A Marketplace for Ideas

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.

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”

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”

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”