Despite the NFL draft being more than two months away, many pundits haven’t wasted time in putting together their mock drafts before commissioner Roger Goodell finally steps to the podium in Chicago and announces the first pick on April 30.
The Ravens currently have needs at cornerback, wide receiver, tight end, running back, and safety, so it will be interesting to see which priorities remain in the spring, especially with a very tight salary-cap situation.
Below is a look at five players who have recently been mocked to Baltimore with the 26th overall pick in different publications:
WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Rob Rang of CBSSports.com)
My take: Even if the Ravens are able to re-sign Torrey Smith, taking a wide receiver early in the draft would be wise with Steve Smith turning 36 later this year. There’s no denying that Green-Beckham’s size (6-foot-5 and 225 pounds) and speed are intriguing, but multiple marijuana-related arrests led to his dismissal at Missouri and raise red flags about his maturity and commitment to football. Draft pundits have compared him to A.J. Green, but the 21-year-old will really need to impress during the interview process to make teams comfortable in taking him, especially in the first round.
TE Maxx Williams (Mel Kiper of ESPN.com)
My take: Should veteran Dennis Pitta attempt to continue his NFL career, the Ravens would still have a need at tight end with Owen Daniels a free agent and 2014 third-round pick Crockett Gillmore not showing enough to indicate he can become a No. 1 option just yet. Williams is regarded as the top tight end in this year’s draft class even though he was part of a run-oriented attack at the University of Minnesota. He has excellent hands and made several highlight catches in his collegiate career, but some experts believe he needs to add strength to become a better blocker despite a 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame.
RB Melvin Gordon (Charles Davis of NFL.com)
My take: Considering a running back hasn’t been taken in the first round since 2012, the choice of Gordon feels underwhelming after the stout Baltimore offensive line opened running lanes for journeyman Justin Forsett to rush for over 1,250 yards this past season. However, Gordon became the second all-time single-season rusher in FBS history with 2,587 yards in 2014 and played under current Ravens running backs coach Thomas Hammock at Wisconsin, meaning the organization should know him very well. If the Ravens take Gordon, you assume they would have visions of him quickly becoming one of the best backs in the NFL.
WR Devin Funchess (Matt Miller of BleacherReport.com)
My take: The 6-foot-5, 230-pound former tight end would be a matchup nightmare for most cornerbacks and will use his leaping ability and frame to attack the football, which would give the Ravens the giant weapon inside the red zone that they’ve lacked for years. Funchess is still regarded as raw in terms of route-running ability and needs to develop more consistent hands. Much like Kelvin Benjamin in last year’s draft, the Michigan product is considered a high-risk, high-reward prospect, but he doesn’t carry the off-field baggage of a wide receiver like Green-Beckham.
CB Quinten Rollins (Eric Galko of SportingNews.com)
My take: Other mock drafts have linked the Ravens to cornerbacks such as Marcus Peters and Jalen Collins, but Rollins would be an intriguing choice considering he played only one year of college football at Miami of Ohio, which is John Harbaugh’s alma mater. The former basketball player had a standout 2014 for the RedHawks, earning MAC Defensive Player of the Year honors with 72 tackles and seven interceptions. The pre-draft process will be critical for the 5-foot-11, 193-pound Rollins with a limited body of work behind him, but his toughness and natural gifts will make teams think upside while he tries to refine his technique.
