Ravens draft: Is pass rusher the right choice at pick 16?

Wide receiver might be on everyone’s mind as the Ravens greatest need, but drafting a pass rusher should also be at the top of the list.

The Ravens needs are greater than any of us are willing to admit. This team is through-and-through an 8-8 to 9-7 squad. Upgrades are needed across the board, as is a youth movement.

Yes, wide receiver remains the team’s top need, but this class has some decent depth compared to top-end talent. I want Calvin Ridley to be a Raven just as bad as the next fan, but going a different direction in round one makes more sense than you’d think. After all, Baltimore natives know that D.J. Moore would be more than ideal in round two. Other names to keep in mind are Courtland Sutton, Christian Kirk, and James Washington.

Related Story: Ozzie Newsome has kept his offseason promise

Meanwhile, the depth at pass rusher is not nearly as deep. In fact, compared to wide receiver, the edge rushing class is very top-heavy. After guys like Bradley Chubb and Harold Landry, it dips down to projects like Marcus Davenport and Arden Key. After that? It’s a pretty steep drop-off.

Short of trading up into the top ten (at a minimum), the Ravens are out completely on Chubb. But, guys like Landry, Davenport, and Key are all realistic possibilities at 16. So, where does that leave us?

It just makes sense:

Put your torches and pitchforks away for a second and hear me out.

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?

Terrell Suggs isn’t getting any younger, and while Mat Judon has shown flashes, he’s definitely not the heir apparent to Suggs. Tyus Bowser seems like a better fit at strong-side middle linebacker than he is on the edge. Tim Williams, while full of potential, is a one-trick pony who didn’t show much his rookie season. Za’Darius Smith is a free agent following 2018 and he hasn’t shown anything worth noting since his rookie season.

The above names I mentioned, being Landry, Davenport, and Key, all possess the ability to be premier pass rushers at the next level. My favoirte of the bunch, Harold Landry, particularly stands out as the best in the group.

Landry is built for the 3-4 scheme the Ravens run at 6’3″ 250-lbs. and was ultra productive at Boston College when he was at full health. A nagging ankle injury slowed Landry down in 2017, but he led the nation in sacks with 16.5 in 2016. He also tallied on 22.0 TFLs. Landry has a knack for disrupting the back-field.

Arden Key was one of my favorite players going into 2017 and, when he’s healthy and committed, is a nightmare off the edge. Marcus Davenport is a big-time project, but he could easily be the best pass rusher from this draft class if he reaches his ceiling.

Bottom line:

Trust me, I want a wide receiver in the first two rounds, but that doesn’t mean that player needs to be taken at 16. Trading down is always an option and could be very ideal for Baltimore, should the receiver they like not be available. But, why base your draft around getting a receiver in round one?

If a pass rusher is available, you take him. Pass rusher simply has more positional value than wide receiver. You can never have enough of them.

When all is said and done, the Ravens have never won games because of their wide receivers; they’ve won games because of their defense. Beefing up a solid pass rush will help to take Baltimore’s defense to an elite level of play. That’s the formula for a Super Bowl winning team.

Next: Ravens pick RB: Ebony Bird experts Mock Draft round 1

If the Ravens are committed to winning now while also preparing for the future, a pass rusher is the right pick at 16. Grabbing Harold Landry and D.J. Moore sounds way better than Calvin Ridley and Josh Sweat. Don’t go reaching for an edge rusher, grab a top-end guy and get a solid receiver in round two.