The Baltimore Ravens’ top needs in this April’s NFL draft are offensive tackle and wide receiver. It sounds strange to say this, given how offense was the team’s strong suit in 2924, but depth is badly needed at both positions.
After that, the edge rusher position isn’t far behind in terms of team needs. The Ravens’ defensive line is aging, and they need to create a more consistent, improved pass rush.
That’s a big reason Baltimore was near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed—they didn’t generate enough pressure. This issue will have to be addressed this offseason. NFL Network draftnik Daniel Jeremiah believes the Ravens will go this route in the first round.
Bradyn Swinson, LSU
There is so much depth at the edge position in this draft that we could see six or seven edge rushers off the board by the time the Ravens make their first pick at #27. And most likely, 13 or 14 edge prospects will have already been selected by the time Baltimore is on the clock again in the second round. So will they trade up to take one?
If the Ravens wait until the third round to address this issue, Swinson is projected to still be available at that point.
At least one mock draft, published on Tankathon, sees Baltimore going OT in the first, WR in the second, and Edge in the third, landing on this Oregon Duck turned LSU Tiger.
Swinson is pretty quick for his size, and that would make him a good fit for what defensive coordinator Zach Orr likes to do in his blitzing packages.
R.J. Oben, Notre Dame
If the Ravens want to address this need on day three of the draft, most likely as a supplement to the edge rusher they already selected earlier, then Oben would make a lot of sense.
He transferred along with his quarterback teammate from Duke to Notre Dame, where he had a chance to play multiple positions along the defensive line.
“Our defensive coordinator [Al Golden] is an absolute defensive mastermind who put me in a lot of different positions in terms of being all along the defensive front,” Oben said in an exclusive with RG. “They taught me various techniques and working on different sides of the field.”
“That is something I was not originally used to, and it definitely helped me to expand my versatility and refine techniques.”
In addition to that versatility, Oben has very good speed for someone his size, and he seems to be rising on the draft boards because of it.
Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
Kennard, the reigning SEC Defensive Player of the Year (which is a pretty impressive feat in itself), was a big reason why the Gamecocks stayed in college football playoff contention until the end of the regular season.
He opted out of the Citrus Bowl loss to Illinois, and that was probably a wise decision given how he projects as a mid-to-late second-rounder. So he may not be there when the Ravens select at #59, if GM Eric DeCosta believes his team should address this issue in round two.
SC Coach Shane Beamer helped Kennard reach his full potential, and you can see that every time he “sets a violent edge” and “makes plays in space.” And yes, we apologize for using two painfully shopworn NFL Draft cliches.