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.

Last year I spent quite a bit of time on round two possibilities, but because the Ravens currently lack a second rounder, there are less possibilities to consider this year.

How To View the Offense’s Needs

This year is also a little bit hard to prognosticate on the offensive side because we just can’t be sure about Todd Monken’s plan.  But I believe the Ravens are heading in the direction of a more varied passing attack, more use of running backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield, more attempts to hit the edge in the run game with running backs, and more three receiver sets.  This means a lot less big formations, and less two tight-end sets in the passing game.  Hence, no need for the Ravens to draft a tight end (three is enough).  Perhaps they are looking at more outside zone running schemes, pointing them towards a guard who can move.  All guess work, of course.

Before I start, two last pre-draft words on Lamar.

Other Benefits of Trading For Anthony Richardson, Lamar Version

If somehow the Ravens are able to acquire Anthony Richardson by not trading away Lamar, then I’d argue the tradeable value of Lamar increases.  Why?  Because other teams who might have been interested but who were scared off by the Ravens right to match, would then know the Ravens committed to Richardson.  A team courting Lamar would be free to try to ink Lamar without being burdened by the fear they were just doing the Ravens bidding.  If they ink Lamar, subject to working out compensation, he would be theirs.

This would inevitably attract whatever suitors might otherwise be lurking.  Plus, the acquiring team would not be surrendering draft picks until the 2024 draft.  Big advantage to that team.

Changing Round One If Lamar Jackson Signs and DeAndre Hopkins is Acquired

I wrote a few weeks ago that the Ravens could acquire DeAndre Hopkins from a salary cap perspective only if Lamar Jackson signed an extension.  But it would work.  Rumors are swirling that such a scenario is about to happen.  If it does, the Ravens draft priorities below the number one need of cornerback changes.  In this case, both edge linebacker and the defensive line become higher priorities than wide receiver.  We should bear this in mind as we look at the player preferences below.

Big Board – First Round Draftable Players

As I’ve previously written, I consider each of the following players as worthy of pick 22.  My favorite match for the Ravens is of course Deonte Banks.  But if he somehow fell or the Ravens could otherwise acquire him, the choice should be Anthony Richardson, for all of the reasons I’ve written.

1. Anthony Richardson, quarterback (only if Lamar hasn’t signed)
2. Deonte Banks, cornerback
3. Lukas Van Ness, edge
4. Zay Flowers, wide receiver (irrelevant, and pass, if Hopkins is acquired)
5. Nolan Smith, edge
6. Myles Murphy, edge

Now I’d slot Devon Witherspoon above Deonte Banks if Witherspoon somehow fell.  Christian Gonzalez is more of a close call for me.

Round Two Draftable Players

From this point through the rest of the rounds, my favorite players for the Ravens are denoted with an asterisk (*).

Players are listed in order of how I perceive the Ravens’ needs and, of course, by my perception of the player’s value.  At this point the Ravens don’t have a second round pick, so I’d jump on any of these guys if they are somehow available in round three.

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, wide receiver (will never be available here).

2. *D.J. Turner, cornerback (but not if a corner is drafted in round one).

3. *Adetomiwa Adebawore, defensive lineman, but probably edge for the Ravens.

4. Joey Porter, Jr., cornerback (but not if a corner is drafted in round one).

5. *Keion White, edge

6. Will McDonald IV, edge

7. Jordan Addison, wide receiver

8. Steve Avila, guard

9. Keeanu Benton, defensive lineman

10. Bryan Bresee, defensive lineman

11. *Darius Rush, cornerback (but not if a corner is drafted in round one; he’s higher if no round one corner and D.J. Turner is also gone).

12. *Tank Dell, wide receiver (this is probably too high for him, but I really like the player).

13. O’Cyrus Torrence, guard (he’s probably ahead of Avila, and is a mauler, but I’m hoping the Ravens are intending to do more in outside zone work, where I think Avila is superior).

14. B. J. Ojulari, edge.

Other Round Two Worthy Players Who Don’t Fit The Ravens

These are additional round two talents who I don’t think the Ravens should draft:

1. John Schmitz, center. If the Ravens believe he can play guard, he’d be near the top of my round two list, above.  But if not, they can’t draft him.
2. Calijah Kancey, defensive lineman. He is a really good prospect whose best skillset doesn’t fit the Ravens scheme.
3. Cam Smith, cornerback. Not for me.
4. Emmanuel Forbes, cornerback. He’s likely gone in round one.  But as I’ve said, a 166 pound cornerback just scares the dickens out of me.
5. Quentin Johnston, wide receiver. Boom or bust guys aren’t my cup of tea.

Round Three Draftable Players

1. Tank Dell, wide receiver. Yes, I listed him in round two, but I think he’ll go here.
2. *Josh Downs, wide receiver
3. Jonathan Mingo, wide receiver. An interesting prospect who rarely (but probably should have) played on the outside.
4. *Chandler Zavala, guard (if no guard previously taken)
5. Kelee Ringo, cornerback
6. *Rayshee Rice, wide receiver
7. *Marte Mapu, safety
8. Cedric Tillman, wide receiver
9. Byron Young (Tennessee), edge
10. Cody Mauch, guard
11. Siaki Ika, defensive lineman
12. Grevon Dexter, Sr., defensive lineman
13. Tyjae Spears, running back
14. Tank Bigsby, running back
15. Tyrique Stevenson, cornerback
16. Tuli Tuipulotu, edge
17. Julius Brents, cornerback

Other Round Three Players Who Don’t Fit the Ravens

These are additional round three talents who I don’t think the Ravens should draft:

1. Jalin Hyatt, wide receiver – yes, this is where I grade him, and I still don’t like him.
2. Clark Phillips, III, corner
3. Mazi Smith, defensive lineman. One dimensional run stuffer.
4. Tyler Scott, wide receiver
5. Kayshon Boutte, wide receiver
6. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, edge
7. Derick Hall, edge

Round Four Draftable Players

Now at this point in the draft I’m not as married to the priorities, given that prior selections will change the initial priorities.  Keep that in mind.

1. Moro Ojomo, defensive lineman
2. *YaYa Diaby, edge
3. Anthony Bradford, guard
4. Ji’Ayir Brown, safety
5. Colby Warren, left tackle
6. J. L. Skinner, safety
7. *A. T. Brown, wide receiver
8. Sydney Brown, safety
9. Tyler Skeen, left tackle/guard
10. Keaton Mitchell, running back
11. Marvin Mims, Jr., wide receiver
12. Isaiah Foskey, edge
13. Isaiah McGuire, edge
14. Colby Wooden, defensive lineman
15. Emil Ekiyor Sr., guard
16. Riley Moss, cornerback
17. Jayden Reed, wide receiver

Other Round Four Players Who Don’t Fit the Ravens

These are additional round three talents who I don’t think the Ravens should draft:

1. Zacch Pickens, defensive lineman
2. Garrett Williams, cornerback
3. Kyu Blu Kelly, cornerback
4. Zach Evans, running back
5. Kendre Miller, running back
6. Jammie Robinson, safety
7. Jordan Battle, safety
8. Terell Smith, cornerback
9. Zach Harrison, edge

Round 5 Draftable Players

At this juncture, I’m listing by position.

1. *Deneric Prince, running back
2. Israel Abanikanda, running back
3. DeWayne McBride, running back
4. Roschon Johynson, running back
5. Deuce Vaughn, running back
6. McClendon Curtis, guard
7. Karl Brooks, defensive lineman (barely on the list)
8. Viliami Fehoko, edge (barely on the list)
9. Cory Trice, Jr., cornerback
10. Jakorian Bennett, cornerback
11. Michael Wilson, wide receiver
12. Jaelyn Duncan, left tackle

Other Round Five Players Who Don’t Fit the Ravens

1. Byron Young (Alabama) defensive lineman
2. K.J. Henry, edge
3. D.J. Johnson, edge
4. Nick Hampton, edge
5. Tre Hodges Tomlinson, cornerback
6. Jaquelin Roy, defensive lineman
7. Kobie Turner, defensive lineman
8. Jordan McFadden, guard
9. Dontayvion Wicks, wide receiver
10. Parker Washington, wide receiver
11. Xavier Hutchinson, wide receiver
12. Trey Palmer, wide receiver
13. Andres Iosivas, wide receiver
14. Charlie Jones, wide receiver
15. Blake Freeland, left tackle
16. Asim Richards, left tackle
17. Christopher Smith, safety
18. Eric Gray, running back
19. Kenny McIntosh, running back

Round 6 & 7 Draftable Players

1. Sean Tucker, running back
2. Chase Brown, running back
3. Rakim Jarret, wide receiver
4. Darrell Luter, Jr., cornerback
5. Andre Carter II, edge
6. Lonnie Phelps, edge
7. Jason Taylor II, safety

I’m ignoring the bevy of later round prospects who I don’t think fit the Ravens.