Originally Posted by
leachisabeast
My latest Ravens mock draft: (I am assuming that a safety and a nose tackle is signed in FA)
First round pick (32): Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
Kevin Minter is probably the best bet here. There really isn't any great options at this point, and we have a big need at ILB, plus Minter is a great prospect IMO. He isn't Ray Lewis, and isn't a vocal leader like him, but he was the leader of an elite college defense at LSU, and was more of a quiet leader. He is really solid in run defense, he covers a lot of ground, and is adequate to solid dropping back into coverage. Hip movement may be an issue. At 6'1 and 240 lbs, he has ideal size to play in a 3-4 scheme, and would be great playing next to Ellerbe. Minter would instantly become the fastest guy in our front 7.
Pro comparison: Daryl Smith
Second round pick (62): Datone Jones, DE, UCLA.
The Senior bowl headlines will tell you that it was all Ziggy Ansah dominating, but lost in all that is that Datone Jones was just as good. Datone Jones is raising his stock, so he may even be a first round pick, but for now I will give him a second round projection, simply because nobody really knows who he is right now. He compares favourbly with Darnell Docket IMO, he is really stout as a run defender, but can bullrush effectively and would instantly upgrade our pass rush. He is versatile and can play 5 technique, a hands in dirt DE in a 4-3, a DT in nickel packages, and at a push, maybe even SAM in a 3-4. He had perfect measurable s at the senior bowl, at 6'4, 280 lbs.
Pro comparison: Darnell Docket
Third round pick (78), (traded up for fourth, fifth, and sixth round picks with St Louis): Chris Faulk, OT, LSU
Chris Faulk could have been one of the top LT's in the draft this year had he not spent the year out with a serious knee injury. He could be a great value pick here as a developmental LT prospect, and long term, we still don't have a real natural LT on the roster. He was a nasty run blocker at LSU and was decent in pass coverage, he also has great size at 6'6, 325 lbs. Because of the injury, he has a 3rd round projection right now. Could start from day 1 at RT or guard at a push.
Pro comparison: Duane Brown
Third round pick (93), Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon state.
Wheaton had a really solid senior bowl week, and by all accounts the Ravens were interested in him. He would fit Caldwell's system perfectly, as he can get deep separation, being a burner, but can also take short passes and take them for big gains. I'm not really sure what round he'll go in right now, but the general conseues says that he's a 3rd round projection because of his lack of size.
Pro comparison: Greg Jennings
Fourth round pick (compensatory pick, for Ben Grubbs): Ryan Otten, TE, San Jose
Who knows how the Ravens view Ed Dickson right now, but I expect them to bring in some competition for him to earn the 2nd TE position in the two TE set system that the Ravens are expected to run quite a lot next season, this is assuming they tender Dickson, which isn't a given, Dickson has really under whelmed after a promising start to his sophomore season in 2011. Otten was a player that the Ravens were reportedly interested in at the senior bowl, and would be a solid pick in the fourth round. He is big, and can be a miss match over the middle, but isn't overall fast or athletic. He is an adequate to solid blocker, and very good at catching the ball from what I've seen of him. He uses his big body to catch balls over the middle out leaping smaller DB's and LB's. He was impressive at the senior bowl, and played through an illness all week. Seems like a typical Raven pick on a tough kid waiting to happen.
Pro Comparison: Zach Miller
Fifth round pick (compensatory pick for Cory Redding): Brian Schwenke, OC/OG, California
This would be a nice depth pick, and would bring some legit competition for Gino in camp. Schwenke looks like a nice prospect that can get to the second level and seal off some nice blocks in the run game, he has decent size for a center at 6'4 and 307 lbs, and would be a nice fit for a ZBS. He also offers some decent versatility as he can play both guard and center.
Pro comparison: Maukrice Pouncey
Fifth round pick (compensatory pick, for Jarrett Johnson): Tyrann Mathieu, S/CB, LSU
This is totally a wild throw it out there type pick on a very talented player with extremely flawed character concerns. IF the Ravens view him as someone who can change his life in the NFL, they will take a chance on him given his ability. He is actually similar to our very own Webb as a player, and would give us some much needed depth at both safety and corner.
Pro Comparison: Lardarius Webb
Seventh round pick (217): Kyle Justzczyk, FB, Harvard.
Essentially the Vonta Leach replacement (I have Leach being cut in my mock offseason document sadly). He wont be anywhere near as good as a lead blocker in this offense, but somehow, I think Caldwell's system doesn't really require a great lead blocker, but maybe more of a hybrid player who can be a weapon in the passing game, as well as a protector in both the passing and running game. Justzczyk can do just that, he lined up in the slot as a receiver at Harvard a lot of the time, and could be an interesting prospect to look at, another option for Flacco on 3rd downs.
Pro comparison: Henri Hynoski
Seventh round pick (compensatory pick for Tom Zibikowski): Curtis McNeal, RB, USC
As we all know, another big positive about Caldwell's offense, is that its upgraded the ground game, and its something that needed to happen in this play off run, as it was woeful at times under Cameron, or non existent, or extremely under used with the talented backs we have on the roster. We do however need an upgrade at the 3rd RB spot currently occupied by Anthony Allen. Allen is a decent ST player, but just isn't cutting it as an NFL back. This offense could do with a scat back to compliment Rice, and Curtis McNeal is a small speedy back that can contribute in the passing game too. There is nothing wrong with adding a Danny Woodhead type player in the 7th round.
Pro comparison: Danny Woodhead.