4 potential replacements for Ravens safety DeShon Elliott this offseason
By Justin Fried
3. The Ravens could draft Verone McKinley III to replace DeShon Elliott
Another one of my favorite Day 2/3 safety targets is Oregon’s Verone McKinley III. While Elliott undoubtedly exceeded expectations filling in for Earl Thomas following his surprise departure, he was never a perfect replacement for his skill set.
And in reality, the Ravens haven’t had a true center-field safety since Thomas left. Elliott is a good player, but his skill set has always felt a little redundant with Chuck Clark already on the roster.
McKinley would solve that issue immediately.
At 5-foot-11, 193 pounds, McKinley is a good athlete who excels in single-high coverage. His range is never going to be as good as someone like Thomas, but he makes up for it with good speed and outstanding ball skills.
McKinley finished with a whopping six interceptions in 14 games this past season establishing himself as one of the premier ball hawks in college football.
That came after a four-interception just two years prior. In 34 games as a starter, McKinley came away with 11 interceptions. It was enough to earn him Consensus All-American honors following his standout 2021 season.
Much like Daxton Hill, McKinley would be an excellent complement to Chuck Clark and give the Ravens the much-needed free safety they’ve been desperate for.
If he’s still available in Round 3 or 4, the Ravens shouldn’t hesitate to pounce.