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2019 NFL Draft: Top targets Baltimore Ravens should look at

By Richard Bradshaw

TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Wide receiver N'Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils walks on the field during the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 08: Wide receiver N'Keal Harry #1 of the Arizona State Sun Devils walks on the field during the college football game against the Michigan State Spartans at Sun Devil Stadium on September 8, 2018 in Tempe, Arizona. The Sun Devils defeated the Spartans 16-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Quinnen Williams #92 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a second half sack while playing the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA – NOVEMBER 03: Quinnen Williams #92 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates a second half sack while playing the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Defensive line:

Yes, I am aware that the Baltimore Ravens possess a big, powerful defensive line that is great at eating gaps and stuffing the run. That’s great and all, but how many sacks does this unit get for the team? Of the team’s 28 sacks, the defensive line has contributed three to the cause. For a defense that wants to claim it’s elite and the best-of-the-best, that number is unacceptable. But if there’s anything the 2019 NFL Draft can provide a plethora of talent for, it’s the defensive line.

Everyone knows who Ed Oliver is, and unfortunately even if the Ravens lost the remainder of their games they’d still likely be out of range for his talents. But this 2019 NFL Draft class has more defensive linemen prospects than they know what to do with them. The conversation with top defensive linemen starts with Alabama’s Quinnen Williams. Williams is on fire as of late for the Crimson Tide and has some thinking he’s not only the best Alabama defensive linemen, but the best in the class. That’s right, some will argue for Williams over Oliver.

But to the former of those points, Alabama also possesses another rock-solid defensive line prospect in Raekwon Davis. Davis came into the 2018 season with top-10 status and will leave Alabama with top-15 status at worst. For Williams to be haled as better than Davis is simply speaking to how talented Williams is. Nonetheless, Davis is a freak in his own right.

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When talking about the draft’s top defensive linemen, Michigan’s Rashan Gary always gets lost in the conversation. Gary has been “unproductive” in his time with the Wolverines on the stat sheet, but he shows up on film every week. Gary is a true 3-Tech rusher who would fit perfectly with Baltimore’s defense. He’s so athletic and talented, that he could even stand-up and be an edge rusher for certain packages despite his 6’5″ 283-lbs. build. Somehow, someway, Gary is one of the 2019 NFL Draft’s best kept secrets.

Finally, Boston College’s  Zach Allen is the kind of player the Ravens somehow snag in the third round and turn into a 16-game starter. Allen has first round talent and gets no respect for his play. It’s pretty hard to be a defensive lineman and get 100 tackles in a single-season, but Allen accomplished this in 2017. Allen would be an underrated addition to Baltimore’s defensive line.

One last name to point out is Mississippi State’s Jeffrey Simmons. Simmons could be the best defensive tackle in this draft class, but a video from his recruiting days of him violently assaulting a woman will have him off some team’s draft boards. Considering the Ravens history with Ray Rice, Simmons might be off their board entirely.

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