Fans don't like the idea of drafting an offensive lineman pick at No. 6 and local media pundits don't see it happening either.
Yet, week after week, Notre Dame left tackle prospect Ronnie Stanley is the most frequent projection to the Ravens in national media's mock drafts.
And turns out, the Ravens are quite high on Stanley too.
Stanley is widely considered the second-best left tackle in this year's class behind Ole Miss's Laremy Tunsil, who is the most widely accepted first-overall pick.
Being the second-best player at their position isn't music to fans' ears, especially when the Ravens hardly ever get to draft as high as they will this year. Baltimore fans want the best player at their spot.
But, rest assured, Stanley is very, very good.
While the chances are higher of the Ravens going defense in the first round, they won't hesitate to pick an offensive player if the board falls that way.
"There's a lot of good defensive talent at the top of this draft," Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday.
"Saying that, we think there are a couple elite left tackles in this draft too. We're going to draft the best guy, regardless, because as we've often said, your needs can change week-to-week."
Stanley is 6-foot-6, 312 pounds. He was a former basketball standout in his hometown of Las Vegas, and has always had a reputation for being highly athletically gifted.
"He's big, he's long, he's athletic. He's an easy mover," said Ravens Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz. "Athletically, he is certainly talented enough to play left tackle. He's a competitive kid."
Stanley could have entered the draft last year as a junior following yet another season in which he started all 13 games and was named the Irish's Offensive Lineman of the Year. However, he opted to stay in school to try to chase an NCAA championship.
"He toyed with the idea of coming out last year, and I think coming back [to Notre Dame] really helped him just hone his game up, in terms of fundamentals, play strength," Hortiz said. "You can see the improvement with how he played last year versus this year."
The Ravens already have left tackle Eugene Monroe on the roster and Owner Steve Bisciotti said Monroe is the team's starter heading into the 2016 season. That means Stanley could be immediately moved to left guard or the other tackle spot, if needed.
"He does a good job of working with his fellow linemen on blocks," Hortiz said. "Certainly, I think he's capable to challenge right away and to step in."
