While they've been the center of attention for most of the offseason on defense, the Baltimore Ravens have remained relatively quiet on the offensive side of the ball. Outside of adding guard John Simpson, they haven't done much to improve the unit. In fact, multiple key pieces have walked out the door.
But there's still time for general manager Eric DeCosta to work his magic in the upcoming NFL Draft. With multiple holes remaining, he'll need to find impact players in the later rounds.
Ole Miss wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling could be the perfect fit in Baltimore. He has the skill set to be an immediate contributor, and he should be available on Day Three of the draft.
WR De'Zhaun Stribling could be Baltimore Ravens' next draft steal
DeCosta has a history of finding starters late in the draft. Players like Isaiah Likely, Daniel Faalele, and Brandon Stephens have become major contributors after coming off the board in mid-to-late rounds.
The Ravens' general manager needs to find some gems again this offseason. Baltimore realistically needs to add two interior offensive linemen, a tight end, and a receiver in the draft, and that's just on offense. They can't do all of that with early picks.
If they choose to spend their first selections on other needs, Stribling could be the perfect answer at receiver later in the draft. He was quietly productive in college, eclipsing 800 receiving yards and posting six touchdowns in each of the last two seasons.
At 6'2" and 207 pounds, he has the frame to hold up on the outside in the NFL. He turned heads at the NFL Scouting Combine, running a 4.36-second 40-yard dash. He's a solid route runner with the speed to threaten defenses over the top. Stribling may not blow scouts away in any one area, but his well-rounded skill set will make him valuable in the NFL.
Best of all, the Ravens wouldn't have to use a top draft pick to get him. Based on recent mock drafts, Stribling is expected to be on the board in the later rounds of the draft. If it only takes a fifth or sixth round pick to get him, DeCosta shouldn't think twice before making the selection.
Behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, the Ravens are thin at receiver. Adding a talented, reliable player like Stribling to the mix could be huge for their offense. If he falls to the Ravens, he could be the steal of the draft.