As the draft gets closer and closer, I wanted to put together a mock of what I consider to be the ideal draft – the perfect intersection of getting value and filling needs. What does that realistically look like? Well, that’s what makes mock drafts fun. While I didn’t factor in the possibility of any trades, which frankly is likely to happen given the Ravens history on draft day, I did target players in the bottom half of their draft projection. It’s likely that some of these players will be gone when the Ravens are on the clock, but I do think some of them will be available in these slots and I also think that each one of them would be a good fit for the Ravens.
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Round 1, pick 28: A.J. Epenesa, Edge, Iowa: Epenesa would not be a flashy draft pick by any stretch, but he fits the mold of a versatile edge rusher that the Ravens need in 2020 and beyond. He possesses excellent size and length and knows how to use his physical traits to win as a pass-rusher. Epenesa does not have elite quickness or athleticism, but he is consistently able to get after the QB with power and technique. He is also a good run defender, and his size and strength should allow him to play OLB, DE or even DT in sub packages.
Round 2, pick 55: Lloyd Cushenberry, IOL, LSU: Cushenberry played center for LSU, but he has the size, strength and functional athleticism to play any of the interior line positions in the NFL. He has a good anchor in the passing game and understands angles and how to set up blocks well in the run game. He’s not a mauler and doesn’t have elite movement skills, but he has a high football IQ and can come in and start on Day 1.
Round 2, pick 60: Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Michigan: In my last mock draft, I had the Ravens selecting Brandon Aiyuk in this slot, and I think this is the right range to take a WR in this draft. The Ravens should have several options – it will just depend on what type of WR they want. Peoples-Jones is your prototypical X WR with excellent size, speed and explosive ability. He’s one of the top athletes in the draft. He tracks the ball well and is able to make difficult catches away from his frame without issue. Peoples-Jones also brings added value as a punt returner. There are legitimate questions about his lack of production in college, and part of that may stem from lack of refinement as a route-runner. That said, there is a ton of upside with Peoples-Jones and it could make it hard for the Ravens to pass here.
Round 3, pick 92 : Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama: Defensive line is an underrated need for the Ravens both in 2020 and beyond. Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe are clearly significant additions, but they are short term pieces. Raekwon Davis is a prospect with very high upside; he has excellent size and strength and is a force against the run who can line up anywhere along the defensive line. Davis has flashed pass-rush ability, but has been inconsistent in this area. I would expect Davis to be a plus run defender from day 1, and any additional pass-rush productivity that comes is a bonus.
Round 3, pick 106: Jordyn Brooks, LB, Texas Tech: The top Linebackers get all of the attention in this draft, but I think that it is a sneaky deep class. Brooks is one of several Day 2/3 prospects that could come in and be impactful players as a rookie. He has excellent speed and range and has been a highly productive player for Texas Tech. He wasn’t asked to do much in coverage and he has some issues shedding blocks, but Brooks has a nose for the football and the athleticism to make plays at every level.
Round 4, pick 129: Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU: Moss is a very interesting TE prospect. He doesn’t have the traditional size of an NFL TE, but he is a better blocker than most players that have several inches on him. He also put up impressive receiving numbers too despite not having great size, speed or athleticism. Moss was diagnosed with a Jones fracture at the combine which may lower his draft stock, but for a Ravens team that employs it’s TEs in various alignments and personnel groupings, he could be an intriguing fit at this point in the draft.
Round 4, pick 134: Terrell Burgess, Safety, Utah: Safety may not be the Ravens greatest need with both Chuck Clark and Earl Thomas under contract for several years. However, the Ravens do use a lot of packages with 3+ safeties and adding another versatile DB would ensure this scheme flexibility. Burgess fits the description of versatile from a coverage perspective. He plays well in man coverage and has experience in 2 high looks as a deep safety. The knock on Burgess is his lack of size that can impact his ability to make plays in both the passing game and run support, but he’s smart and plays hard; the effort makes up for some of his physical limitations.
Round 5, pick 157: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue: The Ravens have significant question marks at the LB position, and a player like Bailey could provide tremendous value here. Bailey would likely be a Day 2 selection if not for a significant injury history (two season-ending knee injuries). He’s an instinctive player with a high football IQ who is a physical presence on the football field. Bailey is may never excel in coverage, but he is more than adequate, especially in short area zones and underneath routes. The biggest question with Bailey will be how he returns from a second major knee injury.
Round 7, pick 225: Kevin Dotson, IOL, Louisiana-Lafayette: Dotson is a small school prospect who impresses in a big way. He has good power in the run game and is very hard to move in pass protection. He’s not overly quick or nimble on his feet, but his movement is adequate for an interior lineman. Dotson is not overly athletic which will limit his ceiling, but he has the tools to develop into a starting OG.
Ravens Analyst
Gabe is an avid fan of the NFL and Ravens football. He grew up in Westminster, MD, and attended college at Johns Hopkins University majoring in Biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, and now works as a R&D Scientist developing Transplant Diagnostics assays. Gabe has appeared as a guest on 105.7 The Fan.