Ravens address their biggest needs in Draft Wire’s 3-round mock draft
The Baltimore Ravens enter this offseason with a few significant needs that have to be addressed by the time they get back on the football field later in the summer. As is seemingly always the case, wide receiver and pass rusher are at the top of that list. While Baltimore could choose to acquire players in free agency to fill the void, using the 2021 NFL draft to either find starters or even capable depth is still going to be a necessity.
Luke Easterling of Draft Wire recently released a three-round mock draft that took into account the Ravens’ biggest needs and paired them with some great value selections. Let’s take a closer look at Draft Wire’s mock draft to see who Baltimore could find available.
1st round (No. 27): Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman
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Bateman has been a popular pick for the Ravens so far this offseason because he checks off so many boxes for Baltimore. Bateman stands at 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, making him capable of playing outside as well as inside. While he isn't the fastest guy on the field, he's surprisingly quick off the line and capable of getting over the top of a defender before they realize it. He can run a variety of routes and is savvy enough to create separation at all three levels. He's got solid hands and body awareness, and though he's maybe not the most eager blocker, Bateman has played in a run-first offense and should know how to do it. Bateman is a pretty clear-cut first-round option at wide receiver. He'd offer an immediate impact for the Ravens' passing attack, giving them a consistent weapon on the outside and the versatility to create mismatches all over the field, especially when teamed up with Brown.
2nd round (No. 58): Washington EDGE Joe Tryon
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After opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19, Tryon's actual draft stock could be all over the place. He looked the part of an emerging talent worthy of a first-round pick in 2019 when he had eight sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss. But by not playing in 2020, it's unclear how much, if any, he's developed beyond that point. However, some draft analysts have snuck Tyron into the first round, which could make his availability at No. 58 a steal. While Tryon is rightfully a little raw given his lone year as a starter for Washington, he's got a lot of the physical traits and skills any team would love to see from an EDGE defender. He's decently sized at 6-foot-5 and 251 pounds, has a good first step, and is surprisingly fluid in the open field, allowing him to both set the edge and drop back into coverage. I don't dare make a player comparison here but Tryon's versatility could make him an eventual replacement for Matthew Judon as he develops. He'll likely contribute quite a bit as a rookie and if his skills are honed, he could be a very effective all-around EDGE defender who puts up good numbers every year.
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