Fourth Round:
Is safety the most pressing need for the Ravens? No. But after grabbing a linebacker, a pass rusher, a lineman and some receivers already, having depth behind Earl Thomas is there on the list for me, and K’Von Wallace is another guy that plays like a Raven. A tenacious tackler with a high football IQ, Wallace has the tools and the swagger to join the list of Pro Bowl safeties who have suited up for Baltimore.
Thomas played at a high level in 2019 (an embarrassing stiff arm from Derrick Henry notwithstanding), but he’ll be 31 in 2020 and did suffer an ACL tear in 2018. Thomas could also save Baltimore $6-million against the cap after the 2020 season (according to Spotrac). Even if next year isn’t the former Seahawks great’s last with the Ravens, Baltimore values depth, and having someone that can step in and play in the event Thomas goes down can help ensure the Ravens defense secondary remains among the league’s elite.
This is the third pick Baltimore receives from the Falcons trade, and the Ravens will use it to replace a player they sent to Atlanta earlier this offseason. Baltimore has never drafted a player from LSU, but I have Thaddeus Moss as the third Tiger headed to the Ravens in this mock. He may not have elite speed or athleticism, but Moss is a stout run blocker as a tight end and also has great hands. He’ll never be mistaken for his father Randy, but the younger Moss fits what the Ravens do offensively, and can step right in where Hayden Hurst left off.
Baltimore may opt to bring in a veteran to challenge Charles Scarff for the third tight end spot, but the Ravens would suddenly be left with Scarff and Nick Boyle if something happened to Mark Andrews. While we certainly hope that doesn’t happen, Moss ensures an offense that depends heavily on its tight ends have three exciting options on the depth chart even after losing Hurst.
He’s not the most exciting Ohio State defensive lineman available in the draft, but he might be one of the better value picks available. Davon Hamilton provides a great interior complement to Brandon Williams, capable of generating pressure as an interior pass rusher. Hamilton was a key cog in the Ohio State defense a season ago, helping them rank sixth in the nation in yards-per-rush (2.98). Daylon Mack could still make the roster next year, but Hamilton will push him in training camp and could even push him off the 53-man squad when all is said and done.
There is also still an outside chance that Baltimore parts with Williams to create $5-million in cap space this offseason, so Hamilton also provides another option to pair with Justin Ellis in the unlikely event the Ravens do opt to go that route.