Thaddeus Moss could be low-risk/high-reward day 3 draft pick for Ravens

Analyzing why Thaddeus Moss could fall to the Ravens in the Draft’s 4th round, and why that could be a really good thing for the Ravens’ offensive schemes.

It’s really odd to think that a player from a National Championship winning team, with the last name Moss, is considered underrated in the 2020 NFL Draft. However, that’s how the chips have fallen this year. LSU tight end Thaddeus Moss’s fractured foot certainly tanked his value. Also, it’s a great draft class for wide receivers, o-linemen, defensive backs, and linebackers. So, if you’re not playing in one of those aforementioned positions, you’re likely sitting back in the late second round or third round this year, even if you’re top of your position’s class. In this case, you may slip into day three if you’re valued in the B-tier of your position; even if you’re Randy Moss’s son.

I think it’s a great thing for the Ravens to see Thaddeus Moss fall into this day three projection. The Ravens are ready to continue digging into the offense on day three of the 2020 NFL Draft, and Moss is ready to prove he can be a starter in the NFL. I, personally, am ready to see him in purple and black. Moss’s foot will heal, and we know the Ravens don’t shy away from picks with foot injuries since they took Marquise Brown in round one last year. Picking a potential wide receiver with a known foot injury was a much bigger gamble than picking up a fourth-round tight end to be your number three at the position.

Thaddeus Moss is an interesting prospect. He’s not very athletic and he doesn’t catch the prettiest ball. Even his YouTube highlights, usually the “best-light” footage of a player available, will show him juggling some of his caught passes. That doesn’t sound like a guy some want the Ravens to pull in. I beg to differ, and here’s why: Thaddeus Moss fills a need not many are talking about right now, and that need is a blocking tight end.

I get it, we still have two tight ends that can block, and Charles Scarff may end up being a decent third option. However, I think Thaddeus Moss will be better than a “decent” third tight end for the starting 53-man roster. Moss fits nicely between Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle in skills the Ravens need from their tight ends. Moss is shorter than Andrews and Boyle but weighs about as much as Andrews. Moss is slower than Andrews but faster than Boyle. This makes him a thick target that can get downfield and shove off defenders when necessary, but really, he’s a heck of a blocker. If the Ravens want to run any of their 3-TE sets from last year, I firmly believe a tight end is needed in this draft, and Thaddeus Moss is more than capable of being tight end number three.

Thaddeus Moss is unpolished and not very flashy. This wouldn’t be a “sexy” pick outside of the name on the back of his jersey. Still, he’s a tight end that came to play in big moments of big games. He’s also a hard-worker, the universal trait sought after by the Ravens organization. The Ravens will take into consideration the foot injury, sure, but I can’t see Thaddeus Moss being a stretch for the Ravens to pick at number 143 or 170.