My Draft Grade

[Crabcakes&Football]

Absolutely ... Gilmore did not disappoint. He did what was asked of him and started to contribute more at the end of the season.

What scares me on the item I highlighted. Since Williams was the best TE in the draft, some people seem to think he's going to instantly be Dennis Pitta in his prime. The kid is 21 ... it is going to take a little working in before he gets comfortable enough to be really effective.

IIRC, CG was named to the all-rookie team last year. https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/01/13/2014-pff-all-rookie-team/ Edited May 3, 2015 by Crabcakes&Football

[Mad Puppy]

Once again I've reappeared...

 

Anyways, long time no see, my brothers and sisters. I'm sure many of us can remember me being... critical of the past drafts from us (*cough*TorreySmith*cough*), so it's actually really refreshing that I'm, well, happy with this one.

 

To begin with, I had us taking Marcus Peters or Breshad Perriman in the first. I do believe if Kansas City hadn't puzzlingly snatched Peters up at 18, we may have well taken him. I did not expect Maxx to be anywhere near us in the second, so I had us taking Quinten Rollins from Miami Ohio. After seeing how the first two days went, my approach to what I wanted in the fourth through sixth was:

4th: RB David Cobb

4th: CB Charles Gaines (Surprised he fell so far)

4th: OLB Davis Tull

5th: CB Kevin White (still cannot believe this kid went undrafted)

5th: WR DeAndre Smelter

6th: OG Bobby Hart

 

I was completely off on the players themselves, but not far off position-wise, if you swapped out the second corner for the tight end.

 

As for the draft itself, I'm pretty happy with it. I think Ozzie, Eric, and company got tremendous value at most of their picks. If we're looking at it more in depth, though...

 

Round 1 (26): Central Florida WR Breshad Perriman

I know this is another polarizing pick for some fans from what I've seen. Some would have much rather had Jaelen Strong here, but I think Perriman is an ideal fit here, truthfully. Some people are really turned off by the drops that ESPN ripped into him for, but I do believe that it's more of a mental aspect, rather than an issue with his hands. When you examine his entire body of work, though, he is exactly everything that the team needs at receiver. Big body. Good catch radius. Isn't afraid to climb the ladder to high point the passes. Dangerous after the catch on slants over the middle. Oh.... and fast. I apologise because I can't remember where I saw it, but someone likened Perriman to Andre Johnson with Josh Gordon speed, which I somewhat agree with. Speaking of Andre, when he was coming out of college, people praised his blend of size and speed, while questioning his route running and ability to catch the ball. Well, he turned out pretty well. I'm not saying he's the next Andre Johnson, just that some players are better pros than college players. And when all is said and done, I wouldn't be surprised is the best receiver out of this class after Cooper and White.

Grade: A

 

Round 2 (55): Minnesota TE Maxx Williams

This very well may be the best pick of out draft, and it wouldn't surprise anyone. The value aspect of the pick is off the chart, since there were talks of him being a middle of the first pick earlier in the draft season. Watching Maxx, he doesn't seem to play very fast, but I find it somewhat deceptive. Even so, he has no issues getting open, whether it's down the seam, or breaking inside or towards the side line. Speaking of the side line, he's good at getting the feet down in bounds. Williams' catch radius is amazing, and he makes some difficult catches, even against tight coverage. Much like Perriman, he can high point the ball and come down with those high passes. His ability to make all the hard catches, along with his big frame is going to give linebackers and smaller corners fits. If Pitta is healthy and can continue his playing career, he and Williams could be Baltimore's version of Gronkowski and Hernandez (before the truth of what he did for a hobby came out). We've all seen what tight ends do in a Trestman offense, which bodes well for Maxx.

Grade: A+

 

Round 3 (90): Iowa DT Carl Davis

If a cornerback wasn't taken in the first two rounds, I fully expected one to be had in the third. Granted, with the way the dominos were falling at the position, I could understand why Ozzie and Eric saw any cornerback a reach at this point. I did not see a defensive lineman at this juncture, though. I'm really off and on about this pick when it comes down to it. From a need standpoint, I saw a need for depth at line over immediate return after resigning Canty. Upon thinking of it further, Canty isn't the long term answer, and could benefit from young blood to rotate in and mentor. This is where I do see Davis playing a role. Jernigan should have one end spot locked in, and I believe Brandon Williams should be the one manning the nose tackle spot. Davis could eventually be the third piece to that defensive line. Sure, he may not be an always-on pass rusher, but he should be a run stuffing anchor, that could wrap up some blocks for the outside linebackers. Honestly, on short yardage, and obvious run downs, having Upshaw on one side of the line and Davis on the other could really make it difficult for opposing running backs... if Davis pans out. Davis was another player that some people thought could be a late first/early second pick, so the value was there and could pay dividends in the long run.

Grade: B+

 

Round 4 (122): Kentucky OLB Za'Darius Smith

This is one of my two favorite picks (the other I'll get into later). In my mocks, I frequently had Baltimore nabbing Smith to groom for a future spot post-Doom/Suggs, while taking over for McPhee in the mean time. Oh, and we all know how much Baltimore loves it's "Smiths". I absolutely love his size and non stop motor on plays. Smith just doesn't give up on plays, both against the run and the pass. Plays to the whistle, and tracks the ball/carrier well, he can really be a handful around the edge. Weaker offensive linemen could really be abused by the large Smith, which may lead to alot of linemen being walked back into the quarterback they're charged with protecting. While most people talk about Dupree when it comes to linebackers from Kentucky this year, I really think Smith isn't that far behind him, and could have flirted with being a late third pick too.

Grade: A-

 

Round 4 (125): Southern California RB  Javorius Allen

I'm not surprised that we waited this long to take a running back, although I wasn't exactly expecting Allen. Personally, I was hoping we'd snatch up Minnesota's David Cobb, who I think could turn into a monster running back. Once you take scheme into consideration, though, Allen makes total sense. In a Trestman offense, the running back needs to have a set of hands to go with his wheels (see exhibit A: Forte, Matt), and Allen has both. He ran for over 700 yards, and had over 200 yards receiving his sophomore year before skyrocketing both his junior year when he ran for over 1400 and had over 400 yards receiving. I've seen some statements on him being more of a compliment piece in a backfield over a feature guy, which I don't disagree with exactly. But once you take this scheme into consideration, I think Allen could flourish as a starter after a few years playing Robin to Forsett's Batman. He could very well be another version of Rice in his prime, when it comes to making plays in both the rushing game and passing game. He doesn't have the patience or balance that Rice did, but he is better at running through contact, and makes some pretty slick slashing cuts. Don't be surprised if one day Allen takes over with Taliaferro plays relief and short, power yardage downs.

Grade: B

 

Round 4 (136): Texas Southern CB Tray Walker

Not a fan of this pick at all really. We all know the team loves it's small school prospects, and usually does hit on them. I truly hope this is one of those instances. Walker definitely has the size that I think the team wants manning the backfield and can play press well. However, I don't think he'll be immediately ready to contribute a ton in his first year (or two even).  After getting some time and coaching under his belt, he may eventually shine as a potential outside corner to pair with Jimmy and maybe Webb in the slot.  But after a year where the team needed any Joe Schmo it could sign to fill in for the countless injuries at the position, I would have liked to have seen a more ready cornerback, such as Louisville's Charles Gaines.

Grade: C-

 

Round 5 (171): Delaware TE Nick Boyle

Maybe the front office knows more about Pitta's health than they're letting on. Otherwise, I'm not too sure I understand the pick. Second rounder Maxx Williams could easily handle a starting role, and second year Crockett Gillmore handled his role as second on the depth chart admirably last year. So even if Pitta can't return and they needed a third tight end, they could go with Supernaw or look into a potential free agent/undrafted free agent while addressing another position. Taking the pick for the player himself though, it isn't a bad pick. Boyle has good size and a nice mix of blocking and receiving talents, similar to someone they already have with Gillmore. I could see Boyle eventually panning out into a solid secondary piece to the offense that specializes in blocking, but able to hit a soft spot on a short route if needed. I just would have rather had the team go a different route than tight end with this pick.

Grade: C

 

Round 5 (176): Tennessee State OG Robert Myers

Another small school pick, this time on offense. Most expected Baltimore to address some offensive line depth in the draft, and I originally had them waiting until their last pick, either with Bobby Hart or Miami's Jon Feliciano (who I just cannot fathom being picked in the fourth by Oakland... and I'm a 'Canes fan). Myers isn't going to be someone like Yanda who can be kicked out to tackle in a pinch, he'll stuggle in that much open space. But at guard, he has some potential. Myers has good size and seems to have a head for the game. I don't see him being an eventual starter (but I hope Yanda and Osemele can both be retained), but I think he could be a tremendous back up/spot starter, similar to Urschel last year, just with a lower ceiling.

Grade: B+

 

Round 6 (204): Georgia Tech WR Darren Waller

This is my other favorite pick that I mentioned earlier. Originally, I had us taking Waller's teammate Smelter at the end of the fifth round, but I never thought Smelter would have been taken in the fourth. In that same vein though, I never would have thought that Waller would be available in the sixth. Waller is an absolute mammoth of a receiver at 6'6, and uses every inch on high passes. He uses his crazy athleticism to make plays from sideline to sideliner and down field. Waller may be a bit rough at the moment, and coming from a very, very, VERY run heavy offense, but the potential is off the charts. He uses his body well to push around, block, and fight for the ball, while keeping track of where he is to make sure he completes the catch. I wouldn't expect him to contribute much this year, and wouldn't be surprised to see him stashed somehow, whether risking it on the practice squad or... otherwise. Waller absolutely needs to be kept and developed, his ceiling is just too high, which is even more impressive as a sixth round pick, to pass by. Waller could eventually turn into a monster receiver starting alongside Perriman down the road, abusing smaller cornerbacks as he makes plays.

Grade: A

 

Overall:

I can't remember the last time Baltimore came away with such an offense heavy draft, but that's a good thing right now. The defense is perfectly fine (as long as not every cornerback is injuried), it's the offense that needs that little push to get it up over the hump. The best part of the draft was that Ozzie and Eric didn't sacrifice value for need. Nearly every pick was had at absolutely tremendous value (Williams, Davis, Waller), and filled either an immediate or near future need. Multiple starters could come from this class (Perriman, Williams, Davis, Smith, Allen, and Waller), while long term depth could also be had.

Grade: A-

 

I have one last thought to mostly amuse myself. Going with the assumption that Trestman is successful and sticks around for a while, and the hopeful thinking that Pitta will continue playing and remain his talented, effective self, the offense has some nice long term sustainability.

 

In a few years, I see the starting offense looking a little something like:

 

QB - J. Flacco

HB - J. Allen

FB - K. Juszczyk

WR - B. Perriman (outside), D. Waller (outside), M. Campanaro (slot)

TE - M. Williams, D. Pitta

LT - E. Monroe

LG - K. Osemele

C - J. Urschel

RG - M. Yanda

RT - R. Wagner

 

The skill positions may look underwhelming right now, but I have high hopes for Allen and Waller to really flourish in the Trestman offense. Flacco would have two 6'4 tight ends, a 6'2 receiver, a 6'6 receiver and a 5'9 receiver to throw to. That's alot of size that has alot of speed to match it. Hopefully we won't be talking about a lack of weapons for the offense soon... Joe has to be happy.

 

For the most part I agree with the assessment.

Love the first 4 picks.

Only places I differ are on the end of the draft.

Boyle TE Delaware: Has a uphill battle to make the team, there is still a chance the team looks for a veteran once camps start. 

Walker CB Texas Southern: I like the bigger Corners and he is one of those, The Ravens are good at evaluating small school prospects, I know nothing about this guy, so will have to wait and see.

Meyers OG Tennesee State: I actually think we need another tackle more, Monroe is on his last legs.

Waller WR GT: Very low chance he makes the team, There is some real competition ahead of him, I like that we double dipped, but we do not have great success in late rounds with the tall receivers. I do like the potential, likely a IR candidate...But to give this an A is a stretch.

 

There are a coule of LB's that are undrafted I would like to see brought into camp:

ILB: Taiwan Jones

OLB: Alani Fua

 

And due to my percption that Tackle is a need, if La'El Collins clears his name bring him in as a undrafted free agent.

Edited May 3, 2015 by Mad Puppy

[AwakenTheDemon]

For the most part I agree with the assessment.

Love the first 4 picks.

Only places I differ are on the end of the draft.

Boyle TE Delaware: Has a uphill battle to make the team, there is still a chance the team looks for a veteran once camps start. 

Walker CB Texas Southern: I like the bigger Corners and he is one of those, The Ravens are good at evaluating small school prospects, I know nothing about this guy, so will have to wait and see.

Meyers OG Tennesee State: I actually think we need another tackle more, Monroe is on his last legs.

Waller WR GT: Very low chance he makes the team, There is some real competition ahead of him, I like that we double dipped, but we do not have great success in late rounds with the tall receivers. I do like the potential, likely a IR candidate...But to give this an A is a stretch.

 

There are a coule of LB's that are undrafted I would like to see brought into camp:

ILB: Taiwan Jones

OLB: Alani Fua

 

And due to my percption that Tackle is a need, if La'El Collins clears his name bring him in as a undrafted free agent.

 

Taiwan Jones signed with the Jets, Fua with the Cardinals. I think Collins' is off the radar for us. I believe Waller was the only pick we had that had any sort of significant red flags, with two one game suspensions and I think a positive test? Even if Collins is cleared, this circus was way too much with how the Ravens are approaching PR and any sort of issues with players. Hell, Pierce may have tanked the past two seasons, but he was pretty clean off the field. They didn't blink twice cutting him over a DUI.

 

Monroe just signed a big deal last off season, he's young, and I still think it's way too early to say he's on his last legs. If, if, Monroe struggles this year, then I'd see Baltimore take an offensive tackle next year to take over and replace him. But I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Monroe is closer to who we traded for, than what we somewhat got.

 

Meanwhile, the depth at guard is pretty thin outside of Urschel. The team also needed to potentially plan for the future in case Osemele or Yanda are no longer in black and purple (both are in the last year of their contracts). We really don't want to walk into the draft next year with an absolutely glaring hole on the offensive line, potentially two if Monroe still struggles.

 

Waller was seen as a third or fourth round pick, and his ceiling is high. So grabbing him in the sixth was crazy value for someone who can play at a potential high level. I even said he'll most likely be stashed either on the practice squad (and risk him getting plundered) or by heading to IR with an injury.  Otherwise, we have eight receivers right now counting Perriman and Waller. That also includes Jeremy Butler and Aldrick Robinson. Its not a stretch that the team could see Waller's potential as being greater than Butler or Robinson, and keeps him especially if Waller is willing and able to play special teams.

Edited May 3, 2015 by AwakenTheDemon

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I know this one very true FACT... Oz and his staff have watched and talked to the players drafted and their coaches more than I ever have or ever will. That being said I like what Oz and the front offices did in this years draft. I knew we needed some help at a few positions: WR, TE, DB, DL and OL some we just needed depth and some we needed true compitetion at the position and we also have some contracts comming due next season that we may not be able to extend. Oz and his crew picked up every one of these positions in the draft and added a few more threw undrafted rookie free agents. I give Oz and the Ravens staff an A because of these points I just made......

Edited May 3, 2015 by ALSKAN RAVEN FAN

[FlackAttack]

Once again I've reappeared...

 

Anyways, long time no see, my brothers and sisters. I'm sure many of us can remember me being... critical of the past drafts from us (*cough*TorreySmith*cough*), so it's actually really refreshing that I'm, well, happy with this one.

 

To begin with, I had us taking Marcus Peters or Breshad Perriman in the first. I do believe if Kansas City hadn't puzzlingly snatched Peters up at 18, we may have well taken him. I did not expect Maxx to be anywhere near us in the second, so I had us taking Quinten Rollins from Miami Ohio. After seeing how the first two days went, my approach to what I wanted in the fourth through sixth was:

4th: RB David Cobb

4th: CB Charles Gaines (Surprised he fell so far)

4th: OLB Davis Tull

5th: CB Kevin White (still cannot believe this kid went undrafted)

5th: WR DeAndre Smelter

6th: OG Bobby Hart

 

I was completely off on the players themselves, but not far off position-wise, if you swapped out the second corner for the tight end.

 

As for the draft itself, I'm pretty happy with it. I think Ozzie, Eric, and company got tremendous value at most of their picks. If we're looking at it more in depth, though...

 

Round 1 (26): Central Florida WR Breshad Perriman

I know this is another polarizing pick for some fans from what I've seen. Some would have much rather had Jaelen Strong here, but I think Perriman is an ideal fit here, truthfully. Some people are really turned off by the drops that ESPN ripped into him for, but I do believe that it's more of a mental aspect, rather than an issue with his hands. When you examine his entire body of work, though, he is exactly everything that the team needs at receiver. Big body. Good catch radius. Isn't afraid to climb the ladder to high point the passes. Dangerous after the catch on slants over the middle. Oh.... and fast. I apologise because I can't remember where I saw it, but someone likened Perriman to Andre Johnson with Josh Gordon speed, which I somewhat agree with. Speaking of Andre, when he was coming out of college, people praised his blend of size and speed, while questioning his route running and ability to catch the ball. Well, he turned out pretty well. I'm not saying he's the next Andre Johnson, just that some players are better pros than college players. And when all is said and done, I wouldn't be surprised is the best receiver out of this class after Cooper and White.

Grade: A

 

Round 2 (55): Minnesota TE Maxx Williams

This very well may be the best pick of out draft, and it wouldn't surprise anyone. The value aspect of the pick is off the chart, since there were talks of him being a middle of the first pick earlier in the draft season. Watching Maxx, he doesn't seem to play very fast, but I find it somewhat deceptive. Even so, he has no issues getting open, whether it's down the seam, or breaking inside or towards the side line. Speaking of the side line, he's good at getting the feet down in bounds. Williams' catch radius is amazing, and he makes some difficult catches, even against tight coverage. Much like Perriman, he can high point the ball and come down with those high passes. His ability to make all the hard catches, along with his big frame is going to give linebackers and smaller corners fits. If Pitta is healthy and can continue his playing career, he and Williams could be Baltimore's version of Gronkowski and Hernandez (before the truth of what he did for a hobby came out). We've all seen what tight ends do in a Trestman offense, which bodes well for Maxx.

Grade: A+

 

Round 3 (90): Iowa DT Carl Davis

If a cornerback wasn't taken in the first two rounds, I fully expected one to be had in the third. Granted, with the way the dominos were falling at the position, I could understand why Ozzie and Eric saw any cornerback a reach at this point. I did not see a defensive lineman at this juncture, though. I'm really off and on about this pick when it comes down to it. From a need standpoint, I saw a need for depth at line over immediate return after resigning Canty. Upon thinking of it further, Canty isn't the long term answer, and could benefit from young blood to rotate in and mentor. This is where I do see Davis playing a role. Jernigan should have one end spot locked in, and I believe Brandon Williams should be the one manning the nose tackle spot. Davis could eventually be the third piece to that defensive line. Sure, he may not be an always-on pass rusher, but he should be a run stuffing anchor, that could wrap up some blocks for the outside linebackers. Honestly, on short yardage, and obvious run downs, having Upshaw on one side of the line and Davis on the other could really make it difficult for opposing running backs... if Davis pans out. Davis was another player that some people thought could be a late first/early second pick, so the value was there and could pay dividends in the long run.

Grade: B+

 

Round 4 (122): Kentucky OLB Za'Darius Smith

This is one of my two favorite picks (the other I'll get into later). In my mocks, I frequently had Baltimore nabbing Smith to groom for a future spot post-Doom/Suggs, while taking over for McPhee in the mean time. Oh, and we all know how much Baltimore loves it's "Smiths". I absolutely love his size and non stop motor on plays. Smith just doesn't give up on plays, both against the run and the pass. Plays to the whistle, and tracks the ball/carrier well, he can really be a handful around the edge. Weaker offensive linemen could really be abused by the large Smith, which may lead to alot of linemen being walked back into the quarterback they're charged with protecting. While most people talk about Dupree when it comes to linebackers from Kentucky this year, I really think Smith isn't that far behind him, and could have flirted with being a late third pick too.

Grade: A-

 

Round 4 (125): Southern California RB  Javorius Allen

I'm not surprised that we waited this long to take a running back, although I wasn't exactly expecting Allen. Personally, I was hoping we'd snatch up Minnesota's David Cobb, who I think could turn into a monster running back. Once you take scheme into consideration, though, Allen makes total sense. In a Trestman offense, the running back needs to have a set of hands to go with his wheels (see exhibit A: Forte, Matt), and Allen has both. He ran for over 700 yards, and had over 200 yards receiving his sophomore year before skyrocketing both his junior year when he ran for over 1400 and had over 400 yards receiving. I've seen some statements on him being more of a compliment piece in a backfield over a feature guy, which I don't disagree with exactly. But once you take this scheme into consideration, I think Allen could flourish as a starter after a few years playing Robin to Forsett's Batman. He could very well be another version of Rice in his prime, when it comes to making plays in both the rushing game and passing game. He doesn't have the patience or balance that Rice did, but he is better at running through contact, and makes some pretty slick slashing cuts. Don't be surprised if one day Allen takes over with Taliaferro plays relief and short, power yardage downs.

Grade: B

 

Round 4 (136): Texas Southern CB Tray Walker

Not a fan of this pick at all really. We all know the team loves it's small school prospects, and usually does hit on them. I truly hope this is one of those instances. Walker definitely has the size that I think the team wants manning the backfield and can play press well. However, I don't think he'll be immediately ready to contribute a ton in his first year (or two even).  After getting some time and coaching under his belt, he may eventually shine as a potential outside corner to pair with Jimmy and maybe Webb in the slot.  But after a year where the team needed any Joe Schmo it could sign to fill in for the countless injuries at the position, I would have liked to have seen a more ready cornerback, such as Louisville's Charles Gaines.

Grade: C-

 

Round 5 (171): Delaware TE Nick Boyle

Maybe the front office knows more about Pitta's health than they're letting on. Otherwise, I'm not too sure I understand the pick. Second rounder Maxx Williams could easily handle a starting role, and second year Crockett Gillmore handled his role as second on the depth chart admirably last year. So even if Pitta can't return and they needed a third tight end, they could go with Supernaw or look into a potential free agent/undrafted free agent while addressing another position. Taking the pick for the player himself though, it isn't a bad pick. Boyle has good size and a nice mix of blocking and receiving talents, similar to someone they already have with Gillmore. I could see Boyle eventually panning out into a solid secondary piece to the offense that specializes in blocking, but able to hit a soft spot on a short route if needed. I just would have rather had the team go a different route than tight end with this pick.

Grade: C

 

Round 5 (176): Tennessee State OG Robert Myers

Another small school pick, this time on offense. Most expected Baltimore to address some offensive line depth in the draft, and I originally had them waiting until their last pick, either with Bobby Hart or Miami's Jon Feliciano (who I just cannot fathom being picked in the fourth by Oakland... and I'm a 'Canes fan). Myers isn't going to be someone like Yanda who can be kicked out to tackle in a pinch, he'll stuggle in that much open space. But at guard, he has some potential. Myers has good size and seems to have a head for the game. I don't see him being an eventual starter (but I hope Yanda and Osemele can both be retained), but I think he could be a tremendous back up/spot starter, similar to Urschel last year, just with a lower ceiling.

Grade: B+

 

Round 6 (204): Georgia Tech WR Darren Waller

This is my other favorite pick that I mentioned earlier. Originally, I had us taking Waller's teammate Smelter at the end of the fifth round, but I never thought Smelter would have been taken in the fourth. In that same vein though, I never would have thought that Waller would be available in the sixth. Waller is an absolute mammoth of a receiver at 6'6, and uses every inch on high passes. He uses his crazy athleticism to make plays from sideline to sideliner and down field. Waller may be a bit rough at the moment, and coming from a very, very, VERY run heavy offense, but the potential is off the charts. He uses his body well to push around, block, and fight for the ball, while keeping track of where he is to make sure he completes the catch. I wouldn't expect him to contribute much this year, and wouldn't be surprised to see him stashed somehow, whether risking it on the practice squad or... otherwise. Waller absolutely needs to be kept and developed, his ceiling is just too high, which is even more impressive as a sixth round pick, to pass by. Waller could eventually turn into a monster receiver starting alongside Perriman down the road, abusing smaller cornerbacks as he makes plays.

Grade: A

 

Overall:

I can't remember the last time Baltimore came away with such an offense heavy draft, but that's a good thing right now. The defense is perfectly fine (as long as not every cornerback is injuried), it's the offense that needs that little push to get it up over the hump. The best part of the draft was that Ozzie and Eric didn't sacrifice value for need. Nearly every pick was had at absolutely tremendous value (Williams, Davis, Waller), and filled either an immediate or near future need. Multiple starters could come from this class (Perriman, Williams, Davis, Smith, Allen, and Waller), while long term depth could also be had.

Grade: A-

 

I have one last thought to mostly amuse myself. Going with the assumption that Trestman is successful and sticks around for a while, and the hopeful thinking that Pitta will continue playing and remain his talented, effective self, the offense has some nice long term sustainability.

 

In a few years, I see the starting offense looking a little something like:

 

QB - J. Flacco

HB - J. Allen

FB - K. Juszczyk

WR - B. Perriman (outside), D. Waller (outside), M. Campanaro (slot)

TE - M. Williams, D. Pitta

LT - E. Monroe

LG - K. Osemele

C - J. Urschel

RG - M. Yanda

RT - R. Wagner

 

The skill positions may look underwhelming right now, but I have high hopes for Allen and Waller to really flourish in the Trestman offense. Flacco would have two 6'4 tight ends, a 6'2 receiver, a 6'6 receiver and a 5'9 receiver to throw to. That's alot of size that has alot of speed to match it. Hopefully we won't be talking about a lack of weapons for the offense soon... Joe has to be happy.

 

LOL @ thinking Waller will ever be a starting receiver.

[JoeyFlex5]

LOL @ thinking Waller will ever be a starting receiver.

waller does seem different than the other super tall project receivers we have drafted though, ill say he certainly has a better shot than tommy streeter or justin harper or jeremy butler ever had, he has good hands and can highpoint the ball and pluck it out of the air, and make contested catches, those guys just ran down the field and tried to body catch everything and it made their height useless. still thinks its a longshot though, and i thought dezmin lewis was a far better prospect and has legit #1 wr potential, and was one of the steals of the draft

[AwakenTheDemon]

LOL @ thinking Waller will ever be a starting receiver.

 

I'm sure everyone said the same thing about a 7th round pick out of smaller school Hofstra called Marques Colston. But seems like he turned out pretty well, right?

 

Waller is coming from a very run first offense, where he did pretty damn well when they actually passed the ball, routinely beating coverage and making some tough catches while averaging 19 yards a catch. I do believe I said he'll need time to develop since he came from a triple option offense. You can't coach up size. You can't coach up speed. You can coach up route running, catching, and the fundamentals of the game. The good thing, Waller has size and speed in spades, and the times he got to catch, he wasn't half bad. You don't just stumble into a third round grade by being 6'6.

Edited May 4, 2015 by AwakenTheDemon

[FlocksGottaFeed]

My humble assessment of our overall draft: Solid 'A'.

Very similar to several NFL draft insiders (Mel Kiper and the rest).

 

Grade: A

http://espn.go.com/blog/baltimore-ravens/post/_/id/19800/mel-kipers-grade-for-ravens-2015-draft

 

Great job Oz in company!!! Thank you.

[beanfigger]

If B. Perriman, M. Williams, C. Davis, Z. Smith, and B. Allen, collectively, prove to be better than T. Smith, O. Daniels, H. Ngata, P. McPhee, and B. Pierce, who they will be respectively replacing, then this draft will end up being one of the best we've had. That's how I'll measure this draft. The final 4 picks are all gravy, and can become so much more than that if T. Walker winds up becoming a serviceable nickel/injury replacement corner, N. Boyle shows everyone that is doubting him that he is probably the best blocking TE on our current squad already and has reliable hands for short chunks when we need them, R. Myers becomes a contender for starts if we are unable to re-sign both guards next season, and D. Waller makes the team and makes a few plays (special teams or on offense).

 

This is all unknown, but I see this all as a real possibility. I'm loving the draft right now.

[FlocksGottaFeed]

If B. Perriman, M. Williams, C. Davis, Z. Smith, and B. Allen, collectively, prove to be better than T. Smith, O. Daniels, H. Ngata, P. McPhee, and B. Pierce, who they will be respectively replacing, then this draft will end up being one of the best we've had. That's how I'll measure this draft. The final 4 picks are all gravy, and can become so much more than that if T. Walker winds up becoming a serviceable nickel/injury replacement corner, N. Boyle shows everyone that is doubting him that he is probably the best blocking TE on our current squad already and has reliable hands for short chunks when we need them, R. Myers becomes a contender for starts if we are unable to re-sign both guards next season, and D. Waller makes the team and makes a few plays (special teams or on offense).

 

This is all unknown, but I see this all as a real possibility. I'm loving the draft right now.

Agreed.

[TXRavensFan]

i wasnt happy with the pick at first either, but you have to look at everything, there isnt much reason to believe the guy will just straight up drop every pass thrown his way, especially when he still has a better combo of hands and body control than any wr on this team not named steve. 

 

I agree. Personally, I think entirely too much is being made of his drops. As noted many times, they were the result of concentration issues, not bad hands, and he has steadily improved in that area. The front office and coaches also feel that this is something that isn't much of a concern and can be corrected.

 

Let's also not forget that as others have noted, "concentration drops" were weaknesses listed in the scouting reports of guys like Andre Johnson, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and Odell Beckham to name a few - these guys turned out ok, I'd say.

 

As another point of reference, I was scanning the fantasy football sites (they seem pretty consistent that Perriman is a definite draft in Rookie leagues), and I found these analyses:

 

- In fact, the list of big name players who’ve posted a 13 percent drop rate or higher at some point since PFF started charting is pretty star-studded. It includes Torrey Smith, Kelvin Benjamin, Martavis Bryant, Vincent Jackson, T.Y. Hilton, Jordy Nelson, Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Terrell Owens, Marques Colston, Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss, and Roddy White.

 

- The data indicates that Breshad Perriman’s closest comparable is Kevin White, and Kevin White’s best comparable is Breshad Perriman. Furthermore, the variance between White and Perriman is the smallest variance between two comparable WRs in the 2015 draft class. According to abilities that we can actually measure, White and Perriman are doppelgängers.

Why then do 100 out of 100 NFL draft analysts rate Kevin White ahead of Breshad Perriman?

1. Industry groupthink – why draft Teddy Bridgewater when you can have Johnny Manziel?!?!
2. Quarterback play. Justin Holman – while Clint Trickett was a top-40 college quarterback by every measure (67.1 completion percentage, 7.8 YPA, 67.8 Total QBR), Justin Holman fell outside the top-50 in all categories, and his 56.9 percent completion percentage, in particular, made it more challenging for Breshad Perriman to impress NFL talent evaluators and sport media draft analysts.

If Breshad Perriman and Kevin White traded jerseys and quarterbacks last season, Perriman would be a top-10 lock, and Kevin White would be the “late riser.”

[JoeyFlex5]

I agree. Personally, I think entirely too much is being made of his drops. As noted many times, they were the result of concentration issues, not bad hands, and he has steadily improved in that area. The front office and coaches also feel that this is something that isn't much of a concern and can be corrected.

 

Let's also not forget that as others have noted, "concentration drops" were weaknesses listed in the scouting reports of guys like Andre Johnson, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and Odell Beckham to name a few - these guys turned out ok, I'd say.

 

As another point of reference, I was scanning the fantasy football sites (they seem pretty consistent that Perriman is a definite draft in Rookie leagues), and I found these analyses:

if that quote is true, then wow, im happy. haha

[TXRavensFan]

if that quote is true, then wow, im happy. haha

 

Here's the link where I got those two quotes, it was te last place I visited before posting....and yeah, I'm happy too lol

[BmoreBird22]

Literally every single site I've seen that has graded the draft has given the Ravens an A- at least.

[AwakenTheDemon]

I agree. Personally, I think entirely too much is being made of his drops. As noted many times, they were the result of concentration issues, not bad hands, and he has steadily improved in that area. The front office and coaches also feel that this is something that isn't much of a concern and can be corrected.

 

Let's also not forget that as others have noted, "concentration drops" were weaknesses listed in the scouting reports of guys like Andre Johnson, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas and Odell Beckham to name a few - these guys turned out ok, I'd say.

 

As another point of reference, I was scanning the fantasy football sites (they seem pretty consistent that Perriman is a definite draft in Rookie leagues), and I found these analyses:

 

Thank you for that snippet regarding drops. Maybe people who are trashing Breshad for his drops should start throwing the same critism at that, almost who's-who, list of receivers as well

[TXRavensFan]

Thank you for that snippet regarding drops. Maybe people who are trashing Breshad for his drops should start throwing the same critism at that, almost who's-who, list of receivers as well

 

No problem - just got to the point where he seemed to be unfairly critized/criticized for the wrong reasons. Not saying that he shouldn't work on reducing them (and all indications are that he's committed to do that), but drops certainly didn't hurt the productivity and careers of the guys on that list...

[Edgar]

I absolutely cannot believe we drafted maxx williams in the 2nd. Have been a fan of us drafting this guy for several months and to see him fall to us....I almost couldn't sleep that night.

 

I feel similarly about the carl davis pick. Our D-line is so deep and talented. Cannot wait to see this guy develop. 

 

Buck Allen was a steal. I love how all three of our backs can block.

 

For us to take Tray walker says a few things to me: 1) I don't think we reached at all. We beat a few teams to the punch. I don't think we took a flier on him at all. I think The ravens love this guy and he very well may have been the "sleeper" that DeCosta referred to after day two.

Watch out for this pick.

 

I really like The darren waller pick as well. I have seen him mocked in the 3-4 round range. He has good hands, knows how to block and can threaten in the red zone.

[PurpleCity5]

Round 1, Pick 26: WR Breshad Perriman UCF

Round 2, Pick 55: TE Maxx Williams Minnesota  

Round 3. Pick 90: DT Carl Davis IOWA 

Round 4, Pick 122: OLB/DE Za'Darius Smith Kentucky   

Round 4, Pick 125: RB Jay Allen USC

Round 4, Pick 136: CB Tray Walker Texas Southern 

Round 5, Pick 171: TE Nick Boyle Delaware  

Round 5, Pick 176: G Robert Myers Tennessee State 

Round 6, Pick 204: WR Darren Waller Georgia Tech 

 

Day 1: I've talked about Perriman's high upside well before the draft. He has a very high ceiling and as I've said before the draft, he compares very well to Demaryius Thomas. Both have questionable hands, (actually Thomas led the NFL in drops last season...) and were shaky route runners coming out of college but he played in a pro style offense, similar to Perriman. Thomas credits playing in a pro-style offense that made the adjustment to the NFL easier. That's how I envision it for Perriman, he played in a Pro Style offense and ran a combination of routes, when you look on tape, you see the stop route, dig route, go route, comeback route, deep post, slant route, back shoulder route...ect., You can see all the routes that teams run, he ran every route on the route tree. I don't think he'll have any trouble at all jumping into a pro style offense, with a bit more polishing, he can be a star at WR. 

 

Day 2: I did not like the idea of picking Maxx Williams in Round 1, but in Round 2 the value is perfect. He's 21 and carries a lot of intangibles and is a great route runner, including the fact that he has great hands and a huge catch radius. What I love about Williams is that he's a natural at the tight end position, it's like he was destined to be a TE. Carl Davis was pegged by many to go into the 1st-2nd round, but at pick 90, he is a steal. 

 

Day 3: Za'Darius Smith was a huge sleeper. Everytime I watched Bud Dupree, another guy who would jump at me was Za'Darius Smith. I love high-motor guys, if you don't have athleticism, a high-motor is the best way to compensate for that. I think he'll be a good rotational player for us, with the potential to become great. Really love this pick a ton. Buck Allen was a sleeper RB, I think he's a great fit for us, he has great inside vision, great cuts, and great burst. What I really love about him though, is that he's a great rec. threat, that's a great addition to our passing game. Myers, Waller and Boyle will serve great to depth, and camp competition. As for Walker, I honestly did not know much about him, I'm going to trust F.O on this one. 

 

Just a great draft by Oz, I'm really liking what we got and man, did this offense get stronger. All in All, Great draft by the Ravens. 

 

Grade: A- 

Edited May 4, 2015 by PurpleCity5

[allblackraven]

If we didn't get my boy Golden, I am happy we ended up with Smith. Lot of similarities, including the most important one for me - when you watch Ray and Dupree, all you see is Golden and Smith.

 

Very nice draft, indeed.

[GrimCoconut]

One of the best parts of this draft is you have insurance at two questionable positions in TE and WR. Imagine if we only drafted Dickson and not Pitta because we already had Heap? Imagine if we were content with taking a WR like Doss in the fourth and went in another direction in the second over Smith? Not that I think Williams or Perriman bust, but the worst case scenario is you have top notch depth and we all know how important that is. This is why I'm such a fan of our draft and grade it so well. Not only did we address needs with good value, but we drafted insurance policies for these players if they bust using picks with low investment.

[beasy2487]

One of the best parts of this draft is you have insurance at two questionable positions in TE and WR. Imagine if we only drafted Dickson and not Pitta because we already had Heap? Imagine if we were content with taking a WR like Doss in the fourth and went in another direction in the second over Smith? Not that I think Williams or Perriman bust, but the worst case scenario is you have top notch depth and we all know how important that is. This is why I'm such a fan of our draft and grade it so well. Not only did we address needs with good value, but we drafted insurance policies for these players if they bust using picks with low investment.

 

That's a great point. Through that lens, and given the fact that Ravens stated Boyle was "way ahead" of anyone else on their draft board when they selected him, you've got to look at that pick as a brilliant one for value and depth.

[GrimCoconut]

That's a great point. Through that lens, and given the fact that Ravens stated Boyle was "way ahead" of anyone else on their draft board when they selected him, you've got to look at that pick as a brilliant one for value and depth.

Yeah, and also don't neglect the fact that Pitta will be 30 this year and we can now afford to fully rest him and not rush him back. I see Pitta starting on the PUP and we'll evaluate as we go. If he's healthy, he'll be activated. I'm sure we'll have injuries at some position at some point. It's just a fact of the NFL. Nothing wrong with having 4 TE. I don't think Supernaw sticks around, though I think he could head to the PS unless Kubiak poaches him.

[beasy2487]

Yeah, and also don't neglect the fact that Pitta will be 30 this year and we can now afford to fully rest him and not rush him back. I see Pitta starting on the PUP and we'll evaluate as we go. If he's healthy, he'll be activated. I'm sure we'll have injuries at some position at some point. It's just a fact of the NFL. Nothing wrong with having 4 TE. I don't think Supernaw sticks around, though I think he could head to the PS unless Kubiak poaches him.

 

I agree and Kubes definitely poaches Supernaw at some point lol.

[FlackAttack]

If B. Perriman, M. Williams, C. Davis, Z. Smith, and B. Allen, collectively, prove to be better than T. Smith, O. Daniels, H. Ngata, P. McPhee, and B. Pierce, who they will be respectively replacing, then this draft will end up being one of the best we've had. That's how I'll measure this draft. The final 4 picks are all gravy, and can become so much more than that if T. Walker winds up becoming a serviceable nickel/injury replacement corner, N. Boyle shows everyone that is doubting him that he is probably the best blocking TE on our current squad already and has reliable hands for short chunks when we need them, R. Myers becomes a contender for starts if we are unable to re-sign both guards next season, and D. Waller makes the team and makes a few plays (special teams or on offense).

 

This is all unknown, but I see this all as a real possibility. I'm loving the draft right now.

 

clearly someone doesnt understand the 80/20 philosophy ozzie uses with our players..

[Alexir]

If we took Charles Gaines in the 5th instead of a blocking Tight End, I would be more comfortable with our Secondary.

[beanfigger]

clearly someone doesnt understand the 80/20 philosophy ozzie uses with our players..

 

Are you suggesting I don't understand because I would prefer this group perform better than the other? Maybe you don't understand it. That philosophy suggests that if you can get 80% of the production for 20% of the cost, you take it, but the reason for that is you ideally want to use that saved money to spend elsewhere and make up that gap. With the rookie cap rules now, rookies are fairly cheap for four (or five) years, but that doesn't mean you draft people in the top rounds with the plan to simply dump them when it's time for their first new contract. First round picks like Flacco and Jimmy Smith can attest to that, so I don't buy into the fact that Perriman and other top picks are only expected to give 80% of the production of the veterans they are filling in for in the long run. I don't think it's out of line to desire more from the collective group I named than the players they are stepping in for, especially on offense. Maybe we should hope for more than a cheap few years of moderate production from these guys like Torrey and Pierce.

[757RavensFan]

Yeah, and also don't neglect the fact that Pitta will be 30 this year and we can now afford to fully rest him and not rush him back. I see Pitta starting on the PUP and we'll evaluate as we go. If he's healthy, he'll be activated. I'm sure we'll have injuries at some position at some point. It's just a fact of the NFL. Nothing wrong with having 4 TE. I don't think Supernaw sticks around, though I think he could head to the PS unless Kubiak poaches him.

 

Good call!

[Guest]

I don't know anything about Nick Boyle, but certainly like what I've seen of him on film with us since he was selected.

 

The man is big and has no neck. No nose and no neck. When you got a tight end with no nose and no neck you know he's the kind to slam in in there.

 

 

Here it is then

 

Pick 1

 

Breshard Perriman D ( Or A) 

 

Here's the deal. He is without question the biggest boom or bust guy in the 1st round. He could really be an exceptional talent or he could just be one of many combine warrior flops. He is the biggest wildcard in this draft..thats how risky he is. He has the potential to prove me wrong and i wouldn't be shocked if he did. BUT having said that its the first round and he's not shown polish or safe hands to justify a first round grade. if we took him in the 2nd this would be a different story..this isn't a matt elam who i knew had no shot at even being ''good''. Perrimen could be anything from Julio to Heyward Bey. 

 

Pick 2

 

Maxx Williams A +

 

Pretty much the perfect tight end in the making. Does it all. Runs perfect routes..exceptional hands and catch radius and clutch. Good blocker and will only get better. A go to target. Best pick of the draft and a franchise tight end for many years to come.

 

Pick 3 

 

Carl Davis B

 

The value is there. If he had been picked in early rounds i'd have given this a D-E grade. His biggest issue is technique and motor. Thats not a small thing. He has the potential to be a solid starter. Can he be an elite level player? I don't know..a motor is important to be that.

 

Pick 4

 

Za,darius Smith A

 

Terrific value and an all-round talent with excellent measurable. Sets a mean edge and can rush the passer. Tough and with a mean streak. Could be an upgrade over upshaw. His pass rush is decent and he can move around the line well.

 

Pick 4

 

Joviorious Allen C+

 

Solid..fills a hole..nothing special. Serviceable and can catch out of the backfield.

 

 

Pick 4

 

tray walker N/A

 

no idea..unless he's one of those best kept secrets that was destined to be picked at any moment after us i don't see great value here..there were a lot of options

 

Pick 5

 

nick Boyle F

 

A wasted pick. You can find guys like this in practice squads everywhere. Could have picked any tight end at this point and it wouldn't mean much. There were better players on the board. Worst pick of our draft based on need and ability plus value.

 

Pick 5

Robert Myers  C

 

Seems sluggish on tape. Haven't seen enough..

 

pick 6

Darren Wall    A-

 

At this stage you're lucky to find anything but solid depth. He has great measurables and that alone with a soft pair of hands make this excellent value.

 

Overall I give this Draft a B-. We missed out on quite a lot in the latter picks but we have 1 sure starter in Maxx and a couple of other guys who could well play their way in as starters too. 

[usmccharles]

Grading this draft class this early is like asking your teacher to give you a grade at the beginning of the semester.

[K-Dog]

Grading this draft class this early is like asking your teacher to give you a grade at the beginning of the semester.

I give this post an A+