Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL Draft: Ideal Round 3 targets
By Ryan Heckman
There were many early winners and losers to talk about after the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the Baltimore Ravens certainly qualify as one of those winners.
On the same day the team finally reached a new contract for quarterback Lamar Jackson, keeping him around another five years, Baltimore went out and drafted the explosive, playmaking wide receiver out of Boston College, Zay Flowers, with their first-round pick.
Now, as the team enters Day 2, they still have some key needs to address and hold just a third-round pick. Their second rounder, of course, was dealt for linebacker Roquan Smith last year. If Eric DeCosta wants to make the most out of his third rounder, and address a key need while getting value with that selection, he should go after one of these three, ideal targets at pick no. 86.
Ideal Round 3 targets for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 NFL Draft: Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina
The Ravens have a glaring hole at cornerback. The team has yet to bring back veteran corner Marcus Peters, leaving only Marlon Humphrey as the clear-cut starter within that room. Finding another outside corner is a huge priority.
That's why South Carolina's Cam Smith would be a perfect target for the team in the third round. Smith stands 6-foot-1, weighing 180 pounds and has great length at the position. He is a true outside cornerback and would be a guy the Ravens could plug in as a starter right away.
One thing Peters had brought to the table over his career was the willingness to take risks and jump the routes. Smith does that exceptionally well. He has great anticipation and shows off elite ball skills on tape. He is aggressive when he commits to jumping a route, too, which is why some of his big plays in college jump off the tape.
What makes him so special is that he goes after the football, and reads the quarterback's eyes, rather than simply following wide receivers. Because he goes after the football, he's able to do what matters most, and that is to make big plays. Smith is a perfect target in Round 3, if he's there, and would be a home run type pick.