Round 4: Ross Pierschbacher (C, Alabama)
The start of the Baltimore Ravens moves to fix the interior of their offensive line begins with another former offensive linemen from the University of Alabama. Last season, it was Bradley Bozeman. In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Ravens draft his 2018 replacement, Ross Pierschbacher.
Pierschbacher (try saying that three-times fast) could be argued as the draft’s top center prospect. On the other side of the spectrum, Pierschbacher can also be assessed as another topped-out, mediocre Alabama offensive linemen. Whatever your stance is, you have to admire that Pierschbacher was remarkable for the Crimson Tide in 2018.
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It was Pierschbacher who captained Alabama’s incredible offensive line in 2018, which saw the team dominate in the run-game and become more explosive than ever before through the air. Pierschbacher has awesome football intelligence, and appears to be NFL ready at center. While Bozeman was at Alabama, Pierschbacher was starting at offensive guard for the team, so the Ravens could be equally attracted to Pierschbacher’s versatility.
With Baltimore’s commitment to the run-game thanks to Lamar Jackson and company, it becomes imperative that the interior of the offensive line becomes one of the team’s biggest strengths. Pierschbacher not only upgrades his spot on the offensive line, but he will make everyone else around him better, too.
The interior of the offensive line in 2018 was one of the team’s ultimate undoings. Entering the 2019 NFL Draft, the Ravens must prioritize improving that spot. The 2019 NFL Draft isn’t top heavy with these players specifically, so finding guys like Ross Pierschbacher in round four is a huge deal. If they can land him anywhere in the draft, Baltimore could walk away with its new starting center.