A review and a preview

[LukeDaniel]

I'd give the Ravens a C+ so far.

I hated the Mosley pick at the time...not for the player, but the position. I guess I've mellowed on it a bit since then, namely because he's probably one of the least risky players in this draft class. His floor is much higher than a lot of the other names being tossed instead of him. If Mosley is a bust in the NFL, it will be due to injuries and injuries alone. Even if he has a career closer to his floor than his ceiling, that's still going to be a productive career. He's basically a Zach Martin at a position of less need.

I liked the Jernigan pick when it first was announced by McCrary, mainly because of his value in relation to the pick slot. He has probably a tad less upside than Mosley, but an incredibly lower floor. I'm not sure he fits well in a 3-4 either.

I loved the Brooks pick, and not just because I mocked him to us at 79. I know I might be seeing things through purple shaded glasses, but I'm not sure how much further behind Pryor he is as a FS prospect. Pryor undeniably has more upside, but Brooks might be a more NFL ready starter.

I hated the Gilmore pick. Maybe he is the 7th best TE in the draft, but I think you can roll the dice and logically think he might still be around at the same slot in the 4th round. I don't think anyone this unpolished, and this unready to contribute right away, is a player you have to reach for in order to avoid the risk of missing him in the upcoming 30 picks. Now you just have another guy picked in the 100 area who adds nothing from scrimmage in year one, like Gradkowski (98), Thompson (130), Juszyck (130), Simon (129). Call me greedy, but I'd like to see a player we take in the late 3rd-late 4th actually have a chance to see significant snaps as a rookie. Keith McGill, Richardson, Aiken, Yankey, Fleming, Chris Smith, etc might have had a chance to be that type of player.

On a positive note, I have a feeling that one of these players that we were drooling over at pick 99 is still going to be there at 134.

Here are the players I like best for the Ravens at 134 and 138.

1- Richardson, OT, Tennessee (2nd rounder on about 90% of draft sites)

2- Keith McGill, CB, Utah- Great size and athleticism. I think he instantly becomes our nickle ahead of Asa Jackson. I was shocked to see him not be drafted so far. Quite a few draft publications had him ranked similarly to Jean-Baptiste from Nebraska, who went in the late 2nd round. They said he was a physically-similar, lower-ceiling, more polished version of SJB.

3- AJ McCarron, QB, Alabama- If the Ravens want someone who can step in and handle the pressure of replacing an injured Flacco, McCarron has that pedigree. I see him as a less athletic but better armed version of Jay Fiedler, who was a very good backup/capable starter at the NFL level.

4- Lache Seastrunk/Kadeem Carey/Andre Williams/DaVonta Freeman/DeAnthony Thomas. I know a lot of Baltimore fans were pissed when West got drafted by Cleveland, because they were certain he was heading to the Ravens at 99. Don't be so positive. There were 5 other similarly-rated backs to West on the board who all came from big programs in major conferences. They might not have the upside as West, but they are more projectable. The odds are strong that at least one, likely two of the quintet you see above will be around at 134.

5- Cameron Fleming, OT, stanford. I couldn't possibly have thought Fleming would be around after 100 picks, so thinking he reaches pick 134 seems more plausible now. I'm astonished that the Ravens took a project TE over not one, but two, plug-and-play starting RTs in Richardson and Fleming. Having both still available increases the odds that one makes it to the Ravens.

6- Bruce Ellington, WR, South Carolina. Quite a few people had this guy in their top 50 and I think just about everyone had him in their top 100. He's probably just caught in a numbers crunch in an unprecedented WR draft class. He's a bit small and probably doesn't project to help the Ravens much at all in 2014, but his make-up does give you an idea that he could be a useful slot receiver by 2015/2016 when Smith has retired.

7- Brent Urban, DE, Virginia- Has the measurables to project as a 5-tech at the NFL level. Not a high ceiling, but easily could be the type of guy who plays 7-9 years in the NFL as a productive rotational type guy as a 3-4 or 4-3 DE. Not a great pass rusher, though, which is why he's still waiting for his name to be called. One can argue that Ravens seem to load their D-line with players who rarely get to the QB, which is concerning. Urban had less than 5 career sacks at Virginia, so if the Ravens want someone out of that 5-tech who can get to the QB, they might look at Penn State's DaQuan Jones or Oregon's Taylor Hart. I'd be shocked if Jones is around at 134 though.

[bt12483]

Totally forgot about Fleming.

Much like the front office appears to have forgotten about drafting offense.

[LukeDaniel]

Totally forgot about Fleming.

Much like the front office appears to have forgotten about drafting offense.

I agree. I'm shocked they didn't draft Moses in the spot they got Jernigan. Brooks was absolutely the right pick.

[PerpetuallyBored74]

I give this draft a D so far, not just for who they picked, but who they didn't.

Mosely will be nothing special, even if he stays healthy and doesn't completely bust due to injuries. I think they should have traded back and got extra picks instead.
I'm not sure about Jernigan in a 3-4 either, and with the Ravens' notorious history of playing/moving defensive guys out of position, I don't have high hopes for him either, but we'll see. Plus he failed his drug test, so he's already got one strike.
Brooks is the only pick I agree with, and why I didn't grade this draft an F.
Gillmore will be a solid blocker, #2/#3 TE who can move the chains and catch a few TD passes, but he was drafted about 2-3 rounds too high and there were other guys still available that should've been picked.

In a draft this deep with receiver talent and we come away with NONE?! Inexcusable. Ozzie better hope we don't get hammered with injuries at WR again because we only have 3 guys who are proven: Torrey, Jacoby, and Marlon. Steve Smith and Aaron Mellette are the X-factors with S. Smith hopefully still having something left at 35. And none of the 3 are #1 WRs; only one is a #2 and you need either a #1 or two very good #2's. And there were plenty of #2s in this draft. Absolutely inexcusable.

[BmoreLove]

This draft will be the one that defines the success or the failure of our franchise in future years, I am worried.

[darb72]

We have four picks left. Two need to be offensive linemen because unless Winston signs tomorrow, we have an lack of depth along the line. WR needs to be addressed because we only have five of them and the number three guy is more of a return specialist.

Also need a punter and running back. Five needs, four picks.

Looking at the talent acquired, I give the draft an A. Looking at how much it improves our team, C.

At receiver, there's really only two players that have a shot at making the roster. Jeff Janis and Bruce Ellington. Both have some issues, which is why they haven't been drafted yet, but have some athletic ability and the desire to make it.

Offensive line still has some depth available. Richardson, Yankey, Fleming and quite a few others share the same grades. I'd prefer Richardson or Duvernay-Tardif. Anthony Steen would fit in a zone-blocking scheme.

[RavenScallywag]

Speaking of "unless Winston signs tomorrow", remember that there is still two full months until the first day of camp. Certainly, if a need isn't addressed in the draft, it can be addressed in free agency between now and then. There wasn't a huge rush to beat down Winston's door in free agency by any team really. I'm sure post draft, there will be some flurry of activity, but I don't expect him to suddenly be having cash rained down on him.

This is draft vs FA...Through the draft, you take the best players available to address your team long term without reaching. If you don't address an IMMEDIATE need with the draft, you go for a stopgap to tide you over to the next draft. There is another FA wave, and I'm sure Ozzie will be active in the positions he needs there.

I'm not going to be a homer and give the draft an A+ or anything. I think B- is about right...I still think the Mosley pick was an odd one. The player fits for value and he's good talent, I just think there were other similarly valued players at more needed spots there. Jernigan was an absolute steal. His size projects him to 3-4 DE, so properly coached and conditioned, that's 1st round talent there in mid-2nd round. The only concern is that damn drug test. I have to imagine Ozzie vetted that, but...it's a risk. Brooks was an A pick to me. Not only filled a need, but great value. We can't fool ourselves into thinking the guy is going to be the next Ed Reed, but for a 3rd round safety, he has the physical tools to cover most WR. Don't expect a lot of picks maybe, but his speed should allow him to run with most guys. Crockett Gilmore, I just can't get it. I get that they view him as a good blocker, decent receiving TE, but seemed like a huge reach and for a team that stayed true to their board for the 1st 3 picks, it's majorly frustrating to see a reach at TE of all spots. Gilmore kind've reminds me of the Jusczcyk pick last year in the 4th. They targeted a guy they really liked and took him where THEY wanted to take him, even if that didn't gel with other team's likely value of him. It's on THEM to make it work, much same way with Jusczcyk this year (they failed to develop him last year, but I'm willing to give them a year to season the kid)

So in short, I think they got tremendous value on their 1st 3 picks, and I agreed with 2 of the 3, but that last one just rubbed me wrong. I go B-, I think we're doing above average work here, but some of the decisions have come with big question marks and risks that taint that grade.

[RavenScallywag]

Also need a punter and running back. Five needs, four picks.

Looking at the talent acquired, I give the draft an A. Looking at how much it improves our team, C.

At receiver, there's really only two players that have a shot at making the roster. Jeff Janis and Bruce Ellington. Both have some issues, which is why they haven't been drafted yet, but have some athletic ability and the desire to make it.

Offensive line still has some depth available. Richardson, Yankey, Fleming and quite a few others share the same grades. I'd prefer Richardson or Duvernay-Tardif. Anthony Steen would fit in a zone-blocking scheme.

Punter will likely be a UDFA. Can probably find a guy similarly talented to a draft pick there.

At receiver, there are PLENTY of guys who can "make an NFL roster" left. Devin Street out of Pittsburgh and Mike Davis out of Texas are two big ones, there's also Jared Abbrederis. I think it's panicky to think we HAVE to get a WR in the next round if we want them to make a roster. Still deep WR draft left.

On OL, I wouldn't be shocked if we pick a G or C over a tackle, then just signed Winston to compete with Wagner at RT.

[JoeCool5]

Totally forgot about Fleming.

Much like the front office appears to have forgotten about drafting offense.

It's called "how the board falls." And, I have a feeling had we primarily drafted offense so far that you would find a way to complain.

[JoeCool5]

I agree. I'm shocked they didn't draft Moses in the spot they got Jernigan. Brooks was absolutely the right pick.

Because Jernigan should have been drafted higher by another team? And we all saw Moses slip further than the "experts" anticipated.

[alien bird]

At receiver, there's really only two players that have a shot at making the roster. Jeff Janis and Bruce Ellington. Both have some issues, which is why they haven't been drafted yet, but have some athletic ability and the desire to make it.

Have you actually seen these guys play oor are you just going by web site opinions? There are a bunch of receivers remaining who have a legitimate shot at making the roster. They aren't going to be the semi-sure things that have gone off the board, but to say that there is only Janis and Ellington (who I like, but he is small) left is just flat out incorrect. Abbrederis, Davis and Street are three right off the top of my head that may well be a decent fit for the Ravens, and I would almost bet one of those guys ends up on the roster.

[leachisabeast]

The abracadabra kid out of Wisconsin is the best route runner in this class, and is still on the board. Wouldn't surprise me if he was the #3 here from day 1 if drafted, let alone making the team.

Personally, I'd wait longer to draft a WR, and aim for McGill or Despir, and Tiny Richardson with our 4th rders.