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2021 NFL Draft: 3 edge rushers Ravens can target on day 2

By Chris Schisler

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 18: Drew Plitt #9 of the Ball State Cardinals prepares to throw the ball while Malcolm Koonce #50 of the Buffalo Bulls pursues during the first half of the Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship at Ford Field on December 18, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - DECEMBER 18: Drew Plitt #9 of the Ball State Cardinals prepares to throw the ball while Malcolm Koonce #50 of the Buffalo Bulls pursues during the first half of the Rocket Mortgage MAC Football Championship at Ford Field on December 18, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens, NFL Draft
MOBILE, AL – JANUARY 30: Linebacker Jordan Smith #22 from UAB of the American Team during the 2021 Resse’s Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021, in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

2. Jordan Smith, UAB

Jordan Smith is the definition of a big fish in a small pond. The UAB prospect looks like he was created in a video game. With a 6-7 255 pound build he’s got a ton of reach. He’s a massive edge rusher with strong play to match the measurables. Smith is a smooth athlete with a ton of potential. If he’s a project as an edge rusher, he’s about as promising of a project as there is.

This is a player from Conference USA that may be passed up a couple of times by the whole league before he gets drafted. He only has 21 games on he is coming off a season with just four and a half sacks.

Smith is also a raw prospect who needs to develop more ways to get after the quarterback. This is the classic example of a player having what can’t be coached while needing to be coached up at the next level.

Smith has the explosiveness and the traits to be special. He’s got a combination of size and quickness that doesn’t come along in every draft class. He has first-round traits and if he played for the University of Alabama instead of UAB he’d be talked about as a first-round prospect. Smith could end up being the steal of the NFL Draft.

If the Ravens get into the third round and select him it’s highway robbery. If the Ravens draft Smith in the second round it would be hard to complain about. Smith covers a lot of ground in a very little amount of time and is a physically imposing player for any offensive lineman.

He’s practically got the build of Calais Campbell as an outside linebacker and he’s explosive. That has to intrigue Eric DeCosta, right? Smith to the Ravens sounds like a solid idea.

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