2019 NFL Draft: A healthy Terrell Lewis should entice Ravens

Alabama’s edge rusher Terrell Lewis is recovering from a torn ACL faster than humanly possible, and this should entice the Baltimore Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens are currently sitting at 9th in the league for sacks at 35, despite lacking an elite edge rusher or game changing defensive lineman. Edge rushers Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith are tied for first on the team with 6.5 sacks, but Matt Judon isn’t too far behind with 6.0 of his own. After them, it’s been a decent showing from the rest of the squad.

This is fine and dandy and all, but Suggs is 36-years old, and Smith and Judon are unrestricted free agents following 2018 and 2019 respectively. The need for a new premier edge rusher is more pressing than ever for Baltimore. While the 2019 NFL Draft has tons of edge rushing prospects worthy of a first round pick, the majority of guys who’d be considered “bookend” pieces will go within the first 20-picks.

Guys like Kentucky’s Josh Allen, Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell, as well as a few others will likely be off the board by the time Baltimore picks (as of now). With slim-pickings headed into the mid-20s (where Baltimore would currently be drafting thanks to their playoff push), the team could be left on the outside looking in. Luckily for the Ravens, the University of Alabama has yet another elite defensive prospect for them to inquire about, this time in edge rusher Terrell Lewis.

Lewis, a junior for the Crimson Tide, was widely considered a round one talent headed into the 2018 season. This was until Lewis unfortunately tore his ACL in July and it was thought it would end his entire 2018 season. While it still very well could, Terrell Lewis has already done something unthinkable: Lewis back on the practice field.

We’ve seen some pretty crazy recovery times from ACL injuries (a la Adrian Peterson or Von Miller), but this seems inhuman.  Less than six-months after such a devastating injury and he’s already working out? And while he isn’t medically cleared for practice with the team, it’s still remarkable to say the least.

But the talent level that Terrell Lewis possesses should get a lot of teams excited for his potential, especially the Baltimore Ravens. Addressing the elephant in the room, Lewis is (obviously) an Alabama alumni, which makes him an easy link to Baltimore thanks Ozzie Newsome remaining in the front office. It goes further than that, however.

As previously mentioned, the Ravens are starving for a premier edge rusher for the future and could be losing two studs before 2020. Terrell Lewis has the skill-set to be that kind of player for the defense. The fact that he’s coming off such a major injury could push him late into the draft, but if he passes medicals at the combine (if he decides to declare), a team like the Ravens could snatch him up in late round one.

Terrell Lewis is a ridiculous talent that should have the entire NFL’s attention once he’s healthy. Coming off an ACL tear, Lewis may opt to return to Alabama for his senior season, and no one would blame him. However, should he declare and should the Ravens keep up their winning ways, Terrell Lewis could be the perfect pick in the middle-to-end of the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.