Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens End-of-Season 2021 NFL Mock Draft

By Michael Natelli

AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 3: Wide receiver Seth Williams #18 of the Auburn Tigers catches a pass for the game winning touchdown in front of defensive back Myles Jones #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the forth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 3 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 3: Wide receiver Seth Williams #18 of the Auburn Tigers catches a pass for the game winning touchdown in front of defensive back Myles Jones #10 of the Texas A&M Aggies during the forth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 3 2018 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Chang/Getty Images) /
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EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 26: Alaric Jackson #77 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on the field in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 26, 2019, in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
EVANSTON, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 26: Alaric Jackson #77 of the Iowa Hawkeyes on the field in the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field on October 26, 2019, in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /

4th Round (121) – Kenny Yeboah, TE (Ole Miss): 

Nick Boyle should be back healthy next season, but this offense clearly missed running three-tight end sets. Specifically, it missed Hayden Hurst using his speed to get open on streak routes out of play action. Kenny Yeboah plays with a similar brand of speed and toughness, and just so happened to make his living running those same routes at Ole Miss. Using a relatively high pick to address the third tight end spot would normally be a poor allocation of resources, except that the position was a key part of the offense that turned Lamar Jackson into the second unanimous MVP in league history in 2019.

Even without three-tight end looks, the Ravens offense put together another historic season on the ground, and finally demonstrated the ability to come from behind in wins against the Browns and Titans. But with a dynamic duo like Jackson and J.K. Dobbins in the backfield, there is no harder look to guard against, as you simply can’t scheme for that much size and speed. Yeboah may not be Kyle Pitts or Pat Friermuth, but with Andrews already in the fold, he makes for a great consolation prize.

4th Round (123) – Alaric Jackson, OT (Iowa): 

In addition to the woes at the center position, Baltimore never found a true replacement for Marshall Yanda in 2020. Tyre Phillips, Ben Powers, DJ Fluker, and Patrick Mekhari all provided mediocre production, and only Phillips and Powers look likely to even garner consideration for the role entering next season.

Perhaps Phillips will progress with a full offseason of work and a year of NFL experience under his belt, but the Ravens shouldn’t bank on it. Instead, they should look to Yanda’s alma mater to find their man. Iowa’s Alaric Jackson was a unanimous All-Big Ten First-Team selection this season at left tackle, but has the tools to thrive on the inside lining up between Creed Humphrey and Orlando Brown. With Brown’s contract up after the 2021 season, Jackson also stands as a candidate to slide out to right tackle if Baltimore can’t agree on a long-term deal with their incumbent.

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