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NFL Draft: Tight end is the Ravens’ biggest area of need

By Chris Schisler

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 27: Commissioner of the National Football League Roger Goodell speaks during the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on April 27, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens fans may want to keep an eye on Dallas Goedert, Hayden Hurst and Mike Gesecki heading into the NFL Draft. Tight end is the Ravens biggest need:

The NFL Draft is a perfect opportunity for the Baltimore Ravens to fix their needs at tight end. Wide receiver isn’t the Ravens biggest need. Michael Crabtree can have a big year for the purple and black. While the rest of the receiving corps isn’t exactly star studded, the tight end position is a big old nothing burger in Baltimore. If you’re not ready to call Maxx Williams a bust, I certainly am. Nick Boyle is a decent blocker but has shown limited play-making ability. Ben Watson is back with the New Orleans Saints.

If there is any position the Ravens have to set the reset button on it’s tight end. Boyle had only 28 receptions and 203 yards last season. Darren Waller got a year away from football due to a suspension; betting on him doesn’t sound like a full proofed plan. The Ravens need a tight end and they need it desperately.

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Joe Flacco loves throwing the football to a tight end so much that Dennis Pitta had over 80 receptions in the 2016 season after two hip injuries. Flacco has always been geared towards the tight end. His first touchdown pass was to Daniel Wilcox. He leaned heavily on Todd Heap, Owen Daniels and Pitta. If you want to get rid of the constant check down passing from Flacco, giving him a tight end in the middle of the field is a good way to go. Instead of a hopeless dump pass to the running back out of the flat, the tight end can get at least five yards.

Attacking the Need:

The Ravens have had a pre-draft visit with Hayden Hurst. If he is the apple of the Ravens’ eye, trading back makes a lot of sense. Hurst probably will be selected before the Ravens draft in the second round, however 16 is way too rich for him. If the Ravens drafted him in the back end of the first round it would make sense. In the middle of the first round, it is a reach.

The best tight end in this draft is Dallas Goedert. Goedert is a huge 6’5″ target from the small seen of South Dakota State. Goedert would be worth the 16th pick. Many analysts would call it a reach however, Goedert would be a perfect pick for the Ravens. He would be an instant play-maker at the Ravens biggest needs. If the Ravens think he can become the best tight end in football, they have to get him wearing purple and black.

The Bottom Line:

The Ravens shouldn’t be afraid to double down at the tight end position. The Ravens have drafted multiple tight ends in past drafts. First they followed their pick of Ed Dickson with Dennis Pitta. When Maxx Williams was picked up in the second round, Baltimore also got Nick Boyle in the 5th round. If the Ravens could find two tight ends that could be play-makers, it would make their two weakest position groups stronger. The Ravens would have two tight ends that would take pressure off of their receivers.

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When the Ravens get to the moment of truth, don’t be surprised if they take a tight end. While they may be tentative on wide receivers, Newsome isn’t afraid to take a shot on a tight end. The Ravens haven’t drafted a tight end in the first round since Todd Heap in 2001. That worked out pretty well.

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