Ravens Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz sat down to discuss prospects at several positions of need leading up to next month's draft. This is the last installment of a five-part series: defensive linemen, inside linebackers, safeties and offensive tackles.
With outside linebacker and last year's leading sack artist Paul Kruger now in Cleveland, the Ravens don't have a player on the roster with more than five sacks last year.
Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata had five sacks, and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who is now in Miami, had 4.5.
Thus, the Ravens may have their eye on a pass rusher early in this year's draft and they have a solid group to choose from.
Here's Hortiz's take on five interior defensive linemen who could be possibilities for the Ravens in this year's draft:
Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
Junior; 6-foot-4, 250 pounds; 85 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks
"He shows up in the big games. When you're watching LSU he shows up. When you're watching Alabama, he shows up. You'll notice him even when you're not watching him just because he makes a big play."
- Big-time college production (25.5 career sacks)
- Long player who closes well once he clears the tackles
- Tweener-type player who would likely be in a Terrell Suggs-like role in Baltimore, but is more suited to be a 4-3 defensive end
- Slow 40-yard dash at the combine (4.95 seconds) but also pulled his hamstring, so it will be important to see what he runs at his pro day
Margus Hunt, Southern Methodist
Senior; 6-8, 227; 31 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 1 interception
"That's the neat thing about him; he's really tall, really long. He's a little raw, but he definitely has the frame and athleticism to develop. It's just what stage you consider him to be at."
- Estonia native who didn't play football until 2008 after a career in track and field didn't work out
- Immediate impact football player with his freakish athletic ability
- Blocked a "mind-boggling" 17 kicks in college, two short of the NCAA record
- Has to build out his frame a bit to compensate for his height
Brandon Jenkins, Florida State
Senior; 6-2, 251; 2011: 48 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 8 sacks
"That's the one thing that stands out about him; he's got a motor. He plays hard, tries to get to the quarterback. He can win early, he can win late."
- Suffered a Lisfranc injury in the season-opener that knocked him out for the 2012 year
- Looked "rusty" at the combine, which is to be expected for a player who sat out
- More of a speed rusher with excellent burst than a bull-rush type
- Didn't run at the combine, so it will be important to see his pro day
Cornellius "Tank" Carradine, Florida State
Senior; 6-4, 276; 80 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 11 sacks
"He was really having a breakout year."
- Tore his ACL against Florida and will miss the pre-draft process, meaning teams won't get to see him work out as a 3-4 outside linebacker
- May be back for the beginning of the year, but not a certainty
- A little tightness in his body, but he can close and he can run well
- Got his shot after the injury to Jenkins, which made him a defensive end starter opposite first-round prospect Bjoern Werner
Sam Montgomery, LSU
Junior; 6-3, 262; 37 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 8 sacks
"He plays hard. I mean hard. He's got a motor."
- More of a 4-3 defensive end or rush guy
- He has some athletic limitations that probably make him a 4-3 end
- He probably isn't suited to do much dropping in coverage
- Ran well at the combine (4.81-second, 40-yard dash), definitely faster than some OLBs
