3 Ravens who could lose starting spots after NFL Draft
By Mike Luciano
The Baltimore Ravens will enter the 2024 NFL Draft with some very clear needs that need to be addressed if GM Eric DeCosta wants to give Lamar Jackson every opportunity to make it to a Super Bowl finally. DeCosta picked a good year to be weak in some important areas.
The Ravens are still in the market for more wide receiver help, and they will once again try to add to their pass rush. The secondary could stand to add one more contributor, and an offensive line that lost three of their five starters from last year could use another new face to add to their long-term stability.
As with any new addition, a veteran that is currently holding on to a starting spot will need to prepare for some serious competition if they want to retain their current role. These three current starters may end up as backups on the depth chart by the time the end of the Draft.
3 Baltimore Ravens starters who could lose their starting job after 2024 NFL Draft
3. DE Brent Urban
Urban plays a very specific role for the Ravens, as the veteran defensive end still gets a good chunk of snaps for his ability to stuff the run and move all over the defensive line. Leaning on Urban has risks, especially due to the fact his pass rush upside at this point is minimal.
The Ravens brought back Kyle Van Noy after a protracted free agency negotiation, and the team appears to be all in on Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo as primary pass-rushers. The Ravens have Urban in town for 2024, but they need a long-term plan for a role that is critically important for Zach Orr's defense.
The Baltimore Ravens need a run-stuffing defensive end
If the Ravens want to use a first-round pick to correct this issue, Missouri's Darius Robinson seems like a perfect player to step right in and fill that role. If they want to wait until later on Day 2, look for Oregon's Brandon Dorlus or Western Michigan's Marshawn Kneeland to possibly wear Ravens purple.
Finding this exact archetype in the NFL Draft is a difficult endeavor, as teams would be packed to the gills with players like Urban if it were easy. Baltimore needs to improve their defensive line after the Jadeveon Clowney news, but getting an Urban replacement might be a better use of a draft pick.