2017 return men

[Rebel Raven]

I may be in the minority here but i would love for Oz and company to draft an electric return man some where between rounds 4-7. Someone who is a threat to take it to the house anytime they touch the ball like the Hester of old or Tyreek Hill. 

Now, i dont watch much college nowadays so i was hoping to get some names of prospects from you guys.

[RaineV1]

There's a wide receiver the Ravens could potentially get in the third round, Ryan Switzer, that would be a great pickup as both a receiver and a returner.

[hn68wb4]

I think we all want an electric return man, but I'm not sure I want to draft someone for that purpose alone. Whoever it is, in my opinion, would have to have utility on offense/defense on top of their return duties. But we're obviously no strangers to carrying a pure RS as we did with Hester and Clay.

That being said: I'm still a big, big fan of Eddie Jackson from Bama, he's fill that position of need and safety as well. Many here really like Ryan Switzer from UNC, he at very least is a very dynamic punt returner and does great things in the slot as well.

Will Likely from Maryland would fall into the category of RS, people around here were obsessed with him last year but this year I haven't heard much of anything about him.

Obviously Adoree Jackson is the cream of the crop, Jabrill Peppers as well, but Peppers will be long gone by our pick (probably) and Jackson will go higher than he should.

Edited December 21, 2016 by hn68wb4

[rmw10]

I'm okay with taking a returner for the sole purpose of returning.  They always say they won't use a roster spot on someone who doesn't do anything but return, but that's what we did with Hester all year.  I think they've come to realize that you actually need a good player to return the ball, and if that is a good that only returns, so be it.

[hn68wb4]

6 minutes ago, rmw10 said:

I'm okay with taking a returner for the sole purpose of returning.  They always say they won't use a roster spot on someone who doesn't do anything but return, but that's what we did with Hester all year.  I think they've come to realize that you actually need a good player to return the ball, and if that is a good that only returns, so be it.

I'm not so much against using a roster spot on a pure return specialist as I am using a draft pick on one

[rmw10]

32 minutes ago, hn68wb4 said:

I'm not so much against using a roster spot on a pure return specialist as I am using a draft pick on one

Why?  I mean, we'd likely be talking a late round pick at the most.

[hn68wb4]

29 minutes ago, rmw10 said:

Why?  I mean, we'd likely be talking a late round pick at the most.

sort of depends on who we're talking about, obviously great return men aren't a dime a dozen or else we wouldn't need one. The only guy I names above that'd be a late round guy would be Likely. Most of the real deal return guys aren't going to make it late, late in the draft it's definitely not guaranteed that we'd be taking home anything more than what we already have - i.e. a safe set of hands but no real game changing ability - and that pretty much takes away incentive to take one over a guy with more potential as a offensive/defensive contributor for me. I just think that if you're only interested in taking one late then you're better off signing a cheap FA and taking someone else with the pick, Tyreek Hills obviously happen mid/late but he's one that worked out amongst many that didn't.

[JoeyFlex5]

Return specialists are highly devalued these days. If you are investing in one, make sure he can FIELD PUNTS! Any RS can run fast out of the end zone and reach the 25 yard line, but make sure the returner can confidently look away from the gunners and field the ball with no fear, make good decisions on bounces and know when to fair catch and when to just clear out.

I knew Hester was a mistake from day 1 because he has never been that guy, hes always relied on pure speed and once he lost that I knew he would be a disaster. We can't take a RS who only relies on speed, we need a smart and skilled one. Honestly id feel better finding a safety and allow Webb to return without fear of injury, hes a rock solid punt returner and trustworthy as they come. 

Adoree Jackson if he falls to the 2nd or possibly even 3rd would be definitely worth it. If peppers falls he and weddle would make a good tandem and either he or Webb could return.

[rmw10]

10 hours ago, hn68wb4 said:

sort of depends on who we're talking about, obviously great return men aren't a dime a dozen or else we wouldn't need one. The only guy I names above that'd be a late round guy would be Likely. Most of the real deal return guys aren't going to make it late, late in the draft it's definitely not guaranteed that we'd be taking home anything more than what we already have - i.e. a safe set of hands but no real game changing ability - and that pretty much takes away incentive to take one over a guy with more potential as a offensive/defensive contributor for me. I just think that if you're only interested in taking one late then you're better off signing a cheap FA and taking someone else with the pick, Tyreek Hills obviously happen mid/late but he's one that worked out amongst many that didn't.

I'm not sure I necessarily agree with that.  A pure returner like Jakeem Grant was picked up in the 6th round, and you could say he has some game changing ability.  Now, admittedly, I wasn't a huge fan of his, but that late round range is where a lot of pure returners go.  That's just me though.

[Jacquouille]

So, I don't know if you guys knew this, but I just saw yesterday: Justin Evans looks like he has freaking good potential as a RS.