[News] Late For Work 1/18: Ravens Should Be Smiling Because Draft Talent Matches Their Biggest Needs

[BR News]

Reviewing the Ravens’ 2016 draft class. Steve Smith Sr.’s awesome response to potentially becoming a Panthers WRs coach. One safety drops out, but Eric Weddle still isn’t going to the Pro Bowl … yet.

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[sizzlingdoom]

Tabor, Wilson, King, and Jones. We need to draft at least one of these guys

[Drew P]

Yeah they should be smiling considering they suck at selecting DB's. They can just have the draft experts make the pick for them. Don't over think it by taking a guy from Presbyterian and no more runts please, thanks.

[bioLarzen]

Deep CB, C and RB pools for the draft probably means Ozzie isn't gonna pick any of these earlier than mid-round - 3-4th rounds maybe. Also, I see no way the top 2 WR's are still on the board at #16, and they seem to be the only WR's worthy of a first round pick...

This means it's gonna be an OLB or ILB guy if Ozzie picks in round 1, IMHO...

[Raven1995]

Deep CB, C and RB pools for the draft probably means Ozzie isn't gonna pick any of these earlier than mid-round - 3-4th rounds maybe. Also, I see no way the top 2 WR's are still on the board at #16, and they seem to be the only WR's worthy of a first round pick...

This means it's gonna be an OLB or ILB guy if Ozzie picks in round 1, IMHO...

Please no more CB's from the 3rd to the 7th Round. Only 2 have worked in the last 14 Drafts, Webb and Young.

[whobilly]

Translated: Our #2 and #3 picks from last year CAN'T PLAY. "The Ravens head into the off season viewing Correa as a limited rusher and Kaufusi needing to build up his lower body". Hope these roster fillers drafted #2 and #3 can run down the field on special teams and make a tackle every now and then. Once again OZ outsmarted the other teams by passing on Spence and Jack.

[RavensDieHard21]

If Ozzie gets cute and doesn't take a top corner in the first two rounds, unless Lewis or King are there in the third. I will be outside the castle protesting. The position has been neglected for years. Don't overthink this. The top shelf guys are up there for a reason. 

[RavensDieHard21]

I also laughed that Kiper has Tabor at 2 and Humphrey at 4. No chance. McShay isn't too sterling at his evaluations either though for the  past few years.

[RaRaRavens]

Very big relief to know that the draft is loaded in our areas of need. Just gotta hope they won't overlook anyone for whatever reasons like they have done some times in the past.

[Tdot.to.Bmore]

Translated: Our #2 and #3 picks from last year CAN'T PLAY. "The Ravens head into the off season viewing Correa as a limited rusher and Kaufusi needing to build up his lower body". Hope these roster fillers drafted #2 and #3 can run down the field on special teams and make a tackle every now and then. Once again OZ outsmarted the other teams by passing on Spence and Jack.

By passing on Spence and Jack we ended up getting Judon and Moore with the picks we obtained by moving down in the second round. I would wait another year before criticising the FO. We could all be praising them next year.

[dirtybird66]

to me the best 2 picks we can make and at 16 and 32 we can is DCB DESMOND KING and then QB PAT MAHOMES.

[drillem]

If there are any good picks, the Ravens will miss them. The FO is getting too old to deal with the rigors of checking out talent ahead of time.

[DWDuer]

If we don't select a DB in round 1, round 2 at the latest, it would be a big mistake. Des King or Teez Tabor would be great Ravens.

The jury is still out on Judon, Kaufusi and Correa but, it would be prudent to look for a highly rated pass rusher in round 2.

I have always agreed with the best player available philosophy but, there are holes that are begging to be filled.

Another great article by Sarah Ellison, clearly the best writer on the staff. Maybe not the wisdom of Eisenberg but, always does a quality LFW.

[DWDuer]

Myles Jack was and is a great talent, his injury history scared many away from an early selection. I hear ya but, I'd have been a bit leery of taking him early. Many have said that they doubted he had 3 or 4 years in the league before he was forced to retire.Time will prove someone right and someone wrong. For his sake, I hope he plays 10 years.

 

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Translated: Our #2 and #3 picks from last year CAN'T PLAY. "The Ravens head into the off season viewing Correa as a limited rusher and Kaufusi needing to build up his lower body". Hope these roster fillers drafted #2 and #3 can run down the field on special teams and make a tackle every now and then. Once again OZ outsmarted the other teams by passing on Spence and Jack.

people might take you seriously if you knew about our players. Kaufusi was IR'ed from an injury sustained at rookie camp. Doesn't mean he can or cant play... we have no info on it yet. And, btw, by trading back and missing Spence and Jack we got extra players in the 4th and 5th... one of which, Judon, performed just as well as Spence in a more limited role.

[billiejean]

If there are any good picks, the Ravens will miss them. The FO is getting too old to deal with the rigors of checking out talent ahead of time.

Yea, they had such a terrible draft last year. What "rigors" do Ozzy and Eric have to overcome to successfully check out talent?

[RowdyMan52]

I would like for us to sign Kenny Stills, draft either Corey Davis, OJ Howard, or Cam Robinson bring back Juice and Wagner, and this offense would be more than explosive.. On defense I feel we will must likely sign a veteran CB and let our young guns play more this year.. We have the talent for pass rusher on this roster now, if we can get a solid CB our defense could be very dangerous.. We could draft a solid DB and Pass Rusher in the second and third rounds and find a Center by either trade, draft, or free agency, I feel a playmaker on offense will bring us a lot further along..

[lowcountryraven]

I hope that we don't forget about William Likely, III. If he is available in the 2nd or 3rd round we should give the Maryland star a shot coming off of ACL surgery. He is a winner and can play multiple position as well as DB. He would be on Kiper list if he did not get injured. Players come back quite well of ACL surgery.

[Drew P]

1 minute ago, RowdyMan52 said:

I would like for us to sign Kenny Stills, draft either Corey Davis, OJ Howard, or Cam Robinson bring back Juice and Wagner, and this offense would be more than explosive.. On defense I feel we will must likely sign a veteran CB and let our young guns play more this year.. We have the talent for pass rusher on this roster now, if we can get a solid CB our defense could be very dangerous.. We could draft a solid DB and Pass Rusher in the second and third rounds and find a Center by either trade, draft, or free agency, I feel a playmaker on offense will bring us a lot further along..

Where would Cam play if he was drafted and Wagner re-signed?

[The Greek]

we need to see what positions are addressed in free agency and that will determine the draft needs. even if we sign a cb i would draft one in the 1st rd,.

[The Greek]

Deep CB, C and RB pools for the draft probably means Ozzie isn't gonna pick any of these earlier than mid-round - 3-4th rounds maybe. Also, I see no way the top 2 WR's are still on the board at #16, and they seem to be the only WR's worthy of a first round pick...

This means it's gonna be an OLB or ILB guy if Ozzie picks in round 1, IMHO...

and from alabama. hehehe

[Space11jams]

Translated: Our #2 and #3 picks from last year CAN'T PLAY. "The Ravens head into the off season viewing Correa as a limited rusher and Kaufusi needing to build up his lower body". Hope these roster fillers drafted #2 and #3 can run down the field on special teams and make a tackle every now and then. Once again OZ outsmarted the other teams by passing on Spence and Jack.

As someone else mentioned it is way to early to cast those two off. Especially since one of those guys didn't see a single snap because of injury. The two big names you speak off didn't do much this year and one of them is a HIGH injury concern. Ozzie was smart to pass on him and the Jags has the cap to draw a big name if necessary so it was a high risk high reward type deal with them. We don't have the time or money for that.

[Drew P]

29 minutes ago, Space11jams said:

As someone else mentioned it is way to early to cast those two off. Especially since one of those guys didn't see a single snap because of injury. The two big names you speak off didn't do much this year and one of them is a HIGH injury concern. Ozzie was smart to pass on him and the Jags has the cap to draw a big name if necessary so it was a high risk high reward type deal with them. We don't have the time or money for that.

You have to question how in the hell a guy is considered an edge pass rusher through the draft process and then day one of camp is moved to the inside

[RowdyMan52]

  44 minutes ago, RowdyMan52 said:

I would like for us to sign Kenny Stills, draft either Corey Davis, OJ Howard, or Cam Robinson bring back Juice and Wagner, and this offense would be more than explosive.. On defense I feel we will must likely sign a veteran CB and let our young guns play more this year.. We have the talent for pass rusher on this roster now, if we can get a solid CB our defense could be very dangerous.. We could draft a solid DB and Pass Rusher in the second and third rounds and find a Center by either trade, draft, or free agency, I feel a playmaker on offense will bring us a lot further along..

Where would Cam play if he was drafted and Wagner re-signed?

He would be a All Pro LG / Swing LT or RT.. Lewis would be a solid backup for either G and T as well, giving us a very solid line that can manage injuries better.. Oh what a site that would be!! We would have a very elite O-Line, I could only imagine him and Stanley playing together for years to come.. He is bigger than Stanley and has incredible agility..

[Drew P]

1 minute ago, RowdyMan52 said:

He would be a All Pro LG / Swing LT or RT.. Lewis would be a solid backup for either G and T as well, giving us a very solid line that can manage injuries better.. Oh what a site that would be!! We would have a very elite O-Line, I could only imagine him and Stanley playing together for years to come.. He is bigger than Stanley and has incredible agility..

Yeah agreed if they had luxury picks but he's a Goliath for a guard, Lewis looks legit and it's too early to select a guard.

And although it was only one game he looked very ordinary against Clemson on the big stage

[Azzi22]

Our problem is letting our guys go(the ones we draft): Kruger...Upshaw--Torrey--McPhee--KO- we missed on ELAM/BROWN... maxx/carl davis aren't doing much...this year we will let wagner juice and bwill go... how do you expect us to be any good??? soo yea don't blame flacco..Our Coordinators or even our Running game....don't blame anyone but the FO/GM... they have no idea how to pick talent past couple of years.... they are good DEPTH FINDERS not elite talent finders.

[Bruce_Almty]

If the draft talent matches the Ravens needs, I hope they do some double-dipping. We have several glaring needs. Gitter done.

[AsianRice]

3 minutes ago, Azzi22 said:

Our problem is letting our guys go(the ones we draft): Kruger...Upshaw--Torrey--McPhee--KO- we missed on ELAM/BROWN... maxx/carl davis aren't doing much...this year we will let wagner juice and bwill go... how do you expect us to be any good??? soo yea don't blame flacco..Our Coordinators or even our Running game....don't blame anyone but the FO/GM... they have no idea how to pick talent past couple of years.... they are good DEPTH FINDERS not elite talent finders.

Kruger-situational pass rusher only, nothing else

Upshaw- average ILB or system player

Torrey- would not fight even if someone steals his lunch money.

McPhee-another systematic guy and injury away from retirement.

KO- asking too much money and only teams that won't spend anything or cheap for past decade can afford it, so he asked for LT money to play for the LG...what a rip off.....

I don't see any problem you are listing but more like positive takeaways...

 

[b93333]

Our big problem in the draft is recognizing and developing talent. Darian Stewart is yet another safety that has blossomed when he left the Ravens.

[RowdyMan52]

  8 minutes ago, RowdyMan52 said:

He would be a All Pro LG / Swing LT or RT.. Lewis would be a solid backup for either G and T as well, giving us a very solid line that can manage injuries better.. Oh what a site that would be!! We would have a very elite O-Line, I could only imagine him and Stanley playing together for years to come.. He is bigger than Stanley and has incredible agility..

Yeah agreed if they had luxury picks but he's a Goliath for a guard, Lewis looks legit and it's too early to select a guard.

And although it was only one game he looked very ordinary against Clemson on the big stage

I think if he is there when its our time to pick, Ozzie would have a very hard time passing on such an investment. I would take the Goliath guard and tackle duo any day. Lewis is very talented but his injury took him out half the season and the other backups we have aren't very solid when we need them the most.. But either way we have to add value to our line and I think he would be great for us..