Hn68wB4 2017 Mock Draft #2

[hn68wb4]

A few things before I begin:

I'm not going to project any trades, trades will obviously happen but there's simply no chance you can accurately predict the trade so I'm not even going to try.

I'm assuming we get carried to the playoffs on the weakness of our division and thus will be picking in the 20s, my gut says we win our first playoff game and lose the second, but I'm not going to specify which pick will be ours.

Round 1 - Sidney Jones // CB // Washington // 6', 180 lbs

I'm firmly on board the Jones hype train. After last weeks show against Dallas it was painfully clear that we need depth at CB badly, especially since we know at this point that Jimmy is going to miss one or two games per year - and play injured in one or two other games. Jones is everything you want in a CB and if it weren't for the loaded DB class he would never make it anywhere near our pick. If Tim Williams is off the board then Sidney Jones is the guy I want where we'll probably be picking.

Round 2 - Pat Elflein // OC // THE Ohio State University // 6'3", 300 lbs

I have been a defender of Zuttah all season long, but last week he really screwed the pooch. To me, Elflein is the only center prospect that I'd even consider taking high, it's a pretty weak oline class in general. Right now, Zuttah is probably our weakest link on the line when everyone is healthy, and that's saying a lot considering we're starting two rookies. Elflein will be able to take over immediately if we want and cut Zuttah to save $3.5M (post June 1st), or he can sit for a year and be quality depth on the interior line. Elflein does well in both pass and run blocking, but really excels in the run blocking department.

Round 3 - Dorian Johnson // OG // Pitt // 6'5", 315 lbs

Yanda doesn't have many years left, it's time to really start grooming a replacement. In the meantime more interior line depth is a must because we'd rather reshuffle the line than start either Urschel or Jensen - sucks because I had some pretty high hopes for both. Again, Johnson is solid in both facets of blocking, give him a couple years to learn under Yanda while he works as a key depth guy in the meantime and we can have a somewhat seamless transition when Yanda wants to call it quits.

Round 3 (Comp) - Eddie Jackson // S // Alabama // 6', 194 lbs

I'll be honest, I'm not really sure where to expect Jackson to go, I still have a pretty high opinion of him, but he had a season ending injury and it's loaded class. I don't believe his injury means anything moving forward, but he wasn't having as great a season as last year, and being out only hurts your status in a loaded class, while he's out others are stating their case as to why they're better. Webb has played really well since the bye, but in the offseason it's still restructure or get cut, the savings from cutting him just outweigh what he currently provides. Enter Jackson, had a breakout season last year after moving to S from CB, he has a knack for getting the ball in his hands and he's maybe the best guy in open space in the draft. Also, because of those skills in the open field, he fixes our rotating door at return man as he's one of the best, he's a threat to take it the distance every time the ball is in his hands.

Round 4 - Ejuan Price // EDGE // Pitt // 6'1", 255 lbs

Price probably won't ever be a starter on the edge but he's definitely got the skills to be a situational rusher. He's putting up great stats as a pass rusher and passes the eye test on tape but falls to the 4th due to his size concerns, I just took the height/weight from ESPN but those are generous. We've struggled to get to the passer all year, but I believe they will give Judon and Correa a chance rather than reach for someone in the first to be an immediate starter. Price can be our situational pass rusher right away.

Round 5 - Des Lawrence // CB // UNC // 6'1", 185 lbs

I don't think Lawrence will be available here on draft day, but for now I'll slot him here until he starts to get recognition. Lawrence has the size and speed you want for a guy on the outside and has absolutely impeccable technique. As I said earlier, we need depth at CB bad, especially on the outside and that's what Lawrence brings to the table, a developmental guy perfectly suited for work on the outside.

Round 6 - Torii Hunter Jr. // WR // Notre Dame // 6'1", 195 lbs

I think Hunter is one of the more underrated WRs in the draft. He's a great slot guy for Notre Dame when healthy, he's got great hands and speed and he's not afraid to catch over the middle. I tentatively compare him to Percy Harvin as a sort of do-it-all type of weapon and he's very good at weaving through traffic. Good size/speed combination with great hands, he plucks the ball rather than trying to catch with his body.

 

Notes:

**No WR until the 6th - I think it's a really weak WR class, only a couple guys really stand out to me, Corey Davis slated to go the highest out of the ones I like, and none of them felt right at our picks. Each time I felt there'd better players that we'd need at those specific picks.

**Double dipping at interior oline - right now that's our biggest weakness. Depth and young talent just aren't currently there except for Lewis, who may well be moving to RT after this season (I don't think he will personally, I think Wagner will be re-signed).

**No edge rusher taken high - again, this is a case of: I think better players will be available at our picks. And, as I said under the Price pick, I believe we'll give Correa and Judon a real chance before reaching on someone to start right away 

Edited November 24, 2016 by hn68wb4

[Ravenskid52752]

Love the Sidney Jones and Pat Eflein picks! Very realistic draft also if we don't get. Center early I like Tyler Orlosky from West Virginia beast in the run game and good pass blocker too. 

[ravensnation5220]

I like the mock. Just not the double dip at oline and while I agree this isn't a top heavy wr class I still there there's plenty of value in the 2-5 rounds. Cooper Kupp is a guy I really like, he doesn't have the best ceiling but I think he'll end up being a solid nfl player

[LosT_in_TranSlatioN]

6 hours ago, ravensnation5220 said:

I like the mock. Just not the double dip at oline and while I agree this isn't a top heavy wr class I still there there's plenty of value in the 2-5 rounds. Cooper Kupp is a guy I really like, he doesn't have the best ceiling but I think he'll end up being a solid nfl player

No one is a bigger fan of cooper than I am. Check out my first mock. Liked him before it was cool

[RaineV1]

I like Sidney Jones, but I don't want to go through this draft without picking up someone to help the passrush.

[hn68wb4]

9 hours ago, ravensnation5220 said:

I like the mock. Just not the double dip at oline and while I agree this isn't a top heavy wr class I still there there's plenty of value in the 2-5 rounds. Cooper Kupp is a guy I really like, he doesn't have the best ceiling but I think he'll end up being a solid nfl player

I think the draft's second tier of receivers is really big, as you said it spans about 3-4 rounds, but, as i said in the mock, Davis is the only one that's stood out to me so far (If James Washington from Ok St. declares early then he'll be another). I've been thoroughly unimpressed with the others I've watched, Kupp being a guy that I am really not a fan of. I just think that we're going to give Perriman a shot at starter next year before we try taking a WR high, and what we need going into next year would be a slot guy since I believe we'll be losing Aiken as well as Smith. Hunter is just a guy I really like for that job.

Why don't you want a double dip at oline? objectively we've been held back by the oline all year with Zuttah and no real quality depth.

[ravefan52]

I know it's early in the process and anything can happen, but I think Elfein at our 2nd is awfully optimistic. So many teams desperately need OL and it's a weak class. They're going to be overdrafted and Elflein might be the best OL period. Also I'd bet a good amount of money that waiting to address OLB until the 4th would be a big mistake. I do like most the players you have though.

[Jacquouille]

I've fallen in love with Dorian Johnson lately, but Elflein won't be there in the 2nd. Best center in the second will probably be Mason Cole. I've never been against double dipping and ignoring one weakness to transform another into a strength, and as you said we haven't seen the whole story with Judon, Correa and Kaufusi so perhaps we will ignore that need.

I'll also make sure to check Des Lawrence.

[jboy19]

Late, but I really like this mock. I think Elflein probably sneaks in early in the Second Round- we definitely aren't the only team needing a center, but I feel good about the centers in this draft- there's probably four or five I'd be happy with taking. 

[Robbyrobbass]

I guess  drafting  wrs in the later rounds has taught  us nothing  ? Where is Aaron  mellette ? What happened to  Tommy streeter  and let's  not discuss  the local kid mr glass himself? smh Perriman  will need help .

[Wildabeast88]

On December 10, 2016 at 7:07 PM, Robbyrobbass said:

I guess  drafting  wrs in the later rounds has taught  us nothing  ? Where is Aaron  mellette ? What happened to  Tommy streeter  and let's  not discuss  the local kid mr glass himself? smh Perriman  will need help .

Well the question is who in the top 3 rounds do you pass on. Do you ignore CB if Jimmy gets hurt, or ignore the interior O-line I think we need a pass rusher in the top 2 picks so what do you suggest. Antonio Brown was a 6th round pick they can be found and developed. Street ear was a specimen 6-5 220-225 with 4.3 speed he just couldn't catch that pick was worth the gamble it just didn't work out. I'm not huge on Hunter but where else do you go. If we keep Wallace and Aiken and Camp stays healthy ( I know a big if ) and who knows will SSS stay one more year. 

[ravefan52]

On December 18, 2016 at 5:19 AM, Wildabeast88 said:

Well the question is who in the top 3 rounds do you pass on. Do you ignore CB if Jimmy gets hurt, or ignore the interior O-line I think we need a pass rusher in the top 2 picks so what do you suggest. Antonio Brown was a 6th round pick they can be found and developed. Street ear was a specimen 6-5 220-225 with 4.3 speed he just couldn't catch that pick was worth the gamble it just didn't work out. I'm not huge on Hunter but where else do you go. If we keep Wallace and Aiken and Camp stays healthy ( I know a big if ) and who knows will SSS stay one more year. 

Ravens should have four picks in the first three rounds, with a comp from KO. I know the whole BPA spiel, but we really really need to address OL, WR, OLB and CB. I hope we do that with those picks

[rmw10]

6 hours ago, ravefan52 said:

Ravens should have four picks in the first three rounds, with a comp from KO. I know the whole BPA spiel, but we really really need to address OL, WR, OLB and CB. I hope we do that with those picks

I'm not confident that they actually do that, but I think this is the year where they should try to ignore BPA as much as possible.  3 of those 4 positions have been big needs for years, and still haven't been addressed.  It's about time we do that.  At least they've kind of tried with Perriman and Correa, but there was still a need for a 2nd pick at those spots.

[JoeyFlex5]

i love this draft. sidney jones is my top cb, elflein likely makes our line elite, i like eddie jackson but dont love him and think hes got a good chance of being a nobody, he does the will hill thing too often where he totally blows his assignment because he thinks he can make a play. i like dorian johnson, looks like a future starter and late 3rd might be a stretch for him, i LOVE ejuan price, kids a spark plug and a half, reminds me of dumervil being a short/small edge rusher with great explosion and center of gravity. havent looked into the last 2 yet though.

[Wildabeast88]

On December 22, 2016 at 1:56 AM, ravefan52 said:

Ravens should have four picks in the first three rounds, with a comp from KO. I know the whole BPA spiel, but we really really need to address OL, WR, OLB and CB. I hope we do that with those picks

I agree those are the biggest areas of need I would put OLB C/G or both then CB ahead of WR. Best case is SSS comes back, or we go with Wallace Perriman and hopefully Aiken resigns. I don't want to rely on Camp and Moore yet, but WR is behind the other options in my opinion

[Robbyrobbass]

Se

On 12/18/2016 at 7:19 AM, Wildabeast88 said:

Well the question is who in the top 3 rounds do you pass on. Do you ignore CB if Jimmy gets hurt, or ignore the interior O-line I think we need a pass rusher in the top 2 picks so what do you suggest. Antonio Brown was a 6th round pick they can be found and developed. Street ear was a specimen 6-5 220-225 with 4.3 speed he just couldn't catch that pick was worth the gamble it just didn't work out. I'm not huge on Hunter but where else do you go. If we keep Wallace and Aiken and Camp stays healthy ( I know a big if ) a

On 12/18/2016 at 7:19 AM, Wildabeast88 said:

Well the question is who in the top 3 rounds do you pass on. Do you ignore CB if Jimmy gets hurt, or ignore the interior O-line I think we need a pass rusher in the top 2 picks so what do you suggest. Antonio Brown was a 6th round pick they can be found and developed. Street ear was a specimen 6-5 220-225 with 4.3 speed he just couldn't catch that pick was worth the gamble it just didn't work out. I'm not huge on Hunter but where else do you go. If we keep Wallace and Aiken and Camp stays healthy ( I know a big if ) and who knows will SSS stay one more year. 

You can't count on A 38 year old Wr  father time  Aiken Is a URFA he could go elsewhere  and campanaro lol yes A.b. was a 6th rd pick  but unless you're the Steelers who had three very good wrs when they drafted him It doesn't work  like that there are some instant impact  wrs that can be had in the 1st 3 rounds  scenario  1st.Tim Williams 2nd.Sidney Jones 3rd.Isaiah Ford wr vt the other third rd pick offensive line the Baylor center I forgot his name there  you have it