2019 NFL Draft: Early draft needs for the Baltimore Ravens
It’s never too early to look ahead to the NFL draft. While the 2019 NFL Draft isn’t deep, there’s plenty of players who can impact the Ravens from day one.
Just shy of a quarter through the 2018 NFL season and we can already begin highlighting positions the Baltimore Ravens need to address in the 2019 NFL Draft. 2019 will be one of the team’s most important drafts in franchise history, as Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta will be taking over full-time for Ozzie Newsome. The 2019 NFL Draft will be a statement of what’s to come.
So, with needs already becoming apparent this year, we’re going to do our best to look at the team and identify the biggest needs moving forward. Of course, adding youth at key positions like wide receiver and safety are musts, but there’s three positions in particular that need fixing as soon as possible…
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Interior Offensive Line:
It’s no secret the interior of the Baltimore Ravens offensive line isn’t exactly the team’s strength. Marshal Yanda may be a future Hall of Famer at offensive guard, but he’s another year older. Yanda will be 35-years old by the start of the 2019 season, and no one else on the current Ravens roster makes you confident in the future. Thankfully, the 2019 NFL Draft possesses great depth on the offensive line.
The offensive tackle class looks amazing, but we can’t overlook the talent the class has on the interior. The Ravens need to improve the entirety of their interior offensive line, to include both guards and center. Regardless of where the team ends up drafting come April, the team can find ample depth throughout the board.
When it comes to adding quality offensive linemen, a good start is to look at the University of Wisconsin. Both Michael Deiter and Beau Benzschawel are future NFL starters, with the former having experience all over the offensive line. Deiter could prove to be perhaps top 20 player in the upcoming draft, while Benzschawel is likely a day two player.
One other name to note is Alabama center Ross Pierschbacher. What kind of list would this be if we didn’t mention an Alabama player (don’t worry, there are still more to be named)? Pierschbacher has a chance to be the top center in this draft, and he will compete with Mississippi State’s Elgton Jenkins for that title.