[News] 'Outstanding Shot' Ravens Draft Inside Linebacker Reuben Foster

[BR News]

NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said he would be shocked if the Ravens passed on Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster if he were available at pick No. 16.

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[usmccharles]

Definitely could see us taking him if he is there at 16, but there is a couple of LBs I would rather get later.  Tyus Bowser is awesome in coverage, but I wouldn't be surprised if Foster was gone and we took Reddick.  I think the only pick I would be surprised by would be McCaffery. 

[The Beak]

There are so many great options at 16 - Foster, C Davis, Ross, Barnett, McKinley, Conley, Williams, Reddick Lattimore, Cook, ... In my Best Bart Scott Voice "CAN'T WAIT'

Edited April 17 by The Beak

[captainwho]

I do think Ravens would take Reuben Foster if he fails but he does not fall to 16 in 90% of the mocks. If Connor Harris Lindenwood is around in the 5th, we give him a shot just in case no one on the team steps up.

[ByTheBay]

Earlier this month, Newsome said the combine incident did not change where Foster ranked on the Ravens' draft board.
"He went to Alabama, so I think I have the inside [track] on most of that information that comes out of there," Newsome said.

This makes me think we are not interested. Why would Ozzie make this statement if he were? Wouldn't it have been better to say that the incident was a disappointment if he were truely interested so other teams would stay away. This comment makes me think Ozzie wants someone to pick him before us so it pushes the players he really wants down the board. 

[hen826957]

Reuben Foster could also be another great pick for the Ravens but l think that the Ravens should've sign Zach Brown as to he only sign a 1 year deal worth up 4.65M with the Skins and we wouldn't have to use a 1st round pick on a LB if that's the case he slips. We could then focus on pass rusher and Wr instead of passrusher, Wr, and LB. Now we got 3 choices instead of having 2. But if they don't draft Foster, then Correa got to step up.

[ravensnj]

There's no way we go defense with the first pick. After solidifying our secondary through free agency and having so many replacement defensive players on the active roster,( Correa, Judon, Pierce,Davis, Smith, Kaufusi ) I can't see it happening. The roster is only so big and all the apparent holes are on the offensive side of the ball. We need a Center, Possession wr, and a slot wr. Alex Lewis should take the RT position.

Either Corey Davis or my pick, Christian McCaffrey, should be the call come draft day.

[bigcatfrank1]

Foster would be a good match for the Ravens. His position is almost an absolute start unlike any other on the defense right now.
I could see the Ravens taking him at 16 but not moving up to fill defense.

I could see the Ravens moving up 1-6 positions to get OJ Howard. Yes the dreaded TE syndrome that everyone says no way in henn should the Ravens take a TE. But He is probably the most talented guy the Ravens can afford to move up to get. They cannot move up to get Garrett, Thomas or Fournette.
Though if they could make a deal for Fournette I would love to see it.

I think Howard would be a huge benefit to the receiving core in general. He really is a huge WR. He has the speed and hands of a WR with the height and weight of a TE. Slot, TE, W2, W1 all have his name on them. Especially in his first year. Just send him out there and go! Give him the book and see what he can do. Next year, Pitta is gone, Watson is gone and the Ravens have probably skimmed off one of the young guys. He can settle in at TE and Slot.

lastly It just looks like he is a more talented and versatile receiver than Williams or Davis.

[captainwho]

Foster would be a good match for the Ravens. His position is almost an absolute start unlike any other on the defense right now.
I could see the Ravens taking him at 16 but not moving up to fill defense.

I could see the Ravens moving up 1-6 positions to get OJ Howard. Yes the dreaded TE syndrome that everyone says no way in henn should the Ravens take a TE. But He is probably the most talented guy the Ravens can afford to move up to get. They cannot move up to get Garrett, Thomas or Fournette.
Though if they could make a deal for Fournette I would love to see it.

I think Howard would be a huge benefit to the receiving core in general. He really is a huge WR. He has the speed and hands of a WR with the height and weight of a TE. Slot, TE, W2, W1 all have his name on them. Especially in his first year. Just send him out there and go! Give him the book and see what he can do. Next year, Pitta is gone, Watson is gone and the Ravens have probably skimmed off one of the young guys. He can settle in at TE and Slot.

lastly It just looks like he is a more talented and versatile receiver than Williams or Davis.

I think the Ravens move back if they move in the first. With only 7 picks O.N. is not likely to give any up== loves his picks. Moving back to 26 thru 32 gives them a first and 2 second rounders. Trading with cleveland they could have pick 33 and two other 2nd rounders and 2 picks in the 6th round -- Cleveland's 1st and our pick. Even moving back in this loaded draft Ravens could get three starters in the first two rounds.

[b93333]

Foster would be a sound pick if he is still there at 16... but it also depends on who might still be available at wide receiver and edge rusher. My money is on one of the later two positions.

[BiggMack91]

smoke screen

[ellicottraven]

If he is there then it would be downright blasphemy if we passed on him. There is zero chance we pass on 2 of these players regardless of who else is on the board. The first being Jamal Adams and the other being Rueben Foster. If one of these two slides down to us, it is a no brainer imho.

[PersianRaven]

There's no way we go defense with the first pick. After solidifying our secondary through free agency and having so many replacement defensive players on the active roster,( Correa, Judon, Pierce,Davis, Smith, Kaufusi ) I can't see it happening. The roster is only so big and all the apparent holes are on the offensive side of the ball. We need a Center, Possession wr, and a slot wr. Alex Lewis should take the RT position.

Either Corey Davis or my pick, Christian McCaffrey, should be the call come draft day.

Nah NJ, I understand we could use McCaffrey, but we NEED Foster a whole a lot more. C-Mac might fall He looks like a Mosley type. He is going to come in and contributes right away probably especially now that Orr is gone.

[billiejean]

There's no way we go defense with the first pick. After solidifying our secondary through free agency and having so many replacement defensive players on the active roster,( Correa, Judon, Pierce,Davis, Smith, Kaufusi ) I can't see it happening. The roster is only so big and all the apparent holes are on the offensive side of the ball. We need a Center, Possession wr, and a slot wr. Alex Lewis should take the RT position.

Either Corey Davis or my pick, Christian McCaffrey, should be the call come draft day.

There is certainly a change we go D. It just depends on how the board falls

[omar586]

i think we end up trading down to early to mid 20s and picking up extra picks,

[Maryland]

Jeremiah has a pretty good track record in guessing our picks (pretty sure he got both Stanley and Mosley correct in his final mocks). I really hope he's wrong in this instance... We really don't need to spend a first round pick on a non-rush LB, especially one who was slow to learn the game in college, only has one season of production, and was free to make plays thanks to the immense talent on Bama's DL.

[napaman]

Alright, it's mock time! Don't think Foster will last past Bengals (9), Saints (10) and Colts (15). Here's my dream mock.

Round 1 (16) - Corey Davis WR WMU
Round 2 (47) - Carl Lawson DE Auburn
Round 3 (74) - Antonio Garcia OT Troy
Round 3 (78) - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Round 4 (110)* - Anthony Walker Jr. ILB Northwestern
Round 5 (159) - Cameron Tom C Southern Mississippi

Davis is a stud #1 receiver. If he makes it to 16 great. I'd actually prefer Mike Williams but he'll be gone. Lawson is a stud 5 star recruit to Auburn, has battled 2 separate major injuries but we take the gamble that he'll stay healthy and are rewarded with a double digit sack guy for the next 4 years.

Antonio Garcia from Troy would be an absolute steal at #74. Would replace Wagner at right tackle right away. Witherspoon is a kind of raw player but at 6'3" 200lbs with really long arms and a 41" vertical, let's hope we can develop his skills.

We have to trade up about 10 spots in the 4th to #110ish for Anthony Walker Jr, giving up our 6th round pick #186. High energy ball hawk ILB. The fact that he got a little too muscular and lost some agility drops him from a 2nd rounder in 16' to a early 4th rounder in 17', we take advantage and he returns to form.

Finally I love the upside of C Cameron Tom from Southern Mississippi. Probably the most agile interior lineman in the draft, great for zone blocking scheme. Might need a year to develop and bulk up 10lbs, but after getting LT Stanley and LG Lewis last year and RT Garcia and C Tom this year (add in RG Yanda) with the right coaching and you could have a top 3 NFL offensive line for years to come.

[KidNme]

I just don't see us picking at #16. I do believe we'll trade down for more picks.
We only have 7 picks so it would make some sense unless a top #3 - #5 guy falls for some reason. and even then, I'm not sure we'll stand pat.

[Bruce_Almty]

I don't see the Ravens trading back. We get a really good player at 16 (either offense or defense) and 3 more top quality guys on day 2. Day 3 picks will be icing on the cake.

[stuckonaboat13]

There is ZERO chance of Foster coming to the Ravens. Titans, Jets , Bengals, Saints, Browns, Cards........ all drafting ahead of us ,all in need of linebackers and a real leader on the defensive side of the ball.

[PurpleHorseman]

13 hours ago, napaman said:

Alright, it's mock time! Don't think Foster will last past Bengals (9), Saints (10) and Colts (15). Here's my dream mock.

Round 1 (16) - Corey Davis WR WMU
Round 2 (47) - Carl Lawson DE Auburn
Round 3 (74) - Antonio Garcia OT Troy
Round 3 (78) - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Round 4 (110)* - Anthony Walker Jr. ILB Northwestern
Round 5 (159) - Cameron Tom C Southern Mississippi

Davis is a stud #1 receiver. If he makes it to 16 great. I'd actually prefer Mike Williams but he'll be gone. Lawson is a stud 5 star recruit to Auburn, has battled 2 separate major injuries but we take the gamble that he'll stay healthy and are rewarded with a double digit sack guy for the next 4 years.

Antonio Garcia from Troy would be an absolute steal at #74. Would replace Wagner at right tackle right away. Witherspoon is a kind of raw player but at 6'3" 200lbs with really long arms and a 41" vertical, let's hope we can develop his skills.

We have to trade up about 10 spots in the 4th to #110ish for Anthony Walker Jr, giving up our 6th round pick #186. High energy ball hawk ILB. The fact that he got a little too muscular and lost some agility drops him from a 2nd rounder in 16' to a early 4th rounder in 17', we take advantage and he returns to form.

Finally I love the upside of C Cameron Tom from Southern Mississippi. Probably the most agile interior lineman in the draft, great for zone blocking scheme. Might need a year to develop and bulk up 10lbs, but after getting LT Stanley and LG Lewis last year and RT Garcia and C Tom this year (add in RG Yanda) with the right coaching and you could have a top 3 NFL offensive line for years to come.

That is an awesome mock. Garcia needs to bulk up for NFL but has everything you want in your Right Tackle.

[PurpleHorseman]

5 hours ago, KidNme said:

I just don't see us picking at #16. I do believe we'll trade down for more picks.
We only have 7 picks so it would make some sense unless a top #3 - #5 guy falls for some reason. and even then, I'm not sure we'll stand pat.

If Foster/Corey Davis is there we have to reel them in

[purpledown]

if he is there at 16, grab him.

[balfan23]

For the record, Jeremiah has Foster being picked ahead of us. Actually, I rarely see any mocks showing him falling to us. He could ... but the odds are definitely against it.

As with almost all coveted players, the odds grow dramatically if there are QBs selected in the top 15. Really, really hoping that we see at least 2.

[p sizzle]

Ravens might as well trade 1st & 2nd to get one of these guys
Can't seem to lock up 2nd rd picks long term. end up losing them to FA or trade.
M Garrett
OJ Howard
C Davis
J Allen
R Foster
F Lamp
M Lattimore
J Adams
S Thomas

[sizzlingdoom]

Earlier this month, Newsome said the combine incident did not change where Foster ranked on the Ravens' draft board.
"He went to Alabama, so I think I have the inside [track] on most of that information that comes out of there," Newsome said.

This makes me think we are not interested. Why would Ozzie make this statement if he were? Wouldn't it have been better to say that the incident was a disappointment if he were truely interested so other teams would stay away. This comment makes me think Ozzie wants someone to pick him before us so it pushes the players he really wants down the board. 

You're going too deep. You can't draw conclusions from anything that any FO says leading up to the draft

[sizzlingdoom]

Rumors Foster might need another surgery.
I'd rather take Ben Boulware in the 4th or 5th. It's really unlikely we keep both ILBs on the field during obvious passing downs anyways.
Use the first picks on someone that catches passes, defends them, or attacks the man that throws them

[Halshayeji]

16 minutes ago, sizzlingdoom said:

Rumors Foster might need another surgery.
I'd rather take Ben Boulware in the 4th or 5th. It's really unlikely we keep both ILBs on the field during obvious passing downs anyways.
Use the first picks on someone that catches passes, defends them, or attacks the man that throws them

Wwwwwhhhhhaaaaaatt?!!!

I usually enjoy reading your perspective on things but you lost me on this one.

that comparison is like saying. Williams may need surgery, I'd rather take Mickey Mouse in the 5th round because we're probably not gonna play with 3 WRs too often lol

Edited April 19 by Halshayeji

[Halshayeji]

Ruben Foster is an animal! I don't think the Ravens are going into the draft hoping that he's the BPA when they pick but wouldn't loose any sleep over it if he is indeed the last top teir guy left...

Edited April 19 by Halshayeji

[sizzlingdoom]

  On 4/19/2017 at 6:02 AM, sizzlingdoom said:

Rumors Foster might need another surgery.
I'd rather take Ben Boulware in the 4th or 5th. It's really unlikely we keep both ILBs on the field during obvious passing downs anyways.
Use the first picks on someone that catches passes, defends them, or attacks the man that throws them

Wwwwwhhhhhaaaaaatt?!!!

I usually enjoy reading your perspective on things but you lost me on this one.

that comparison is like saying. Williams may need surgery, I'd rather take Mickey Mouse in the 5th round because we're probably not gonna play with 3 WRs too often lol

LOL
I agree with you. He's an animal, and I would be very intrigued if we took him and paired him with Mosely. Our run defense would be nuts. He just has quite a few red flags with injury and character, but I definitely don't know the specifics and details on those so it's kinda hard for me to judge that.
I guess the main thing that makes me hesitate about taking him at 16 is I feel like ILB isn't a position that you need to take high in the draft, or sign to a big contract as a free agent. ( I know, ironic coming from a Ravens fan- Ray Lewis). But we did already take Mosely that high, and I just think the 16th pick might be best spent elsewhere. If he didn't have injury or character concerns I'd be a lot more for it, but still.
I think a lineman, pass rusher, or wr would make sense for need and bpa at 16 this year. A lot of options, we'll see soon.
All in all, I wouldn't be bummed if we took Foster at 16, but I'm hoping we take Barnett, Davis, or trade back. So much value between 20-100 in this draft. Lamp looks awesome and almost most importantly, I hope we grab Ju Ju in the second.
Thanks though, I know my views on things are kinda extreme sometimes. I just put it out there though, I'm not shy and I love my birds