The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is upon us which means the NFL Draft is inching closer. Here are five players the Baltimore Ravens should keep their eyes on.
5.) Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
Class: Junior
Height: 5’8″
Weight: 205 lbs
If you saw my Baltimore Ravens seven-round mock draft 2.0 you’d know I’m a huge fan of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and my fandom has grown even more since then. While discussing Edwards-Helaire on his podcast Move The Sticks: With Daniel Jeremiah & Bucky Brooks, Daniel Jeremiah mentioned that former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow named Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the best football player he’s ever played with. That speaks volumes because although Burrow only started for two seasons at the college level, he played with Ohio State and LSU. That’s a lot of talent around him with just those two teams and he named Edwards-Helaire as the best.
Aside from his smaller stature, Edwards-Helaire only really has one “flaw” and that’s his straight line speed. If he can run anywhere in the 4.40-4.50 range in the 40-yard dash then that should silent all the concerns with his speed. Given his elite receiving skills and competitive playing style, I think Edwards-Helaire would be a perfect fit in Baltimore’s offense.
4.) Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Class: Junior
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 192 lbs
Should I have gone with two players from the same offense two picks in a row? Probably not, but when those two players were big contributors to college footballs best offense you bend the rules a little bit. Justin Jefferson’s draft stock went soaring up after the College Football Championship Game but has seemed to die down ever since. He’s a really intriguing prospect because he does pretty much everything well, especially route running, so you’d think there would be more hype around him.
One aspect to Jefferson’s game that has really weighed down his draft stock is his long speed. Jefferson is an effortless and smooth stride player but doesn’t really have much of a second gear when he reaches the open field. It’ll be interesting to see how he runs in the 40-yard dash and short shuttle because a good performance could shoot him back into the first round conversation.