The Raven Effect

Here's one more mock draft after the big Rams/Titans trade, with another predicted trade of my own. Cheers! 1. Rams - QB Carson Wentz 2. 49ers (via CLE) - QB Jared Goff 3. Chargers - T Laremy Tunsil 4. Cowboys - CB/S Jalen Ramsey 5. Jaguars - LB Myles Jack 6. RAVENS - DE Joey Bosa: I'd rather see one of the above three fall (especially Ramsey) but Bosa is the BPA at this point. He's not going to be Watt but I think he'll be a Ryan Kerrigan type of player which means the Ravens pass rush is going to be a force again. 7. Browns (via SF) - DE DeForest Buckner 8. Eagles - T Ronnie Stanley 9. Buccaneers - CB Vernon Hargreaves 10. Giants - RB Ezekiel Elliott 11. Bears - LB Leonard Floyd 12. Saints - DT Sheldon Rankins 13. Dolphins - CB William Jackson 14. Raiders - LB Reggie Ragland 15. Titans - T Jack Conklin 16. Lions - WR Laquon Treadwell 17. Falcons - LB Darron Lee 18. Colts - T Taylor Decker 19. Bills - DE Noah Spence 20. Jets - LB Shaq Lawson (Jets re-sign Fitzpatrick) 21. Redskins - DT A'Shawn Robinson 22. Texans - WR Will Fuller 23. Vikings - WR Josh Doctson 24. Bengals - WR Corey Coleman 25. Steelers - CB Mackensie Alexander 26. Seahawks - DE Robert Nkemdiche 27. Packers - TE Hunter Henry 28. Chiefs - CB Eli Apple 29. Cardinals - LB Jaylon Smith (Note: Smith is out for '16 so this may not be likely, Alt. pick would be DE Kevin Dodd) 30. Panthers - T Jason Spriggs 31. Broncos - DE Emmanuel Ogbah (Broncos trade for Kaepernick) *Patriots forfeit 1st round pick due to deflate-gate* Notable 2nd Round Picks Browns - QB Paxton Lynch Cowboys - RB Derrick Henry Jets - QB Connor Cook Patriots - DE Shilique Calhoun Eagles (via NE) - QB Cardale Jones Ravens Draft Picks 2 - CB Kendall Fuller: 1st round talent but injury concerns cause him to fall and possibly be a potential steal here. His ceiling is pro bowl CB and his floor is all pro IR 3 - WR Sterling Shepard: Favorite WR in the draft. He may not last to this pick but I think his smaller size will cause him to fall to the early third. Have him learn from Steve for a year and watch him blossom into one heck of a playmaker. Great character as well. 4 - T Willie Beavers - Athletic under the radar OL that can possibly be a starting LT in a year or two. 4 - LB Scooby Wright - Gigantic draft wildcard. There's an injury risk and his combine wasn't good, but was insanely productive in college and plays like a Raven x1000. 4 - CB Cyrus Jones - Hometown kid, obligatory Bama pick, potential nickel CB and will shore up the return game. 6 - LB Dadi Nicolas - Pass rush depth, plays athletic and quick. I think he can be coached up to be a key rotational piece if he can add some power to his game.

2016 Mock Draft: *Assuming we re-sign Osemele* 1. Titans - Laremy Tunsil: Gotta make sure Mariota doesn't become human jello 2. Browns - Carson Wentz: Death, taxes, and another new Browns QB. He has some potential though. 3. Chargers - Joey Bosa 4. Cowboys - Jalen Ramsey: This is gonna be tough to see him go before us and if he falls to us I'd take him in a heartbeat, but he just seems like a Cowboys type of player/personality. 5. Jaguars - Vernon Hargreaves 6. Ravens - Myles Jack: Easily BPA here. Dean Pees will have a field day with him thanks to his athleticism and versatility. A perennial pro-bowler and all pro no matter where he plays, or what team he ends up on. Could have an Adalius Thomas like impact on the defense (not really at DE, but at LB/S/and maybe even some RB). 7. 49ers - Jared Goff 8. Dolphins - Ronnie Stanley 9. Buccaneers - DeForest Buckner 10. Giants - Noah Spence 11. Bears - Reggie Ragland 12. Saints - Sheldon Rankins 13. Eagles - Paxton Lynch 14. Raiders - Mackensie Alexander 15. Rams - Laquon Treadwell: Unnecessary speed concerns will cause him to fall a bit. 16. Lions - A'Shawn Robinson 17. Falcons - Leonard Floyd 18. Colts - Jack Conklin 19. Bills - Robert Nkemdiche: He's falling worse than Alicia Keys, but Rex Ryan is gonna salivate over him. 20. Jets - Emmanuel Ogbah 21. Redskins - Jarran Reed 22. Texans - Ezekiel Elliott 23. Vikings - Jason Spriggs 24. Bengals - Michael Thomas: Sanu/Jones both look like they'll be gone, so another playmaker is needed. 25. Steelers - Eli Apple: Pittsburgh needs DB's like fat kids need cake. 26. Seahawks - Taylor Decker 27. Packers - Darron Lee 28. Chiefs - Shaq Lawson 29. Cardinals - Andrew Billings 30. Panthers - Will Fuller 31. Broncos - Shon Coleman *Patriots forfeit 1st round pick due to deflate-gate* Notable 2nd Round Picks Cowboys - Derrick Henry Rams - Connor Cook Falcons - Sterling Shepard: One of my favorite players in the draft, maybe we could trade up because he's gonna be great. Packers - Hunter Henry Ravens Draft Picks 2 - Darian Thompson: Total ball hawk, and the Ravens need someone like that badly. 3 - Pharoh Cooper: I think learning from Steve Smith will help work out the kinks, good speed/hands/character. 4 - Chris Jones: Reminds me of Carl Davis, should've gone higher and will be much better than just a 4th round pick. 4 (comp) - Joe Dahl: T depth, hopefully we can groom him to take over at LT in a year or two. 5 (comp) - Cyrus Jones: Hometown kid, great returner which we need, could be a solid nickel CB. 5 (comp) - Landon Turner: Big road grater, a little under the radar, I think, he'll fit in well in Baltimore. 6 - Vernon Adams: Can compete with Mallett if Joe takes longer to return, Tyrod-esque.

2016 Offseason and Mock Draft (will update as the Ravens make moves) Departures: Osemele - Too costly for G, If we want him at LT, we might be able to keep him Pitta - Cut after June 1st, not sure if he'll ever play again. We're already good at TE Canty - Will probably retire Webb - Cap casualty unless we restructure, or try him out at FS Monroe - Unless he restructures, which I doubt. Too injury prone, might be able to get a draft pick Schaub/Clausen - Mallett will be the last backup QB standing Upshaw - Will get paid somewhere else Re-Signings/Extensions/Restructures: Tucker - Struggled a bit, but still a top five kicker Flacco - I think he'll take one for the team Cox Aiken Orr Jensen Matthews Butler Wright West Clay Potential FA/Trade Targets (Not saying we'll sign them, but guys we may go after) FS Eric Weddle (Age might lower his price, if we don't go S in the draft) DT Haloti Ngata (Maybe a cheapish deal to end his career in Baltimore) CB Trumaine Johnson OLB/DE Mike Neal WR Vincent Jackson (If he's cut), or Anquan Boldin in a situation like Ngata. Alshon Jeffery would be amazing but probably too expensive LT Cordy Glenn (If we don't want KO at LT, probably too expensive but would be nice), or Donald Penn/Jake Long (Veteran presence) Coaching Changes: Chuck Pagano replaces Dean Pees as D-Coordinator (wishful thinking) 2016 Mock Draft: 1. Titans - Laremy Tunsil, T, Ole Miss 2. Browns - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis 3. Chargers - Ronnie Stanley, T, Notre Dame 4. Cowboys - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (DAL trades for Manziel) 5. Jaguars - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida 6. Ravens - Jalen Ramsey, FS, Florida State 7. 49ers - Jared Goff, QB, California 8. Dolphins - Myles Jack, LB, UCLA 9. Buccaneers - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss 10. Giants - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama 11. Bears - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon 12. Saints - Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU 13. Eagles - Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (PHI trades for Kaepernick) 14. Lions - Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson 15. Raiders - Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State 16. Rams - Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State 17. Falcons - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia 18. Colts - Jack Conklin, T, Michigan State 19. Bills - Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama 20. Jets - Jordan Jenkins, OLB, Georgia 21. Seahawks - Vadal Alexander, T, LSU 22. Steelers - Su'a Cravens, OLB/S, USC 23. Vikings - Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State 24. Chiefs - Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Ole Miss 25. Redskins - Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State 26. Texans - Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (HOU signs RG3 after he's cut) 27. Broncos - Le'Raven Clark, T, Texas Tech 28. Packers - Adolphus Washington, DE, Ohio State 29. Bengals - Scooby Wright, LB, Arizoma 30. Cardinals - Cardale Jones, QB, Ohio State 31. Panthers - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU *Patriots forfeit 1st round pick due to deflate-gate* Notable 2nd Round Picks Titans - Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Browns - Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Cowboys - Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama Chargers - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State Giants - Jaylon Smith, LB, Notre Dame Patriots - Travin Dural, WR, LSU Ravens Mock Draft 2nd Round - Desmond King, CB, Iowa 3rd Round - Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma 3rd Round (McPhee Comp) - Yannick Ngakoue, DE/OLB, Maryland 4th Round - Joe Dahl, T, Washington State 4th Round (Gino Trade) - Landon Turner, G, North Carolina 4th Round (Smith Comp) - Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor 5th Round (Taylor Comp) - Kris Frost, ILB, Auburn 6th Round - Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State 7th Round - Jonathan Gray, RB, Texas Thoughts?

Ok. Here's my quick two cents because some of this complaining is getting ridiculous. The Ravens added a healthy Pitta, Steve Smith, Owen Daniels, Jeremy Zuttah, Darian Stewart, and get KO back from injury. Not to mention, OC Gary Kubiak. The Ravens are set at WR apart from maybe a late round developmental guy. Torrey, Steve, Marlon, Jacoby, Laquan (For ST), and Mellette will be our 6. Where would another prospect rationally fit in? Marlon has all the potential in the world to be a dominant WR in my opinion. Don't sleep on him. I'm 99.9% Sure that Eric Winston will be signed so with him and Wagner at RT, we'll be solid. Crockett Gillmore is AT WORST a good blocking tight end with the potiental to become a really good red zone complement to Pitta. Maybe a reach but it's the end of the third round, not the second, not the first. Chill. Terrence Brooks, Timmy Jernigan, and Cj Mosely are all gonna be solid 5-10 year starters and I'm very excited about Brooks, he's gonna be a steal due to his aggressiveness and playmaking ability. Jernigan is a force in the middle and will greatly improve the run defense and open holes for our pass rushers. Mosely is essentially a younger Daryl Smith which is a great thing to have and can be a leader for our defense. Urban reminds me of a fellow raven, Chris Canty, and has a lot of potiential to be a steal in the 4th round. Talliaferro can be our short yardage/goal line back which we desperately need. (Remember that Chicago game where we couldn't get two yards? Exactly.) We still have two more picks left and hey, hopefully we'll get a solid CB/OL/WR (Exum/Washington would be nice) but we're having a very solid draft so far. Three future defensive starters and some key backups and rotational players. The Ravens already had a playoff-caliber roster before the draft thanks to FA and the Zuttah trade. All we really need so far assuming we sign Winston is a rotational CB (who could also be a cut player that Ozzie scoops up), and a solid backup QB (Same). But seriously, just because we didn't get your favorite player doesn't mean we're having a terrible draft. So just sit back, and enjoy the rest of the draft. P.S. - I'm sure we'll have an UDFA steal or two as well. In Ozzie We Trust.

Forest Hill, MD.