The time has come.
With the offseason in full swing and the Ravens in preparation for the NFL Draft, we have pulled together our first roundup of mock drafts. Much can change between now and May 8, but there are already some common themes in the various mock drafts.
Keep in mind that the final draft order is not yet set because the Ravens will have to flip a coin with the Dallas Cowboys at the combine next month to determine whether they get the No. 16 or 17 draft pick.
Here's a look at who the experts think is headed to Baltimore:
ESPN, Mel KiperPosted Jan. 15
TE Eric Ebron, North CarolinaJunior; 6-foot-4, 231 pounds; 62 catches, 973 yards, 3 touchdowns
"The Ravens desperately need a matchup problem for Joe Flacco, and tight end is a position of uncertainty headed into 2014 as both Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta are at the end of their contracts. Ebron has the size, speed, hands and catch radius you want out of a new-breed tight end who can be split out, but he also has the frame to add some size and not get totally pushed around as an inline blocker. I have him rated higher than this slot on my Big Board."
**ESPN, Todd McShay***Posted Dec. 18
*WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M **Redshirt sophomore, 6-5, 225; 69 catches, 1,394 yards, 12 touchdowns
"Baltimore is a team that is always looking to take the best available player, but I think that more than anything this team needs to upgrade QB Joe Flacco's weapons this offseason, and Evans would do exactly that. If you watch Alshon Jeffery play for the Bears this season, you'll get an idea of what makes Evans so intriguing. Jeffery isn't a great route runner, doesn't have great acceleration and is a long strider, but none of that matters because he's able to separate when the ball is in the air. He looks like he's covered right up until the moment he makes the catch."
**FOXSports, Peter Schrager***Posted Dec. 4
*OT Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama **Junior; 6-6, 310; 3-year starter
"The Ravens' offensive line has struggled this year and Michael Oher is a free agent. Ozzie Newsome loves his Alabama guys. This one's an athletic big body who can give Joe Flacco and Ray Rice some immediate help."
**Sports Illustrated, Chris Burke***Posted Dec. 5
*DE Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
Junior; 6-6, 322; 49 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 touchdown, 2 passes defensed
"Tuitt has taken heat for a somewhat disappointing 2013. His talent and ability to play in a number of different looks up front will win out in the end. Arthur Jones is headed toward a hefty free-agent contract while Chris Canty is due a roster bonus in March. Nabbing Tuitt would allow the Ravens to move on from one or the other without losing sleep."
**CBSSports.com, Rob Rang**
Posted Jan. 14
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M"Earning comparisons to Vincent Jackson while dominating the SEC has pushed Evans, a redshirt sophomore, into the conversation as the top receiver in the country. Pairing Evans with speedster Torrey Smith would give the Ravens the pair of playmaking wideouts to take full advantage of Joe Flacco's big arm."
**CBSSports.com, Dane Brugler***Posted Jan. 14 *WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M **"The Ravens have deep threats at receiver with Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Marlon Brown, but could use a larger, more physical talent for Joe Flacco to target. Evans won't run a blazing 40-yard dash but he's fast enough with the aggressive nature to win contested throws and be a threat after the catch."
**Sporting News, Eric Galko***Posted Jan. 8 *WR Marquise Lee, USC *Junior; 6-0, 195; 57 catches, 791 yards, 4 touchdowns *"Their offense regressed without Anquan Boldin, clearly missing a reliable first down receiver. Mike Evans of Texas A&M is the draft's most physical, biggest-bodied wideout, but the Ravens should seek better talent. Despite a down season, Lee is a worthy pick."
**WalterFootball.com**
Posted Jan. 14
ILB C.J. Mosley, AlabamaSenior; 6-2, 232 pounds; 108 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 5 passes defensed
"The Ravens had their eye on Dont'a Hightower as a possible replacement for Ray Lewis a couple of years ago. Perhaps they'll finally land an inside linebacker from Alabama. Baltimore took Arthur Brown in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but this position could still be addressed because Daryl Smith happens to be a free agent."
