Assessing the top position groups the Ravens still need to address heading into Day 2.
The Baltimore Ravens let the board play out on the first night of the 2024 NFL Draft and wound up with a tremendous value pick at No. 30 overall with former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. While it checked off one of their top positions of need, they still have several others to address over the next two days. Here are the Ravens’ biggest remaining needs heading into Day 2.
Offensive line
Many pundits and fans expected the Ravens to take a tackle in the first round come hell or high water but they stuck to their best player available philosophy and didn’t reach after eight prospects at the position flew off the board before they were on the clock. Nevertheless, finding another quality option to compete to start on the right side as a rookie and/or succeed Ronnie Stanley on the left side remains the team’s most glaring need by a wide margin.
While there are still some promising tackle prospects available as this is one of the deepest offensive line drafts in recent memory, the top remaining tackles could fly off the board in the top half second round before the Ravens could even get in range to consider trading up. They have a much stronger chance of landing one of the top interior lineman prospects to add to the competition for one of their two starting guard vacancies as the only one to come off the board on Day 1 was Duke’s Graham Barton in the back half of the first round at No. 26 overall.
Wide receiver
Even though the Ravens extended 2021 first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman the day before the draft and anticipate him having an expanded role in year two of offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense, they could still benefit from reinforcing their depth at the position in early-to-mid rounds. Thankfully, this year’s draft is just as rich with wideouts as it is with offensive linemen and while seven came off the board on Thursday, finding immediate contributors at this position after the first round is more likely than hitting on a tackle who can play right away.
Outside Linebacker
The re-signing of 10-year veteran Kyle Van Noy who continues to defy father time and age like fin wine made this position less of a glaring need heading into this year’s draft. However, the Ravens could still stand to add a prospect who could at least come in and provide additional depth and perhaps carve out a role on defense as a situational pass rusher. During the team’s pre-draft press conference general manager Eric DeCosta called this year’s edge class “average” but believes there are plenty of appealing prospects who could fit specific roles. There are also those who possess the potential to blossom into difference makers and could benefit from being under the tutelage of Ravens outside linebackers coach Chuck Smith who was a renowned pass rush guru for hire prior to joining the staff last offseason and playing a big part in several breakout seasons in 2023.
Safety
There is a wealth of high-quality defensive back talent still available after just three cornerbacks went on Day 1 with the first not coming off the board until No. 22 overall and no safeties were taken in the top 32. With the defection of 2023 AFC interceptions leader Geno Stone in free agency to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Ravens are in need of another rangy presence in their secondary to allow All-Pro Kyle Hamilton to continue being deployed in the hybrid safety role that made him a star. While Wiggins told reporters in a Zoom call after he got drafted that he can play nickel and safety if needed, his skills are of better use rotating and developing at outside corner. There aren’t a bevy of true free safeties in this year’s class but there are some prospects with impressive range, instincts ball skills who could be targets in the early-to-mid rounds starting Friday.
Running back
Although this position is much further down the totem pole in terms of the Ravens’ biggest needs, they could still use another presence at the position to round out and reinforce their backfield in 2024 with second-year pro Keaton Mitchell coming off a major knee injury suffered this past December. There is also the fact that veterans Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are both playing on short-term deals with neither being under contract beyond the 2025 season. The Ravens likely won’t consider taking one until the third round at the earliest and should have their pick of the litter on Day 3 if one isn’t taken as the best available player late on Day 2.