Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens: 5 dark horse candidates for the 16th pick

By Chris Schisler

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 25: Da'Ron Payne #94 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after recovering a fumble during the first quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 16: Running back Tony Brooks-James #20 of the Oregon Ducks fumbles the ball as he is hit by linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #38 of the Boise State Broncos in the first half of the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 16: Running back Tony Brooks-James #20 of the Oregon Ducks fumbles the ball as he is hit by linebacker Leighton Vander Esch #38 of the Boise State Broncos in the first half of the Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 16, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Boise State won 38-28. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

5. Leighton Vander Esch

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The Baltimore Ravens need a linebacker to plug next to C.J. Mosley so the Ravens would be addressing an actual need with Leighton Vander Esch. Vander Esch is my second best linebacker in this draft but he might be the best overall athlete at the position. Vander Esch is a fast linebacker that plays with aggressiveness.

The thing that is intriguing about this potential pick is pairing him with Mosley. The Ravens would have the most athletic inside linebacker combination of any 3-4 team. Both players would be very good against the pass and solid against the run. This would make the Ravens front seven complete and it would probably make coach Martindale overjoyed. This may be a bit of a reach, but I think it is a reasonable one. He is a good player who would be the last piece to the defensive puzzle.

The Ravens have gone with defensive players in almost every first round in recent memory. This is a draft that is loaded with defensive talent. Drafting an inside linebacker is far from unthinkable. The Ravens may want to avoid Boise State linebackers since Kamalei Correa didn’t work out, however Vander Esch is a much better looking prospect.

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