For the second consecutive season, the Baltimore Ravens had their season ended early with disappointment. Now like most of the teams in the NFL, COVID-19 and injuries wreaked havoc on Baltimore’s roster and momentum. A record of 11-5 is a major positive outcome given the circumstances, even though there is talent stacked all over this team. Unfortunately, one of the main takeaways from Baltimore’s season is the rare Wednesday night game fans were given.
Consistent positive COVID-19 tests to many key players in a high-profile game versus rival Pittsburgh led to a drastic call. The game was pushed from primetime on Thanksgiving Day to a random Wednesday at 3:40 in the afternoon. Baltimore lost the game as well as their two backup QBs in the same night. This is basically the 2020 Baltimore Ravens in a nutshell.
Baltimore’s defense was rattled with star players missing significant playing time throughout the year. Yet, this unit was still rather productive in picking up the slack for the rocky offense. Lamar Jackson aided in helping his team lead the league in rushing yards. He was a conservative and safe passer but didn’t have stellar numbers.
Big names like Mark Ingram, Miles Boykin, and Tavon Young had horrible outings for a variety of reasons. Players like JK Dobbins, Patrick Queen, Marquise Brown, and Marlon Humphrey showed out and has the future looking promising at least.
Even with the bright young stars surging, the Baltimore Ravens still need to improve greatly in some areas to control the AFC North again. Where do they need help? What are the Baltimore Ravens Team Draft needs?
2021 Baltimore Ravens Draft Picks
- Round 1- Pick #27
- 2- Pick #58
- 3- #104
- 4- #131
- 5- #169
- 5- #184
- 6- #211
The Baltimore Ravens seem to be catching on within the AFC North on how to build a solid team through the draft. Since 2016, the Ravens have added about a dozen key starters with the draft. They can have a successful 2021 through the draft again but they must focus on these key areas.
2021 Baltimore Ravens Draft Needs: EDGE, TE, WR, OL, S
EDGE Pass Rusher:
Baltimore’s pass rush has big names and decent numbers mixed in. Team sack leader Matthew Judon is a free agent as is late-season addition Yannick Ngakoue. Judon is a fan favorite to be tagged but the team needs to free up a lot more cap in order to get a long-term deal done. Ngakoue is just 25 and other teams are likely going to pay more than Baltimore is willing. Both guys have their flaws as pass rushers, as Judon is better against the run and Yannick is more of a pure pass rusher who struggles against the run. Could the Ravens cut down on money and draft one young man who can do everything well?
Tulsa’s Zaven Collins checks everything on the list a team wants in a top-level pass rusher.
First Round Option: Zaven Collins- Tulsa
Second Round Option: Jayson Oweh– Penn St
Wide Receiver:
To put it in perspective, the Ravens ranked 319th last year in wide receiver yardage in the last decade. That’s out of 320 overall. You can rag on Lamar Jackson’s ability to be a successful passer all you want but the blame also falls on the WRs themselves. Even in a run-heavy offense, the WRs aren’t a well-oiled unit. Marquise Brown is playing great ball but he’s similar to Juju Smith-Schuster: more suitable as a No.2 to work off of a true No.1. Baltimore has no real WR1.
The next big contributors outside of Brown were Willie Snead and Miles Boykin. Snead is a FA and likely won’t return while Boykin is still in the middle of his rookie deal but is not a true starter yet (even though he will surely see an increase of snaps next year). Dez Bryant is also a FA who won’t be back. Rookies Devin Duvernay and James Proche are nowhere near ready for the starting rotation.
As of this moment, the Ravens are reported to not look for a top WR in the FA market. With the 27th pick, there won’t be much to work within the draft either. Kadarius Toney and Tutu Atwell are predicted to be the best WRs left on the board by 27 and neither is an immediate WR1.
First Round Option: Kadarius Toney- Florida
Second Round Option: Marquez Stevenson– Houston
Tight End:
Similar to the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, TEs are crucial to Baltimore’s passing attack. Mark Andrews is Jackson’s favorite target on critical plays but he can’t do everything. Nick Boyle is a fantastic blocker, even better than Andrews but not a real threat with his hands. Pat Ricard is more of a fullback in this system, leaving a need for depth. The Ravens need someone to compliment and shadow Andrews’ skills to give this poor offense a major boost. If WR isn’t on their list of needs, TE needs to be then.
Kyle Pitts, the best TE in the class, will be gone long before 27. Pat Freiermuth could be an exciting 2nd round pick if no WR is drafted by then. But is TE that big of a need before Day 3?
Second Round Option: Pat Freiermuth- Penn St
Third Round Option: Tre’ McKitty– Georgia
Offensive Line:
All news has been on Orlando Brown Jr declaring over social media that he is solely a left tackle rather than a right tackle (where he’s been playing with Baltimore as a 2x Pro Bowl RT). One way to solve the tension could be to move All-Pro Ronnie Stanley to RT but there’s a gamble Stanley is firmly against the decision. Brown has requested a trade that the Ravens are going to want a nice return should they deal him. Even if Brown somehow stays in 2021, he will surely walk in FA and will need a replacement next year anyway.
Matt Skura and Patrick Mekari can’t play at a consistently high-caliber to be a trustworthy starter. Undrafted rookie Trystan Colon-Castillo at least some snaps in 2020 and played admirably given the circumstances.
RG Tyre Phillips is a borderline below-average blocker and might not pan out as the backup to Ben Powers. So if Brown is traded away, there’s a need for C, RT, and RG.
First Round Option: Christian Darrisaw-OT-Virginia Tech/Rashawn Slater-Versatile-Northwestern
Second Round Option: Wyatt Davis-G-Ohio State/Landon Dickerson-C-Alabama/Liam Eichenberg-T-Notre Dame
Safety:
This position is lacking major depth. Chuck Clark, a former sixth-round pick, has escalated up to a reliable starter over the years. The Ravens need depth to help out this young man in the playmaking department. Between Clark and fellow starter DeShon Elliott, they combined for 1 INT and 8 passes defended. These two are young and cheap starters who can compete well but there is no one for them to rotate out with and keep that high-quality of play on the field.
Third Round Option: Damar Hamlin– Pitt
Fourth Round Option: Richard LeCounte-Georgia
2021 Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft
- Round 1- Pick #27- Zaven Collins- EDGE/OLB-Tulsa
- 2- #58- Wyatt Davis-G-Ohio State
- 3- #104- Tre’ McKitty-TE-Georgia
- 4- #131- Tamorrion Terry-WR- Florida State
- 5- #169- Richard LeCounte-S-Georgia
- 5- #184- Jordan Reid-C/T-Michigan St
- 6- #211- Chris Evans-RB- Michigan
For more information on NFL draft prospects, check out Austin Smith’s Top 50 Draft Board.
