Baltimore Ravens best-player-available 2021 NFL mock draft

The Ravens’ need at safety has been blown out of proportion for the better part of the last year. Things will be more than fine if DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark are the starting safeties in Baltimore next season, and it’s impossible to justify allocating the assets it would take to bring in an elite veteran ballhawk like Harrison Smith with so many other needs on the roster. That being said, Elliott is not a true free safety, and Clark thrives as a matchup piece and playing in the box. Adding Blankenship gives the defense another rangy, rotational safety that allows both starters to see more action in their natural roles, without abandoning either as starting options. Tackling and slot corner depth were two issues that plagued the defense in 2020, and Blankenship’s skillset also helps patch both issues entering 2021.

What, you didn’t think we were going to go the whole draft without a receiver, did you?

Playing on the West Coast at Stanford, Simi Fehoko flew under the radar for most of his collegiate career. So you probably don’t remember his 230-yard, three-touchdown performance against UCLA this past December. But he was an All-Pac-12 First Team receiver in 2020, and has the size at 6″4, 227 to help Lamar Jackson take his accuracy to the next level. He may not be “the guy” right away, but Fehoko brings the raw attributes that could soar under coaching from Keith Williams and Tee Martin. It seems that every year, one or two low-round receivers pop and become regular contributors, and Fehoko has the traits that make him a strong candidate to fill that mold in 2021.

Despite what most mock drafts are telling you right now, “replacing Orlando Brown Jr.” is not a need unless the Ravens actually trade Orlando Brown Jr. That very well might happen, but would presumably bring in additional draft capital, so mocking a replacement at this point seems strange. That being said, Baltimore needs tackle depth even if Brown is in the mix this coming season, and Iowa’s Alaric Jackson could not be a better fit. He looked very comfortable at right tackle at the Senior Bowl, and could be a candidate to start at right guard instantly regardless of what happens with Brown. Of course, if Zeus Jr. is indeed traded, Jackson would also profile as a potential replacement, though one would think Eric DeCosta would at least give him some competition for the job, if not bring in a veteran bookend to start.