The Baltimore Ravens are once again in a position where they don’t have to draft for need. That’s the benefit of being a consistently well-run franchise that churns out playoff teams like clockwork.
But while they could go in a variety of directions with the 27th overall pick, sometimes the best move is the one staring you right in the face. Enter Michigan’s Kenneth Grant.
The Ravens' defensive line is still one of the league's deeper units, but it isn’t exactly built for the long haul. Michael Pierce and Brent Urban aren’t getting any younger, and while Nnamdi Madubuike is locked in as a franchise cornerstone, he could use some help inside. Grant, a 6-foot-3, 340-pound wrecking ball with ridiculous athleticism, would give Baltimore the kind of interior force that could dominate for years to come.
Tom Fornelli of CBS Sports already linked Grant to Baltimore in his recent mock draft, saying, “Grant’s excellence on the interior was often overshadowed by Mason Graham, but he has a quick first step and can really move in ways that sometimes cause you to reconsider the laws of physics.” The Ravens love finding game-wreckers in the trenches, and Grant fits that mold perfectly.
Kenneth Grant could make an immediate impact
The Ravens don’t need a defensive tackle, but let’s be honest—having a second elite interior presence next to Madubuike would be an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses.
Last season, Madubuike was double-teamed 233 times, per ESPN Analytics and Next Gen Stats. Even with that constant attention, he still managed to put up 6.5 sacks and 21 pressures. Imagine what he could do if opposing linemen had to worry about Grant, too.
Beyond his size, Grant’s combination of speed and explosiveness is nearly unheard of for a man his size. His quick first step allows him to disrupt plays before they even develop, and while his consistency can be hit-or-miss, the Ravens have a strong track record of coaching up defensive linemen. Baltimore could be the perfect landing spot for him to refine his game.
There are other positions Baltimore could address in the first round, like offensive line or cornerback, but the best teams don’t force picks based on immediate needs. They draft the best talent available and let everything else fall into place. With Grant still climbing up draft boards, the Ravens might have the chance to land a future star—and they’d be foolish to pass it up.