How does the 2019 NFL Draft need to take shape for the Ravens to walk away with a top of the class wide receiver prospect?
The Baltimore Ravens have needed a young star at the wide receiver position ever since Art Modell announced that the team would be called the Ravens. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but it’s not much of one and that’s the point. The 2019 NFL Draft is the Ravens chance to finally change this. It’s their chance to get it right.
The problem for the Ravens is that the 22nd overall pick is a weird place to get receiving talent. It’s completely in play, but it may not be the greatest value pick. In the first round wide receivers haven’t been a great return on the investment in recent years and the position group could pay for it on Thursday. If the run on wide receivers hasn’t started by the 22nd pick, the Ravens would make a bold statement by starting it.
The most likely scenario is that the Ravens don’t force it at wide receiver in the first round. It seems almost likely that the Baltimore will try to get into the 2nd round for this very reason; however a slow first night of receiving talent coming off the board is what the doctor needed.
Without a trade the third round is the most likely place for the DeCosta to get a wide receiver. This is where you’re looking at players like Terry McAulin, Mecole Hardman and maybe even Emanuel Hall.
The scenario that would get the Ravens in wide receiver mode on Thursday is if there is a lot of action at the position before they are on the clock. This is where having no second round pick comes into play. The Ravens have a long time to wait for their third round pick and if they are serious about fixing this position in this draft, they may have to take a receiver early.
Two of the most polarizing receiver prospects in this draft class are Marquise Brown and D.K. Metcalf. Nobody knows what the NFL decision makers are thinking but there could be teams willing to chance it on these high-ceiling players. If one or even both of these players comes off the board in the top 20 picks, N’Keal Harry starts to look more and more appealing.
The Ravens have never been a team that forces need in the NFL Draft, but they never had DeCosta calling the shots before. The Ravens could be pushed into taking a receiver if the teams drafting before them take away their preferred targets for the offensive line and the edge rushers. If Clelin Ferrell and Brian Burns are off the board, taking an edge rusher would be a reach. If Cody Ford gets swept up and so does Garrett Bradbury, the offensive line isn’t going to be their best value. In this case it wide receiver becomes the need that makes the most sense.
The Ravens need to draft a receiver or two in this NFL Draft. The question isn’t whether they will take a receiver, it’s when will they do it? We’ll find out in less than a week.