NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Ravens going heavy in the trenches in Round 1

The Baltimore Ravens need to get more physical in the trenches next season, as the loss of star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney and three offensive line starters (Morgan Moses, Kevin Zeitler, John Simpson) makes them a prime candidate to select a lineman early in the 2024 NFL Draft.

With the wide receiver and cornerback classes both unusually deep this season, the Ravens would do well to use one of their top picks on a lineman who can either start right away at right tackle or marinate on the bench as a future successor to Ronnie Stanley at left tackle.

PFF's Arjun Menon created a market-implied mock draft that takes the latest odds into account, and his mock has Alabama star JC Latham falling to the Ravens at No. 30. Bleacer Report has Baltimore prioritizing versatility with their first pick, selecting Duke tackle/guard hybrid Graham Barton.

Various CBS analysts, including former Vikings GM Rick Spielman, combined their brain power to create a mock that ends with Baltimore selecting Arizona tackle Jordan Morgan. Only Fox Sports believes the Ravens will make a defensive addition, selecting Missouri defensive end Darius Robinson.

Baltimore Ravens NFL Mock Draft Roundup: OL, DL prioritized

What makes Barton such an impressive prospect is the fact he projects as both a solid pass-blocking left tackle and an athletic left guard who can climb to the second level and be an imapctful run-blocker. A run-heavy Duke offense showed that Barton's best skills lie primarily in that area.

Latham would be a dream pick at No. 30, as the mountainous lineman with tremendous power and a nasty demeanor as a blocker projects as an immediate right tackle starter in the pros. The fact he was washing future pro rushers in the SEC out of plays should make him even more attractive to Eric DeCosta.

Morgan may not have the most refined technique, but that's just nitpicking. An experienced starter with solid footwork and athleticism that helps im handle both power and speed rushers alike, Morgan might sneak into the first round despite being projected as a second-round selection by many draft experts.

If there was a competition to create the ideal Ravens defensive lineman in a lab, the end result would look a lot like Robinson. After blowing up with a dominant Senior Bowl performance, Robinson showcased that he can be an edge-setting end who has enough versatility to slide inside and play defensive tackle in certain packages.