Daniel Jeremiah Has Ravens Selecting Defensive Tackle in Final Mock Draft
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah nailed the Ravens' first-round pick last year when he had them selecting cornerback Nate Wiggins in his final mock draft. He also had Baltimore taking Odafe Oweh in 2021.
If Jeremiah is right this time, Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant will go to the Ravens with the 27th-overall pick tonight.
"This one is pretty simple: The Ravens are well connected at Michigan, and they have a need on the interior defensive line after Michael Pierce's retirement," Jeremiah wrote.
Jeremiah has Grant at No. 31 on his big board.
"Grant is a massive defensive tackle with intriguing quickness and power," Jeremiah wrote. "He's very much a work in progress as a pass rusher. He flashes quick/violent hands to club/swim for wins, but far too often doesn't have a plan and stalls out. He hasn't learned to harness his strength to bull rush and consistently collapse the pocket. That should be at the top of his agenda this coming season. He's a very dominant run defender.
"Overall, there is some assembly required, but his physical tools are very loud and worth the investment."
Jeremiah had the Ravens selecting a different defensive tackle – Oregon's Derrick Harmon – in his second-to-last mock draft. Prior to that, Jeremiah mocked Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart and Florida State cornerback Azareye'h Thomas to Baltimore.
It's a bit of a surprising pick because most analysts have projected more of a pass rushing defensive tackle (such as Harmon or Ole Miss' Walter Nolan) to Baltimore at No. 27 rather than a run stopper.
ESPN Analysts Link Ravens to Ohio State Offensive Tackle, Georgia Safety
ESPN analysts Peter Schrager and Matt Miller based their recent mock drafts on what they're hearing from sources around the league.
Schrager has the Ravens selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, which is another outside-the-box selection Simmons was a popular pick months ago, but that was before the Ravens re-signed Ronnie Stanley.
"Simmons could slip because of an injury – he sustained a torn patellar tendon in October -- but he might be the best of the bunch in the offensive linemen class," Schrager wrote. "The Ravens could add another potential star, and watch – he'll be a difference-maker in no time."
Miller went with Georgia safety Malaki Starks for the Ravens.
"Starks is Baltimore's dream pick, according to conversations with multiple scouts around the league," Miller wrote. "His ability to play multiple positions at a high level would allow the Ravens to keep Kyle Hamilton in a deep safety role, which is something they want to do."
Bold Prediction Has Ravens Trading Up for Tight End in First Round
Tight end is one of the few positions not associated with the Ravens in first round mock drafts.
However, ESPN’s Ben Solak boldly predicted the Ravens will trade up to "steal" tight end Colston Loveland from the Los Angeles Chargers.
"Both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely are in contract years, and while this tight end class is deep, there's no doubt that Loveland and Tyler Warren are the cream of the crop," Solak wrote. "Loveland is a common mock draft fit to the Chargers at No. 22 in part because of his connection to ex-Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. But older brother John could commit some Harbaugh-on-Harbaugh crime by trading up from No. 27 to leapfrog the Chargers and draft Loveland."
The Ravens have drafted two tight ends in the first round: Todd Heap (2001) and Hayden Hurst (2018).
Which Players Mocked to Ravens Lack Traits the Team Historically Covets?
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer looked at what the Ravens' draft history says about traits they covet in first-round prospects and how it applies to players that have been mocked to them this year.
Here are some excerpts:
Was he a multisport athlete?
"Every first-round Ravens pick since 2014 played a sport besides football in high school or as a teenager, according to publicly available information. Those sports have ranged from basketball (safety Kyle Hamilton) to wrestling (center Tyler Linderbaum) to baseball (inside linebacker Patrick Queen) to track and field (cornerback Marlon Humphrey). Of the 20 prospects linked to the Ravens, just one appeared to limit his adolescent athletic interests to football: Oregon's Harmon."
Did he play for a "power conference" school?
"Other than wide receiver Breshad Perriman (Central Florida), every first-round pick since 2014 came from a school competing at the time in a so-called power conference. This year, 10 of the 20 prospects played in the Southeastern Conference, six played in the Big Ten Conference and one played in the Atlantic Coast Conference. None played in the Big 12 Conference.
"East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. (American Athletic Conference) and Marshall edge rusher Mike Green (Sun Belt Conference) played in 'Group of Five' leagues — the level below the current 'Power Four' conferences — while North Dakota State interior offensive lineman Grey Zabel played in the Football Championship Subdivision."
Has he been recognized for his leadership?
"Nearly half of all Ravens picks since 2014 were named team captains during their college careers, either permanently or as game day captains. Three of General Manager Eric DeCosta's past four first-rounders — Hamilton, center Tyler Linderbaum and wide receiver Zay Flowers — were captains, while last year's top selection, cornerback Nate Wiggins, earned postseason honors at Clemson for his consistency and hustle.
"Close to half of the 20 prospects linked to the Ravens were not recognized for their leadership last season: Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, Ohio State interior offensive lineman Donovan ackson, Michigan's Grant, Texas A&M's Stewart, and Mississippi's cornerback Trey Amos and defensive lineman Walter Nolen, as well as Simmons, Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III and Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr.
Edge Rusher Prospect Wants to Sack Lamar Jackson But Isn't Sure He Can Catch Him
Stewart was asked which NFL quarterbacks he is most looking forward to sacking during an interview on NFL Network. He did not hesitate in naming multi-time MVPs Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes.
Stewart was less decisive when asked if he thinks he can chase down Jackson.
"Oof. I know I'm fast but I don't think …" Stewart said with a laugh. "He's gotta cut back into me."
Stewart has gone to the Ravens in a number of mock drafts, so it's possible that he will only get to chase Jackson on the practice field.
