Our Forum's 1st Round Draft Board

[Kyle Cactus]

I'm no draft-nick, but I know there are a many members who have spent a lot of time studying this year's draft class. I thought it'd be cool to compile some sort of composite ranking on the possible players the Ravens could take at pick 29 (if they stay at that pick). If nothing else it'll be a fun exercise and will provide a bit of a reference during the draft for people like me who don't study the players as much.

The idea is to list players in order of their potential value to the Ravens. Feel free to project your own philosophies. For example, how heavily do you factor in upside, injury risk, behavior issues, whether a pick fills a need, etc...

List the requested number of players in each of the following categories:
Steal (as few or as many as you want)
Good Value (4-6)
Average Value (4-6)
Poor Value (4-6)
Reach (as few or as many as you want)

Average Value is just what it sounds like. This should be players that, for the Ravens, are worth a pick around 29th overall, not much more, not much less. The 4-6 player restriction in this category and the adjacent ones should pretty much define the relative value of those categories. So for example, a player who is a little too valuable for the Average Value category should fall into your Good Value category.

Anyone who is "above" the Good Value category would be considered a Steal at 29, but you can list the ones you believe have a chance of falling to us. Same goes for the Reach category. If you want, you can list some players that fall "below" the Poor Value designation that could still get selected based on need, hype, or whatever. Obviously the Ravens are pretty good at avoiding these type of picks, but you never know.

To be counted in the final composite list, at least fill out the Good, Average, and Poor categories fully.

You can edit your list anytime between now and Wednesday April 25th at 8PM. After that I'm going to start working on the composite list, and if anyone wants, they can use it as a reference during the draft.

[Kyle Cactus]

As I said, I'm no draft-nick, but I figured I'm obligated to participate if I started the thread...

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
DT - Brockers

Good Value:
T - Glenn
T - Martin
T- Adams
OLB - Upshaw
DE - Perry

Average Value:
WR - Wright
WR - Hill
ILB - Hightower
C- Konz
DE - Mercilus

Poor Value:
DT - Worthy
DE - Branch
DE - McClellin
TE - Fleener
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
G - Zeitler
FS - Smith

[wickedsolo]

For me it would be this way:

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
OLB - Upshaw
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
WR - Wright
WR - Jeffery
WR - Hill
LB - Hightower]
DE - McClellin

Average Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler

Poor Value:
OT - Adams
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
FS - Smith
WR - Sanu

[GOTA]

I'll try.

Possible Steals:
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly
DT- Cox

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
SS- Barron
OLB- Upshaw
G- Glenn
CB- Kirkpatrtick

Average Value:
ILB- Hightower
WR- Wright
DE- Jones

Poor Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler
WR- Hill
WR- Randle
DE- McClellin
DE- Perry
T- Martin

Possible Reaches:
WR- Jeffrey
WR - Sanu
RB- Martin
RB - Miller
DE- Mercilus
DE- Branch

[Kyle Cactus]

Last day to submit a list. I'll put together a composite even if I don't get anymore responses. I won't be home until close to 8PM eastern tonight, so I'll extend the deadline until then. I've updated the OP to reflect that.

[Shas]

Steals:
Upshaw, DeCastro

(Don't think any chance Barron, Kuechly, Reiff, Floyd fall. If there was a Super Steal category, they'd go there)

Value:
Glenn, Hightower, Martin

Average:
Konz, Zeitler, Hill, Wright, Randle, Jeffery

Poor / Reaches:
Smith, Sanu, McClellin, Adams, Silatolu, Jones, David, Perry, Lewis, Sanders

[dandrews]

For me it would be this way:

Possible Steals:
SS- Barron
OLB - Upshaw
OG - DeCastro
LB - Kuechly

Good Value:
OG- Glenn
WR - Wright
WR - Jeffery
WR - Hill
LB - Hightower]
DE - McClellin

Average Value:
C- Konz
OG - Zeitler

Poor Value:
OT - Adams
DE - Jones

Possible Reaches:
FS - Smith
WR - Sanu

Sign me up for this one, but put Kendall Wright in the steal category for me.

[dandrews]

I think this is a really good idea btw.

[Kyle Cactus]

I think this is a really good idea btw.

Thanks! I know it'll help make the 1st round a bit more meaningful to watch for someone like me who isn't intimately familiar with every prospect.

[Shas]

Sign me up for this one, but put Kendall Wright in the steal category for me.

Well the guy from Rotoworld agrees with you. He has a story claiming that Wright is the best WR in the draft, followed by Floyd, and then Blackmon. You can read it here.

What is interesting is that he predicts Floyd will be first off the board at 7 to Jacksonville, followed by Blackmon to the Cards (13), followed by his top ranked guy, Wright, at 40 to the Panthers.

He ranks Stephen Hill 9th best WR (behind Quick, for instance) but has him going to San Fran at 30. He does say that Hill is nearly impossible to grade because of a lack of film on him.

[Gabrosin]

Steals:
Luke Kuechly - This is the player I'd like more than any other in this draft, a perfect heir to Ray Lewis and a huge upgrade in pass coverage, but I expect he'll be long gone. If he slips past the Eagles at 15, Ozzie better be on the phone trying to make a deal to go get him.
Michael Floyd - A very talented receiver who will also be gone before our pick
David DeCastro - The draft's best guard, he won't make it past the Bengals at 17, let alone all the way down to us.

Good value:
Mark Barron - I don't expect him to get past the middle of the round, but he would be a great piece to put in place behind Ed Reed to eventually take over.
Dont'a Hightower - I'm not as big on Hightower as many others are, given his deficiencies against the pass... he's more Bart Scott than Ray Lewis. But his leadership skills and natural ability still represent good value for the Ravens if we get him.
Stephen Hill - I'm leaning more and more towards hoping that Hill, a receiver who exactly fits our needs (speed threat with size and leaping ability), to be our pick in the first round. I know he is raw and has some bust potential, and his hands and route-running are causes for concerns... but you can teach those things. You can't teach height. You can't teach speed (or at least it's very difficult). I'd roll the dice with him.
Jonathan Martin - Martin has been tagged to slide a little bit, and he would be a tremendous pickup if he makes it down to us. We need to put in some depth behind Bryant McKinnie if we don't think Jah Reid is the answer, and Martin can compete at LG until he's ready to slide over.

Average value:
Courtney Upshaw - I don't see the excitement over Upshaw. I don't want to see us grab another OLB before letting Kruger and Kindle have a shot at stepping into the position. He might be good value for the draft slot we're in, but he's not good value for the team, relative to our other needs.
Kevin Zeitler - I'm impressed with Zeitler's toughness and athleticism, and I think he would be a worthy pick at our spot. But I don't think he would be particular steal.
Cordy Glenn - Glenn is a big, mauling guard who could also be groomed to play tackle, but I don't think he's likely to become an elite player. Still, it would be surprising to see him fall to us.
Pete Konz - A lot of mocks have us taking Konz, but I'm not sold. He feels more like a second-round pick. I hope we can do better.
Amini Silatou - Another strong option at OG, but he's not a prospect that would make me cheer when we pick him. If we deal back into the second round somewhere, then I could be pleased with Silatolu.

Poor value:
Harrison Smith - A second-round talent at best.
Mike Adams - Lots of questions about this guy, I'm expecting him to slide out of the first round entirely.
Alshon Jeffery - While he'd be a poor value with our first-round pick, I'd be happy to see him slide down to us in the second if we can't get Hill.
Mohamed Sanu - Same as Jeffrey, would be happy to see him in Ravens purple if we can get him in the second.

I won't bother listing reaches, there are lots of guys we could reach for and shouldn't.