The Ravens have a very deep roster, and outside of dealing with however the Orlando Brown Jr. situation shakes out, there’s not many out-and-out holes. So when I start looking at the draft, obviously, I think you start it from a grander theory of “they’re probably going to take the best player available.” Personally I think if I were in charge of the draft room, I’d be trying to get the best receiver I could to prep to replace Sammy Watkins in 2022 and challenge the other young players in that room.
But on a more holistic roster-building focus, I think defensive line gets underrated a bit on the draft needs spectrum. Baltimore’s biggest blowups (Titans in the divisional round in the 2019 season, Patriots last season) of the last couple of years have come from not being able to stop the run. They were able to piece together enough to do that to the Titans in 2021, and stifled the Bills in the divisional round in a game that the offense couldn’t win in. That’s a big credit to the free-agent signings of Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe. At the same time, the Ravens have eight players listed as defensive ends or defensive tackles on the roster. Four of them — Campbell, Wolfe, Brandon Williams, and Justin Ellis — are in their 30s.
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That’s a position where the Ravens could look to try to grow some depth this year, because as good as Campbell and Williams have been, they are not going to play forever. Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington were picked last year with an eye towards that, and I think we could get some more picks in that vein in 2021. Here’s a few of my favorite interior prospects I think the Ravens could use:
The surprise first-round pick: Christian Barmore
Barmore isn’t going to give you a ton of change of direction, and he was somewhat of a one-year wonder at Alabama, but that one year was spectacular. He was a major cog of Alabama’s playoff run. He both rushes the passer and stalemates in the run game. His technique improved massively between 2019 and 2020.
He’s got a 310-pound frame that is hard to move, he ran a 4.98 40-yard dash despite that listed weight. If the Ravens pegged him early on, he could grow into a major role with the team in his rookie season, then perhaps replace Campbell for good as Campbell’s contract is up after the 2021 season.
The tape favorite who will have to play above his weight: Osa Odighizuwa
At 280 pound and 6-foot-2, Odighizuwa isn’t exactly playing with ideal size for an interior prospect. But as a former state wrestling champion, he’s been terrific with leverage and he has some passing-downs upside as well because of his explosiveness. HIs brother Owa is also an NFL player, though at EDGE.
I think Odighizuwa is a better fit at defensive end in a 3-4 than at nose tackle, though he lined up pretty much everywhere. His 34-inch arms are a big help in creating space for him to work with and the Ravens could potentially draft him on Day 2 with an eye towards replacing Wolfe in the future.
The one who will not have to play above his weight: Tyler Shelvin
Measuring in at 6-foot-2 and 350 pounds, Shelvin is a traditional nose tackle. He’s going to eat blocks and make tackles in the run game and that’s about the gist of what you should expect based on where he is coming out of LSU. He did not play last year, opting out in August due to COVID-19.
All of which makes it I think, fairly likely that he could be around on Day 3. Let Brandon Williams work with this young man and I think you have both an ideal career path for him and the right person to help him create it. Shelvin is the closest there is to an immovable force in the middle in this draft and there’s not many players as stout at the point of attack in this class. Any pass rush you receive will be incidental.
Ravens Analyst
Rivers McCown is a writer and editor who has written for ESPN.com, Bleacher Report, USA Today, and Deadspin, among other places. He’s edited for Football Outsiders, Rookie Scouting Portfolio, and Pre-Snap Reads Quarterback Catalogue.