The Argument for helping the offensive line in round 1:
More from Ebony Bird
- Will Baltimore Ravens be rewarded for risky Lamar Jackson decision?
- The Baltimore Ravens Big Gamble
- Ravens Super Bowl odds present fascinating insight on Lamar Jackson’s future
- Should Baltimore Ravens be interested in this recently released WR
- Do the Baltimore Ravens have serious interest in this free agent wide out?
At the wide receiver position the Ravens could have a ton of options, which means more than a handful of those possible picks are there a little later. The offensive line is a big need for the Ravens who want to be the best running team in football (They actually have to be the best running team in the game). With the offensive line the options are really strong in the first round and they drop off more substantially. While you may be able to get Erik McCoy in the second round, Garrett Bradbury is a player that might not even last to the 22nd pick. If Bradbury is there at 22, the value would be spot on.
Cody Ford is another player that could help the offensive line. Ford is a right tackle that can play guard and can actually have a better career at guard. In other words, he is a James Hurst who will actually be good. Ford may be the best run blocker in the draft class. McCoy could sneak up into the round one conversation, but the best chance to instantly improve the offensive line is with Bradbury or Ford. The first round could be where the Ravens offensive line becomes truly viable for Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram and company.
The best argument for the offensive line in round one is how the Ravens got dismantled by the Los Angeles Chargers this past January. It’s easy to put the blame on Jackson, because he had a bad day and he didn’t look ready for playoff football. That said, the offensive line was the gasoline on that fire. The offensive line got hammered and the game got out of hand. The Ravens have a chance to make sure dismantling the Ravens isn’t that easy, even on Jackson’s worst day.