With the 2019 season officially at an end, it’s time to turn our attention to the 2020 NFL Draft, where we have multiple scenarios for the Baltimore Ravens.
The 2020 NFL Draft is a couple of months away, but with the 2019 season officially over it’s all anyone can talk about. The 2020 NFL Combine is right around the corner and there will be mock drafts aplenty between now and the end of April. For the Baltimore Ravens, there will be tons of debate as to what the team should do.
While Baltimore’s roster is incredibly talented, they could absolutely use some extra depth in case of injury. The team could also be gutted in Free Agency, with guys like Matt Judon, Michael Pierce, Jimmy Smith, and Patrick Onwuasor slated to hit the open market.
Baltimore currently holds the 28th overall pick to start the draft with plenty of needs to address. The Ravens could use a true middle linebacker or star edge rusher to fix their front-seven. A wide receiver to move out-wide and team-up with Marquise Brown to give the offense some extra juice is also a need. Interior offensive and defensive linemen are also on the shortlist of needs for the team.
Today, we give you a few examples of ways the Baltimore Ravens could attack the 2020 NFL Draft. While it seems likely the team will play it safe and address their picks based on a best-player-available philosophy, they could also go heavy on addressing one side of the football. Baltimore also could use some extra picks, as they currently have just six total picks.
How do we think it’ll shake out this early on in the process? Let’s dive right in and see…
Balanced:
The picks:
- 28. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
- 60. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
- 92. Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame
- 119. Tyler Biadasz, IOL, Wisconsin
- 124. Collin Johnson, WR, Texas
- 152. Shaquille Quarterman, LB, Miami (FL.)
The most commonly mocked pick to the Baltimore Ravens has to be Oklahoma linebacker, Kenneth Murray. Murray has serious sideline-to-sideline speed and makes plays all over the field. If Patrick Onwuasor were more consistent, he would look like Murray. Murray also brings great football intelligence and instincts to the position.
Brandon Aiyuk is another name commonly associated with the Ravens. Aiyuk brings tons of speed to an already fast offense and can team up with Marquise Brown to light up opposing secondaries. Collin Johnson is also added later on to give Baltimore more size out-wide. His 6’6″ 220-lbs. frame gives him major box-out potential in the red-zone.
Tyler Biadasz is one of my personal favorite picks here, as Wisconsin offensive linemen rarely bust and his flexibility throughout the offensive line makes him incredibly valuable for the Ravens.
Defensively, Baltimore adds some much-needed pass-rushing help in Notre Dame’s Khalid Kareem. Kareem is violent off the edge and gives the team some extra depth at the position. Miami’s Shaquille Quarterman also comes to the Ravens to give the team another quality linebacker to match with Murray. Murray and Quarterman give the Baltimore Ravens two foundational pieces to rebuild their front-seven.
Offense heavy:
The picks:
- 28. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
- 60. Zach Baun, EDGE, Wisconsin
- 92. Damien Lewis, IOL, LSU
- 119. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
- 124. Trevon Hill, EDGE, Miami (FL.)
- 152. Chase Claypool, WR Notre Dame
Justin Jefferson would look so good in black and purple… Should the Baltimore Ravens go offense in round one of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson would be my personal favorite pick. Jefferson doesn’t stand out in any one aspect of his game, but he’s a straight baller with the pigskin in his hands. Jefferson can work outside and create all sorts of yards after the catch.
We’re not done adding wide receivers yet, as I have the team adding USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. and Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool. These two bring extra size to the position and will give Lamar Jackson some fun options to throw the ball up to in the end-zone. Marquise Brown and Willie Snead may only be 5’9″ and 5’11” respectively, but the rest of the receivers stand at at least 6’3″ tall. That’s some serious size for Jackson to throw to even without including the tight ends.
Damien Lewis is the lone addition to a solid offensive line, but he brings nastiness from the interior for Baltimore. Lewis could be the team’s center, but he’ll be a better guard at the next level.
Defensively, the Ravens add the versatile edge rushers Zach Baun and Trevon Hill. Baun and Hill can be moved all along Baltimore’s front-seven, giving the team some extra juice to get the defense firing on all cylinders.
Defense heavy:
The picks:
- 28. Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama
- 60. Antoine Winfield Jr., DB, Minnesota
- 92. Evan Weaver, LB, California
- 119. Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse
- 124. Ben Bredeson, IOL, Michigan
- 152. Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Terrell Lewis was born to be a Baltimore Raven based purely on his name alone. Besides the cute coincidence, Lewis has the ability to anchor one side of the defensive line, whether he has a hand in the dirt or is standing up. Lewis is a vicious pass rusher and someone the Ravens have expressed interest in, per Lewis himself.
Baltimore also grabs Alton Robinson to give the team extra depth on the edge. Robinson has a long-frame that could attract the Ravens and showed as a junior his maximum potential. Joining him in the front-seven is Evan Weaver to captain Baltimore’s defense. Weaver was a leader for the California Golden Bears and will take his experience to the next level with ease.
If Antoine Winfield Jr. is anything like his father, the Ravens have themselves a ball-hawking piece to rotate throughout their secondary. Winfield Jr. was primarily a safety for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, but Baltimore will flex him all over the place to get the most value out of him.
Don’t worry, folks, as the Ravens address the interior of their offensive line late with Michigan’s Ben Bredeson and nab a stud receiver in Texas’ Devin Duvernay. Duvernay brings more speed to a fast Baltimore Ravens offense, essentially putting a hat on a hat.
Trade down:
The picks:
- 45. Curtis Weaver, EDGE, Boise State
- 60. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah
- 76. K.J. Hill, WR, Ohio State
- 92. Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M
- 107. Kenny Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State
- 124. Solomon Kindley, IOL, Georgia
The Baltimore Ravens trade back from 28 all the way to 45 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who come up to secure their quarterback of the future in Jacob Eason. Baltimore receives an additional third-round pick (76th overall) in the trade.
This draft has to be the best-case scenario for the Ravens, who own just five picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. While Baltimore doesn’t have a ton of pressing needs, they do need bodies to potentially replace starters like Matt Judon should he depart in Free Agency. They do just that by adding bodies to the edge in Curtis Weaver and Kenny Willekes.
Weaver has some high-upside and production to match (34.0 sacks in three seasons at Boise State), while Willekes is a high-character leader who will impact the Ravens defense in more ways than one. Jaylon Johnson is also added to Baltimore’s secondary to make sure the cornerback depth remains deep.
Offensively, the Ravens grab two stud receivers is K.J. Hill and Quartney Davis. Hill put on a clinic at the 2020 Senior Bowl, showing off impressive route running and hands to match. Davis has been linked to the Ravens throughout the 2020 NFL Draft process thus far and has the ability to create after the catch. Both would be great fits for this offense.
Which 2020 NFL Draft scenario for the Baltimore Ravens did you enjoy most? Sound off in the comments and let us know! Keep it plugged in here at Ebony Bird for tons of 2020 NFL Draft and the best Baltimore Ravens content around!