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2020 NFL Draft: Ranking Ravens potential picks at 28th spot

By Chris Schisler

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Denzel Mims #5 of the Baylor Bears reacts after a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Denzel Mims #5 of the Baylor Bears reacts after a touchdown against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 01, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Cesar Ruiz #OL40 of Michigan interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 26: Cesar Ruiz #OL40 of Michigan interviews during the second day of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Cautious Optimism picks: Picks you’ll have to sell yourself on that could go either way:

1. Cesar Ruiz, Center (Michigan)

Ruiz is actually a fairly safe pick. The reason he is in this tier is that I don’t see a ton of separation between him and a player like Tyler Biadasz (Center for Wisconsin) who you can get later. The Ravens have a tendency to get good offensive linemen later on in the draft. This may be a soft reach and it may not be the highest impact pick at with the 28th slot.

Ruiz has great form and awesome footwork. I actually really like him as a prospect. The thing is that I would have to sell myself on drafting an interior offensive lineman this high when there are studs at premium positions to get in the first round.

2. Justin Jefferson, Wide receiver (LSU)

Jefferson is a good receiver. I just see him as a second round prospect. Players like Brandon Aiyuk, Michael Pittman Jr. and K.J. Hamler are all players I like more than Jefferson. Jefferson has the upside of a first round receiver yet this wouldn’t be great value at 28 by my estimation.

There are some things to like about Jefferson. He’s a player you could convince yourself into taking. He was crazy productive at LSU with 165 receptions and 24 touchdowns in the past two seasons. He’s good, I’m just not buying that he’s 28th pick good in this fully stacked receiver class.

3. D’Andre Swift, Running back (Georgia)

This would actually be a great pick for the Ravens in the sense that it would give the offense a high impact play-maker. The problem is that drafting a running back in the first round is a questionable practice in general and it’s especially suspect when you already have Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. The Ravens don’t need a running back. You can see the appeal here. Swift is flat-out awesome. It just isn’t the best pick.

Next. Top 5 Day 2 picks for the Ravens in the NFL Draft (2010-2019). dark

4. Zack Baun, Outside Linebacker (Wisconsin) 

Zack Baun is a player that I have on my board as a linebacker more than an edge rusher. He’s a good linebacker who can do everything. He had 12.5 sacks in his last season at Wisconsin. He has good instincts and is a tackling machine. Baun’s upside is probably being a young Clay Matthews, a player that can play any linebacker spot in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defense. I’m just not sold on him in the first round. I worry about him being a scheme fit.

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