Mel Kiper Jr. Has Ravens Selecting South Carolina Safety In Latest Mock Draft
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. released his second mock draft as the NFL Scouting Combine gets underway today.
Kiper's first-round pick for the Ravens is South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori.
"This guy is going to catch everyone's eye during combine workouts," Kiper wrote. "His explosiveness at 6-3, 227 pounds is special. But he's more than just traits, having hauled in four interceptions for the Gamecocks this past season.
"If Baltimore is able to land him at No. 27, it can put him next to Kyle Hamilton and essentially take away the third level of the field. And that'd be a good thing, considering the Ravens allowed 58 plays for 20 or more yards this past season, third most in the NFL."
Kiper had the Ravens selecting East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr. in his first mock draft.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah also likes Emmanwori's fit with the Ravens.
Why Ronnie Stanley Is Key to Ravens' Offseason
With free agency beginning in two weeks, the Ravens are nearing a decision on pending free agent left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
Stanley, who would be the top player at his position on the open market, is "in many ways s key to the Baltimore Ravens' offseason," according to The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, who said "it very well might be the most difficult decision General Manager Eric DeCosta has to make all offseason."
"If they re-sign the pending unrestricted free agent left tackle, they can focus on other needs, not worry about another extensive offensive line makeover, and have a good sense of how much salary-cap space and draft capital they'll have to address other roster holes," Zrebiec wrote. "If the Ravens lose Stanley, they'll either have a significant void on quarterback Lamar Jackson's blindside or they'll move starting right tackle Roger Rosengarten to the left side and face the prospects of turning over three offensive line spots for a second straight year.
"Solidifying the offensive line would then become the team's biggest offseason priority, and one of its early picks in April's draft would be earmarked for Stanley's potential replacement. The ramifications for each result would be wide-reaching."
Stanley, who turns 31 next month, battled injuries the past several years but started every game for the first time in his career last season and made the Pro Bowl for the second time. The question is whether the Ravens, who are tight against the cap, will be able to afford him.
"The Ravens typically aren't very interested in — or well positioned to win — a bidding war once their players hit the open market, particularly at premium positions," Zrebiec wrote. "Twelve different offensive tackles are currently making an average of $20 million per year, and six of those players are in their 30s. Is Stanley poised to join that group? Would the cash-strapped Ravens get anywhere close to that number for a player they love and respect, but also know the physical challenges he's endured.
"By the end of this week, the Ravens need to know — or at least have a good idea — whether Stanley will be back for a 10th season in Baltimore. If he isn't, they'll also need to have a contingency plan."
Patrick Mekari Named Most Underrated Offensive Free Agent
Stanley's teammate on the left side of the offensive line, guard Patrick Mekari, also is a pending unrestricted free agent.
While Mekari doesn't have the pedigree of Stanley, ESPN's Bill Barnwell called him the most underrated offensive free agent because of his versatility.
"The utility lineman has started just about everywhere for the Baltimore Ravens – center, right tackle, left tackle, and most recently, left guard," Barnwell said on his podcast. "You're not going to find a ton of guys who have done that and who have done that at a high level.
"He's not going to be a guy who you're going to give $20 million a year to, but having a guy who can play anywhere on the offensive line, who can do a solid job, who can be a sixth offensive lineman, that is such a valuable player. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets more money than people were expecting."
If the Ravens don't re-sign Mekari, they could turn to Andrew Vorhees at left guard. In his first true season, Vorhees won the starting job out of training camp but suffered an early-season ankle injury and Mekari replaced him.
Ravens' Offensive Building Blocks Ranked in Top Five
The Ravens had one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL last season, and they have the pieces to be prolific going forward, according to Bleacher Report’s Mo Moton.
Moton ranked every team's offensive building blocks entering the offseason, and Baltimore's group came in at No. 4. He identified Jackson, running back Derrick Henry, and center Tyler Linderbaum as the building blocks.
"The 28-year-old [Jackson] is one of the league's most prolific and established building blocks," Moton wrote. "Derrick Henry turned 31 in January, but he hasn't shown signs of decline. Even at his age, Henry changed the complexion of the Ravens offense. Tyler Linderbaum has been a steady presence in the middle of the Baltimore offensive line, which had some turnover this past season. In three terms, Linderbaum, 24, put together two Pro Bowl seasons as the rock-solid anchor of the front line."
Moton neglected to mention 24-year-old wide receiver Zay Flowers, who has caught 151 passes for 1,917 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two seasons.
Shannon Sharpe Pushes Back on 2000 Ravens' Low Spot in Super Bowl Champion Rankings
CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo ranked every Super Bowl champion since the turn of the century, and the 2000 Ravens were all the way down at No. 24.
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe, who played on that team, which featured one of the all-time greatest defenses, took exception to the ranking.
"I guarantee you, if they let us play by the rules that they played by, not one of those offenses score on that Ravens defense," Sharpe said on his podcast. "They won't get more than 14 points."
That includes the No. 1 team in the rankings, the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles, who were led by 2,000-yard running back Saquon Barkley.
"He [would] of had 37 yards against that defense," Sharpe said of Barkley, who rushed for 57 yards against the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. "You're not running, because you got [defensive tackles] Sam [Adams] and [Tony Siragusa], and [middle linebacker] Ray [Lewis] is running free. Ray's hunting."
Sharpe noted that the 2000 Ravens allowed just one touchdown and 16 total points in four postseason games.
By the way, the 2012 Ravens were No. 13 in the rankings.
