It happens every year.
Players move around the draft board. Some prospects expected to be early first-round picks end up sliding down the board, and others seemingly come out of nowhere get selected.
That will likely be the case again this season, and the Ravens could stand to benefit if a player slips. General Manager Ozzie Newsome has long subscribed to the philosophy of taking the best player on the draft board regardless of need, and that is certainly the case this season with a draft class considered the best in years.
A variety of factors could lead to a player getting drafted later than expected – off-the-field issues, slow times at the combine, injury concerns – and the Ravens do their homework to determine when that could happen.
Here are five players considered top-10 prospects by many analysts who could end up falling to the Ravens at No. 17.
OT Taylor Lewan, MichiganESPN/ Scout's Inc. No. 6 rated prospect
The big lineman from Michigan is already considered a starting caliber offensive tackle, and he is regarded as one of the top three tackles in the draft. Lewan started at left tackle in college, but he would fill an immediate need at right tackle for the Ravens. Lewan was a captain at Michigan, but he got into trouble off the field at the end of last season when he allegedly got into a fight with two Ohio State fans after the Buckeyes beat Michigan earlier in the day. Lewan has been charged with misdemeanor assault stemming from the incident.
TE Eric Ebron, North CarolinaESPN/ Scout's Inc. No. 11 rated prospect
Ebron is the best tight end in the draft, and has potential as a big-play receiving threat. He impressed scouts with his size and speed at the combine, and he fits with the Ravens as they are looking to add another tight end. This draft also features a deep group of wide receivers, so Ebron could end up sliding to No. 17 if teams ahead of the Ravens go for the true receivers rather than a pass-catching tight end.
MLB C.J. Mosley, AlabamaESPN/ Scout's Inc. No.8 rated prospect
Mosley was consistently predicted to be a top-10 pick in the early rounds of mock drafts, but his stock appears to be slipping a bit because of injuries during the pre-draft process. A knee injury could scare away some teams and make him available for the Ravens. If Mosley lasts until pick No. 17, then the Ravens may scoop him up because they want to add depth at inside linebacker.
CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan StateESPN/ Scout's Inc. No. 17 rated prospect
Cornerbacks are prized possessions in today's pass-heavy era of the NFL, and Dennard is rated as the best in the draft. Shutdown cornerbacks often fly off the board, but Dennard has consistently been projected as someone who will get selected between picks 10-15. The Ravens already have their top two cornerbacks with Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb, but Newsome has said on multiple occasions that a team can't have too many good corners. Plus, the Ravens could stand to add depth after nickel corner Corey Graham left via free agency.
S Ha Ha Clinton-DixESPN/ Scout's Inc. No. 12 rated prospect
Clinton-Dix was a highly productive player during his time at Alabama, and he's a rangy free safety that fills the Ravens' most pressing need. Clinton-Dix is rated as one of the best two safeties in the draft, but he could slip because teams don't often take safeties in the early part of the first round. The best safeties sometime slide – Ed Reed was the No. 24 pick in 2002 – and that could happen again this year.
