The Ravens came out of the 2014 NFL Draft very happy with the value they got.
Now the rookies have to take the field and prove they're worth the high marks. There will be some obstacles along the way that they'll have to overcome.
Here is the top question for each draft pick:
Round 1: ILB C.J. Mosley
Will he stay healthy?Mosley dealt with injuries throughout his college career, which raises concern about his durability and longevity. He had dislocations of his elbow (freshman year) and hip (sophomore year), a knee injury and a shoulder injury, which kept him from fully working out at the combine. He played through them, showing his toughness. Mosley got the thumbs up from Ravens doctors and he said he had no issues* *during the combine and all his visits. "I have a lot of mileage on my body, but I'm ready to go, and my past injuries won't affect my play," Mosley said.
Round 2: DT Timmy Jernigan
Is he drug free?Jernigan likely would have been a first-round pick had it not been for a report that he had a diluted drug sample at the combine. A diluted specimen is different than a failed drug test, but it is sometimes an indication that a player is trying to cover up drugs in their system. Jernigan attributed the drug test result to hydration issues. He was losing a lot of weight and his nutritionist had him drinking a lot more water, and even put him on an IV, leading up to the combine.
Round 3: S Terrence Brooks
Can he become a playmaker?General Manager Ozzie Newsome said at the start of the offseason that he wanted a playmaker at free safety. Brooks has the tools to be one, but didn't show a propensity for getting turnovers in college. He logged just five interceptions during his four years and forced three fumbles. Brooks left a number of interceptions on the field, and will need to work on improving his hands to come up with the ball. He has the speed and instincts to get in position, however.
Round 3: TE Crockett Gillmore
How good a receiver will he be?
Ravens Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak loves to throw the ball to his tight ends. Gillmore flashed soft hands during his career at Colorado State, but he was never a big-time receiver. His biggest receiving year was as a senior when he caught 47 passes for 577 yards and two touchdowns. He scored eight touchdowns in his career. Gillmore will work to refine his receiving game while also serving as a blocking tight end in Baltimore.
Round 4: DE Brent Urban
Will he hit his physical potential?Urban is a physical specimen at a chiseled 6-foot-7, 298 pounds. He certainly looks the part of a big-time NFL defensive end. But he's got limited football experience after getting a late start in Canada. In college, injuries limited his growth, and playing in a system that didn't suit his game limited his chances. Urban is somewhat raw in his technique, but has the tools and the mentality to be a difference maker. Now he's just got to put it together.
Round 5: RB Lorenzo Taliaferro
Is he fast enough?
Taliaferro has a big body, strong running style and plenty of college production. But his speed is what pundits question. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.58 seconds at the combine. "I think my speed is very underrated," Taliaferro said. He said that in college he ran a lot of power football and middle zones, which didn't allow him to showcase his speed. He still outran defenders when he got loose, he said.
Round 5: G/T John Urschel
Is he athletic enough?Urschel has plenty of brains, but as he's said before, football doesn't come as easily to him as mathematics. The knock on Urschel is that he isn't explosive or powerful. Evaluator Nolan Nawrocki said his "athletic ability is average" and that he gets pushed back. Urschel has worked on improving his athleticism this offseason by training in mixed martial arts.
Round 6: QB Keith Wenning
Can he adapt to an NFL system?Wenning worked almost exclusively out of the shotgun formation in college, which will have to change in Kubiak's offensive system. He may need to become more mobile as well to run bootlegs and stop and find a target after play action. Ravens franchise quarterback Joe Flacco worked out of the shotgun a lot in college too, though, and can help show Wenning the ropes. He's a developmental quarterback.
Round 7: WR Michael Campanaro
Will his body hold up in the NFL?There are a lot of small receivers playing in the NFL. But a lot of them put on more bulk to be able to handle the hits they'll take while playing in the slot. Campanaro is a wiry 5-foot-9, 192 pounds. He also had the smallest wingspan (70 ½ inches) of any receiver at the combine, which will make getting off press coverage more difficult. Campanaro will look to get bigger and hone his methods of getting open.
