Ebony Bird
FanSided

2020 NFL Mock Draft: Ravens trade up for an Alabama receiver

By Michael Natelli

TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after pulling in a touchdown reception against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - OCTOBER 14: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Alabama Crimson Tide reacts after pulling in a touchdown reception against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bryant-Denny Stadium on October 14, 2017 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 9
Next
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 25: Jordyn Brooks #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the field before the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – NOVEMBER 25: Jordyn Brooks #20 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders stands on the field before the game against the Baylor Bears on November 25, 2016 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Baylor 54-35. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Third round: 102nd overall pick

Red Raiders . Jordyn Brooks. 102. player. 874. . Linebacker

Remember, Pick 92 went to the Eagles in the trade up for Henry Ruggs, so 102 is our first selection in the third round.

Go ahead and hate the decision to take a running back over a linebacker back at pick 60. But while you can find running back talent in the later rounds, Dobbins’ production against some of football’s elite defenses makes him a safer pick for such a run-focused offense, and he wasn’t falling past the second round.

More from Ravens Draft

On the flip side of that, the Ravens have moved away from heavy usage of linebackers in their defense, and already have LJ Fort and Chuck Clark to rely on in the middle of their defense. Using a pick in the Top 60 to address a position that won’t be leaned on often does not produce the “positional value” it would seem to at first glance.

That becomes all the more true with an option like Jordyn Brooks still on the board in Round 3. In this pick, the Ravens grab a linebacker many have started to actually move above Ohio State’s Malik Harrison, a commonly mocked option to Baltimore with either the 55th or 60th pick.

Brooks is a stout tackler that shows tremendous ability to get into the backfield as a run stuffer or blitzing linebacker. His tape inspires confidence that he can be part of the solution to bolstering the Ravens’ rushing defense, and could function as a QB spy that can cover the necessary ground to be effective against scrambling quarterbacks. He has the speed and smarts to grow into a capable coverage linebacker as well, and the Ravens do have Clark to spell him in passing situations while he develops.

Home/Ravens Draft