Opinions Archives – Page 7 of 18 – A Marketplace for Ideas

Ravens Draft Days Two and Three, and More

No need to spend much more time on Zay Flowers. He was the best receiver in the draft, pure and simple. Lamar will have zero excuses this year. He’s surrounded by high end skill position players everywhere. The wide receiver trio of Beckham, Bateman, and Flowers is plenty good enough. Mark Andrews and his fellow tight ends are elite. The running back trio is excellent. Now we will see what Todd Monken can do. There should be big enough offensive philosophy changes coming. Now let’s take a look at days two and three.

A Debate With Eric DeCosta

I was foolish enough to believe, for two years running now, that the Ravens would not draft a player for a position where they did not have a need. Last year, it was Kyle Hamilton. This year, it is Trenton Simpson. It was my fault failing to review inside linebackers this season under this false assumption. Continue reading “Ravens Draft Days Two and Three, and More”

Ravens 2023 Draft: Post Day One

Here’s a quick post day one draft commentary.

The Cornerback Versus Wide Receiver Debate, Continued

After they were unable/unwilling to acquire DeAndre Hopkins, the Ravens drafted Zay Flowers, the best wide receiver in the draft in my view. I believe the Ravens were working the phones while we waited for the selection (near the end of the allotted ten minutes), but presumably didn’t get what they wanted. Continue reading “Ravens 2023 Draft: Post Day One”

Ravens 2023 Big Board Part 2 – Rounds and Players

It’s draft day 2023! Finally, part 2 of the Ravens Big Board is here. Like last year, this 2023 Big Board is not a ranking of all prospects such as you typically see on the internet. That type of ranking is not useful in figuring out who the Ravens will target, as you saw in Part 1 of this year’s Big Board. Instead, the goal is to find who fits what the Ravens try to do, and which players bring to the table what the Ravens most need. The selections you see below are intended to represent which specific prospects the Ravens should draft, and roughly when.

2023 Big Board: It’s a Very Weak Year

This year’s draft class is very weak, in my view. The first round only goes only about 16-17 players deep. And as you’ll see below, there are a lot of players I reviewed who just shouldn’t be drafted by the Ravens. The depth in the balance of the class is arguably the worst in years. If ever there was a year not to have a boatload of picks, 2023 is that year. Continue reading “Ravens 2023 Big Board Part 2 – Rounds and Players”

Ravens Big Board Part 1 Supplement: More on Round One

Part 1 of my Ravens Big Board (found here) outlined where I think the Ravens should go if they draft a player at Pick 22. Part 2 of the Ravens Big Board will set forth a round-by-round view of who I think the Ravens could/should target. But a couple of other thoughts came to mind that I decided to put out in this Big Board Part 1 Supplement

More On Round One – The Quarterbacks and Lamar Jackson

What will happen with the quarterbacks in round one of the draft? I’d be shocked if Bryce Young is not the first pick. He’s simply the best quarterback in this class at this point. Do the Texans draft a quarterback at pick 2? Then what?

There’s no point in speculating about trades for quarterback prospects. That conversation is just a merry-go-round of confusion. But there are two similar questions to consider. First, after the Titans have selected at pick 11, and assuming the Texans did not draft a quarterback at pick 2, are either Anthony Richardson or C.J. Stroud still available? Continue reading “Ravens Big Board Part 1 Supplement: More on Round One”

Ravens 2023 Draft Big Board, Part 1

Here’s where I try to stitch all of the prior draft blogs together from the Ravens perspective and create my Ravens Big Board. This year, I’ve broken the Big Board into two blogs. This Part one of the Big Board construction focuses only on round one of the draft. Part two contains the entire Big Board for the Ravens, by round and player, with my favorite selections for the Ravens given their needs.

Individual prospect analyses can be found as follows:

Offense:
Left tackle is here.
Running Backs are found here.
Wide Receivers are here.
Interior Offensive Linemen are here.

Defense:
Cornerbacks are found here.
Defensive Linemen are here.
Edge Linebackers are located here.
Safeties are located here.

A Brief Background

First, a few minor background comments. On the offensive side of things, I did not review tight ends or centers at all, as I just can’t see the Ravens spending any of their precious draft capital this year on these areas of strength. Continue reading “Ravens 2023 Draft Big Board, Part 1”

Last Minute Upgrades and Downgrades – 2023 Ravens Draft

It’s time to make a few upgrades, and one downgrade, of prior player analyses for the Ravens 2023 draft.

Upgrade: Deonte Banks (cornerback)

More tape study of Banks convinced me that he has all of the ability to become a dominant press cover corner. He brings a great punch at the line, with one or both hands. His transitions are very smooth out of press coverage. This man can turn his hips and mirror all the way down the field. Banks offers great body balance and body control at the catch point. He is a very good tackler. Where he’s lacking to date is in ball productivity. For all of his skills, it was surprisingly absent. But make no mistake, he has elite man cover skills.

Upgrade: Tank Dell (wide receiver)

It’s not so much that I have new things to say about Dell. Rather, it’s just every tape I look at shows Dell getting separation. It’s quite extraordinary. I’d be very satisfied if he somehow wound up on the Ravens.

Upgrade: Adetomiwa Adebawore (defensive line)

The Ravens are thinking about Adebawore a little differently than probably others. They asked him to do linebacker drills for them at the Combine. This 282 pound man ran a 4.49 forty. Could he wind up as an edge linebacker selection in, say, round three? I think he has the agility to make a full transition. He could be your Pernell McPhee, Zadarius Smith, or Courtney Upshaw type player who sets a hard edge but can rush from the inside/outside (well, maybe not Upshaw). With that in mind, I have to elevate Adebawore.

Two Running Backs

Israel Abanikanda – The Ravens had a formal interview with Abanikanda, which puzzled me a bit. What are they seeing that I don’t. To review, he has home run speed, no doubt. But if he has to create holes at the line of scrimmage, or if he has to power for yardage at all, forget about it so far. He’s very young so one hopes there is room for upside here. But he’s an upright runner without leg drive who is simply a one cut and go. He averaged a terrible 2.7 yards per carry after contact, and had only the 64^th best missed tackle rate and only 46 forced missed tackles. On the flip side, most of his yards came before contact. Now he’s best suited for an inside zone scheme, but at this point there is no way that he’s the next Gus Edwards. He plays much smaller than his size.

Deneric Prince – I think Prince is flying a bit under the radar. His initial full report is worth reviewing. Tape review of Prince showed a man who runs with good balance at 216 pounds and is really tough between the tackles. He is the type of player who runs like Gus Edwards, although much faster (ran a 4.41 forty). Prince struggles a bit getting to the edge. Like Gus he is one cut and go. And he could stand to run with a lower pad level. But he brings power and juice on the inside. Towards the bottom of the draft board he’s a player I like.

Downgrade: Joey Porter, Jr. (cornerback)

This is not so much a function of something negative I found regarding Porter. It’s just that the more I consider his skillset, the more I believe he’s overrated as a first round – and by many a higher first round – prospect.

Safety Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft

The safety prospects in the 2023 NFL draft are reviewed below from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed previously:

Offense:
Running Backs, which is found here.
Wide Receivers, which can be found here.
Interior Offensive Linemen, which can be found here.

Defense:
Edge Linebacker, which is located here.
Cornerbacks, which is found here.
Defensive Linemen, which is found here.

The Ravens Current Safety Situation and Needs

The Ravens still have a need at safety. With Chuck Clark gone, Kyle Hamilton takes over, and you’re left with Geno Stone and Ar’Darius Washington as backups. And potentially Brandon Stephens, who knows. There’s a need here, particularly if Hamilton, playing more traditional safety roles, doesn’t develop in those roles the way the Ravens hope. Hamilton has a lot of improvement to do back there, notwithstanding Pro Football Focus’ ridiculously high grade for him at safety. A position he played on only 82 snaps all of last year. Continue reading “Safety Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft”

Running Back Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft

The running back prospects in the 2023 NFL draft are reviewed below from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed in other posts:

Offense:
Wide Receivers, which can be found here, and was updated again today.
Interior Offensive Lineman, which can be found here.

Defense:
Edge Linebacker, which is located here.
Cornerbacks, which can be found here.
Defensive Linemen, which is found here.

The Ravens Current Running Back Situation and Needs

The Ravens retain their three-headed running back room from last year. It’s a good group but all three of J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill have serious injury history in their not-so-distance pasts. Dobbins is a free-agent after this year and at age 26 for the 2024 season, it’s unclear what his Ravens future might look like. Gus Edwards is 28 and 2024 is a voidable year on his contract. Justice Hill has never been given a full chance to shine as a running back, even though he was very explosive last year and has juice to offer. With this combination of factors, I fully expect the Ravens to add to the running back room through the draft or with undrafted free agents after the draft. Continue reading “Running Back Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft”

Edge Linebacker Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft Report

This post reviews the edge linebacker prospects in the 2023 draft from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed to date:

Offense:
Wide Receivers, which can be found here and which was updated on April 20, 2023
Interior Offensive Lineman, which can be found here.

Defense:
Cornerbacks, located here.
Defensive Linemen, located here.

The Ravens Current Edge Linebacker Situation and the Need

The Ravens have a continuing need at the outside linebacker position. I expect Tyus Bowser to come back stronger in his second year removed from his Achilles injury. This will allow him to play on the strong side much more, and free up Odafe Oweh to get away from tight ends. Then we will see what the Ravens really have with Oweh. As far as David Ojabo goes, 2023 will be his rookie year as a practical matter. His first full training camp; getting in the work necessary to be on the field in running situations. Ojabo has a lot to do to become a full-time player in the NFL. Continue reading “Edge Linebacker Prospects – Ravens 2023 Draft Report”

Patrick Queen’s Future: Keep Him or Trade Him?

It’s a given that the Ravens will not exercise their fifth year option on Patrick Queen. They aren’t going to spend that much more money on the inside linebacker group, and certainly not for a weakside linebacker. But should they keep him for the 2023 season, or trade him before or during the draft? What is Patrick Queen’s future?

Readers know that I’m not a Patrick Queen fan. But I’d be dogmatic to claim that Queen didn’t produce a whole lot more once Roquan Smith took over the strong side responsibilities. The two play very effectively together. Smith’s presence allowed Queen to do more of what he does well, and less of what he doesn’t do well. Playing together, the Smith-Queen duo must be the fastest inside linebacker group in the league. Continue reading “Patrick Queen’s Future: Keep Him or Trade Him?”