We’re only eight games into the Baltimore Ravens 2019 season, it’s never too early to start looking at the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s my first mock of the year.
*NOTE: I will be using The Draft Network’s predictive big board and mock draft generator for the other 31 NFL teams*
Ravens Projected 2020 NFL Draft Picks: 1st (29), 2nd (61), 3rd (93), 4th (125,127), 5th (151)
Total 2020 NFL Draft Picks: 6 (not including comp picks)
My Team Needs: LB, EDGE, WR, IOL, S, IDL, RB
First Round (29th overall): Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
Class: Junior
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 232 lbs
In the first round, Eric DeCosta dips back into the Oklahoma pool yet again but this time it’s for one of the best tacklers in college football and the 2020 NFL Draft. Kenneth Murray is an absolute machine at the second level and has incredible sideline-to-sideline speed which is exactly what the Ravens are missing on defense. They had a fast linebacker in Kenny Young but as we know, he didn’t work out too well as he’s now a Los Angeles Ram. Murray would also fill the void at middle linebacker left by C.J. Mosley’s departure to New York last offseason.
After watching some of his films and reading a few scouting reports, it’s evident he’s meant to be a Raven. He plays exactly like one. According to former TDN analyst Brad Kelly, Murray has an “outstanding motor that allows him to clean up a lot of tackles. Brings some juice as a blitzer and pass rusher, able to shoot gaps and close on the quarterback when called upon”. If that doesn’t sound exactly like what this defense is missing then nothing will.
As for his weaknesses, it seems Murray’s only weakness is his tendency to play more reactionary than anticipatory. Murray reads plays as they happen before reacting so he’s usually always there to make the tackle but you won’t find him jumping many plays until he gets coached up a bit. For me, I’m not too worried about his reactionary playing style. The anticipation is something the coaches can work on but you can’t teach athleticism and Murray has that, plus some.