While Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta isn't ruling out the possibility of Florida State's Jalen Ramsey sliding to pick No. 6, it would still be a surprise.
If Ramsey isn't there, the only other cornerback worth consideration for that high of a pick would be Florida's playmaking, yet smaller-statured, Vernon Hargreaves.
So what if the Ravens don't get either playmaker?
Well, with defensive playmakers still high on the Ravens' wish list, don't expect them to wait too long when it comes to drafting a cornerback. And Round 2 may just be the fruitful spot.
"I think you're going to see a run on corners probably between 20 and 45, right in there," Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta said. "We might see five guys get picked right in that range."
DeCosta rattled off these names as possibilities:
- Eli Apple, Ohio State
- William Jackson III, Houston
- Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech
- Cyrus Jones, Alabama
- Xavien Howard, Baylor
- Will Redmond, Mississippi State
"It's a good year for corner, for sure," DeCosta said. "You've got some really good, strong players at that position."
The Ravens have only once drafted a cornerback in the second round and it happened in their inaugural draft. Tennessee cornerback DaRon Jenkins was Baltimore's draft choice after Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis.
Baltimore used its first-round pick on a corner three times: Duane Starks (1998), Chris McAlister (1999) and Jimmy Smith (2011).
When it comes to a high-value position like cornerback, and given the pass-heavy nature of the NFL these days, teams often jump at adding defensive backs on the outside.
The Ravens don't have a glaring hole at cornerback with Smith and Shareece Wright re-signed to be the starters. Baltimore also has Will Davis and Kyle Arrington. But Baltimore will have to be aggressive to bolster the group via the draft.
"If history is an indicator, every legitimate starting-type corner is going to be off the board midway through the third round," DeCosta said. "They fly off the board."
