’re smart, you draft what you can’t get later. There are a lot less ball carriers like Guice than there are wide receivers who can come in and play right away. If the Ravens want a star running back, which isn’t a crazy thing to want, they may have to take him in the first round. I think there are two special wide-outs in this draft: Ridley and Courtland Sutton. Sutton would be worth a first round pick but that’s an argument I have already made.
After these two stars there is plenty of talent to choose from. James Washington is a deep threat that can also make plays in a crowd. Washington is a second round pick. You can get his OK State teammate, Marcell Atemen in the third round. D.J. Moore is another Maryland Terrapin wide receiver who could be special. Moore is a do it all kind of receiver who was productive despite poor quarterback play.
You know who is fun to watch? I really like Anthony Miller from Memphis. I wouldn’t be surprised if the undersized and overly talented receiver makes someone gaga enough to take him in the first round. Michael Gallup can catch anything thrown in his zip code, so that could make up for Flacco’s inaccuracy if he gets picked by the Ravens. Overall this receiver class is exciting. The Ravens shouldn’t wait too long to get drafting a wide receiver, but it doesn’t have to be at 16. They can still end up with a good one.