The 2023 NFL Draft is now just a week away, and the Baltimore Ravens still have many unanswered questions.
The biggest one, obviously, is what ends up happening with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Does he play out the 2023 season on the tag, or does he decide to hold out?
Or, does another team swoop in and pull off a trade for Jackson? Better question: What if a surprising team made a blockbuster move to acquire Jackson, leaving Baltimore in a great position going forward?
To kick off one of our last 2023 mock drafts, the Baltimore Ravens trade Lamar Jackson in a shocking deal
That's a lot to unpack, but the Ravens end up getting more than just the two first rounders they would have received if another team signed Jackson to an offer sheet and they had declined. Not only do the Ravens get two first rounders, but one of them is the second overall pick in this year's draft, which they turn around and use on their new franchise quarterback.
C.J. Stroud is the pick here, knowing that Bryce Young has gone number 1 to the Carolina Panthers. Baltimore now has their Jackson replacement in a guy who isn't just a mobile quarterback, but a fantastic passer from the pocket as well.
At this point, we know Stroud to be one of the best prospects this draft has to offer, and although some might prefer the tantalizing upside of Anthony Richardson, Baltimore goes with a proven commodity in Stroud.
From here, it's about continuing to build around Stroud, who comes into a great situation, surrounded by an established defense and an offense that likes to run the football.
With their second pick in the first round at no. 22, Baltimore ends up going with one of the two rumored wide receivers they had been linked to just days ago. USC product Jordan Addison is a top-3 receiver in this class, and he joins a corps featuring the newly-signed Odell Beckham, who will be an excellent guy for Addison to learn from.
Addison is known as one of the better, more fluid route runners in this class. He's been compared to NFL veteran Tyler Lockett by some major outlets, and if the Ravens are getting that type of talent, then Addison will make an impact from Day 1.
Addison stands 5-foot-11, weighing 173 pounds, so he is a tad bit lighter. But, he's still unafraid to work over the middle of the field if need be. In fact, he makes it look easy getting open between the hashes.
Last year with USC, Addison's production dropped quite a bit. But, from what we saw out of him at Pittsburgh and how he shows up on tape, regardless, he's a surefire first-round pick. Now, the Ravens' wide receiving room is led by Beckham, Addison, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. That's a pretty fair top four, well-rounded with a couple of veterans along with two young guys.
With their third pick in the draft and the second selection in the second round, Baltimore goes after another major need, addressing the edge rusher position. There are a lot of mock drafts which have had Iowa State pass rusher Will McDonald going in the first round, so the Ravens get a tremendous value here to start the second round.
If McDonald had come out last year, there might have been even more hype around him, seeing as how his numbers went down in 2022. But, over the last three seasons with the Cyclones, McDonald has totaled 33.5 tackles for loss and 27.0 sacks.
The thought of pairing a guy like McDonald, who possesses strong and violent hands, with the prowess of Roquan Smith, gives this Ravens defense two elite leaders at very important positions. McDonald is an active, angry pass rusher who is constantly working. He doesn't get taken hold of easily by opposing tackles due to this play style.
Really, the only negative thing to say about him that truly matters is his lack of size. He stands 6-foot-4 but weighs under 240 pounds. If he can add a little bit of mass, McDonald will become the total package.
At pick number 86, in the third round, the Ravens try to find a long-term solution at cornerback by drafting Texas A&M's Jaylon Jones. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, Jones brings size and length to the position.
Jones is a phyiscal player, not allowing any receiver to bully him, but instead being the aggressor and disallowing many of his receivers clean breaks. Jones is also a willing supporter in the run game and quick passing game. He recognizes plays that develop quickly, and he's right on the ball carrier as soon as he can be.
As a three-year starter in college, Jones carries a lot of experience with him, although rarely did opposing quarterbacks decide to target him, and that was for a reason.
In the fourth round, the Ravens stay on the defensive side of the ball and draft a second edge defender in Clemson's K.J. Henry. At this level, you cannot have too many pass rushers, and that's why the value here at pick 124 was too good for Baltimore to pass up.
Henry is a bit bigger and stronger than McDonald, giving the Ravens a different type of rookie edge rusher later here in the draft. Henry stands 6-foot-4, weighing 250 pounds and packs more of a punch. He can be a physical, powerful rusher but with a relentless style. He needs to hone in on some of his specific pass rush moves, and rely less just on an unorthodox, freestyle way of playing the game. But, Henry comes from a great program and is a high character, well-respected player. This is the type of guy the Ravens want.
In the fifth round, Baltimore opts to select yet another receiver to try and push the rest of the guys within that receiving room. West Virginia product Bryce Ford-Wheaton is a different type than the guys towards the top of that depth chart, and this offense could use his skillset.
At 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds, Ford-Wheaton brings overwhelming size and stature to the receiver position. He also has blazing speed, running an impressive 4.38 at the Combine. He's a raw prospect due to a lack of separation and no true, big-time production in college. Yet, his traits are very likable as an outside wide receiver and, if he comes in to be the WR5, the Ravens found a value.
With their last pick in the draft, Baltimore goes defense and right back to the line, where they've had some great players over the years. This is another high value pick, in Jacob Slade, who could have gone much earlier than this.
Slade is somewhat undersized as an interior defensive lineman, but he works tirelessly at getting after the quarterback. If one move doesn't work, he'll quickly adjust to trying something different. Slade isn't quite as good against the run and lacks the strength to succeed there at a high level, but in certain pass rushing situations, he could be a valuable asset.