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Baltimore Ravens Draft: Could Surprise Names Be On the Board at 28?

By Michael Natelli

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: K'Lavon Chaisson #LB09 of the LSU Tigers speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: K'Lavon Chaisson #LB09 of the LSU Tigers speaks to the media on day three of the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 28: Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson #18 of the LSU Tigers and teammates celebrate a defensive stop against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 28: Linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson #18 of the LSU Tigers and teammates celebrate a defensive stop against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE (LSU)

Chaisson has been getting steadily mocked somewhere in the late teens of the first round, most commonly to the Atlanta Falcons at 16 and the Dallas Cowboys at 17.

Would a 10-spot drop really be that stunning?

Chaisson came into

2019 with just 3.5 career sacks in two seasons at LSU. While the lack of counting stats can be chalked up to missing most of 2018 with an ACL injury, the reality is that he has less than 30 college games under his belt, which could scare off some of these teams in the teens that are bubble playoff contenders, many of whom have GMs or head coaches on the hot seat. Chaisson’s talent is clear, but there are also some question marks, and these fringe contenders may be looking for “safer” picks.

While pundits have routinely pegged Chaisson as the second-best pass rusher in the class behind Chase Young, there’s also no saying that some teams may not have players like A.J.  Epenesa, Yetur Gross-Matos, or even Josh Uche or Curtis Weaver higher on their respective boards. In an underwhelming class of pass rushers, generating a consensus beyond Young is harder than it might seem.

Derrick Brown, IDL (Auburn)

Derrick Brown could go third overall and I wouldn’t bat an eye. He’s an electric talent on the defensive line, and is a Day one starter that will upgrade any defensive unit he’s a part of.

That being said, unexpected “runs” on various positions could easily see Brown fall. There are an abundance of teams this year looking for cornerbacks, tackles, and receivers. The question for Brown is not his talent, but rather a matter of finding a team to take him. He could go to Detroit, but they also desperately need a replacement for Darius Slay. He could go to Carolina, but they could have their sights set on Simmons, Kinlaw, or a replacement for James Bradberry IV. He could go to Arizona, but they desperately need help on the offensive line. The Jaguars have similar needs to the Panthers, and could even eye a quarterback or wide receiver at 9th overall.

Several teams in the teens will also be eyeing those linemen, receivers, and corners, and the top safeties, second-tier edge rushers, middle linebackers, and second-tier quarterbacks will also start to enter the range of possible picks as we get into the teens.

Next. Mock Draft: Ravens double down at wide receiver. dark

Every year, we see one or two consensus blue chip prospects see precipitous falls, and Brown stands out as a candidate to see that happen next week. He has all the talent in the world, but also plays a position that teams just don’t prioritize in the first round as often anymore. But if he is sitting there when the Ravens go on the clock, the stars will have aligned for Baltimore to make one of their signature “best player available” picks.

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