The Baltimore Ravens may have some big names hitting the free agent market this offseason, but Eric DeCosta and the rest of this front office have the benefit of a quality roster that already has their long-term quarterback locked in place. This makes life tough for the NFL mock draft prognosticators trying to pin them down.
With so many possible avenues to head down, it remains tough to gauge where Baltimore will focus their premium picks. Based on the deluge of mocks that came out after the Chiefs' win in Super Bowl LVIII, it seems like the Ravens will try to beef up a unit depleted by Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald's departure.
The Sporting News had the Ravens going defense first as they try to replace Patrick Queen, selecting the consensus top linebacker in this class in Texas A&M stud Edgerrin Cooper. Bleacher Report wants them to add to the front seven as well, projecting Washington defensive end Bralen Trice to Baltimore.
The Athletic believes the Ravens should look to add to an already strong secondary, using their pick on Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. despite missing the Senior Bowl. NFL.com is one of the few who thinks offense should be the priority, using the No. 30 pick on Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe.
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NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Baltimore Ravens focus on defensive side
Cooper could be a quality Queen replacement, as Cooper has tremendous speed and coverage skills that could help Baltimore run a scheme similar to what Macdonald installed last year. His pass rush upside is real, as he recorded eight sacks for the Aggies.
Rakestraw is still considered a fringe first-round talent despite the fact he missed the Senior Bowl due to injury. A long, physical corner who can tackle well and jam at the line of scrimmage effectively, Rakestraw is an upside pick that has Pro Bowl potential in the right scheme.
Baltimore's top three sackers are all free agents, so adding Trice could help them find a cost-effective replacement. Trice recorded 106 pressures in his college career, as his relentless motor, ability to convert speed to power very effectively, and quality technique make him a fairly low-floor player.
In what is still a very wide-open race for a top interior lineman in this class, Beebe has a legitimate claim to that title. Beebe is very strong and played in a Kansas State offense that ran the ball quite frequently, but he might not have the mobility and athleticism to justify a first-round pick.