The NFL draft is exactly one week away, and nothing outside of a legal issue, or freak injury, is really going to change teams draft boards too much more at this point. It’s always a fluid situation and all options are looked into. Evidence of this being the Ravens meeting with Memphis quarterback, Paxton Lynch a couple days ago…for some reason. If he falls so far in the draft you can’t not take him I suppose. Insurance if Joe Flacco’s knee doesn’t hold up over this this season.  

Discuss your thoughts on my draft board on our message board.

The Ravens hold the following nine draft picks: (as of 4/21)

Round 1: #6

Round 2: #36

Round 3: #70

Round 4: #104

Round 4: #130 (From Denver)

Round 4: #132 (Compensatory)

Round 4: #134 (Compensatory)

Round 6: #182

Round 6: #209 (Compensatory)

 

I’ve taken what I consider to be my big board, and broken it down by position. Each position is broken up into five categories of player. They are:

Elite – Possible Pro Bowl talent

Tier 1 – Should be major contributors on their teams

Tier 2 – Role players as rookies who could develop into more

Tier 3 – Rolling the dice

Wild Card – Sleeper pick

 

You can print this out, like I will, and use it as a checklist over the draft weekend to see who is still out there. Elite guys will be off the board Early. But if a Tier 1 player is still out there come round two, there might be great value in that pick. If a tier 2 guy falls into round three or four, you have to look there for value.

Offense

     Quarterback

Elite – J. Goff (Cal), C. Wentz (No.Dak.St.)

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 – P. Lynch (Memphis)

Tier 3 – C. Cook (Mich. St.) C. Hackenberg (Penn St.)

Wild Card – C. Jones (Ohio St.)

 

I don’t know that I would literally cal either of Goff or Wentz “elite”. but the Rams and Eagles must think so, so there you are. The Ravens must be ecstatic that Goff and Wentz are nearly a lock to go #1 and #2. The Rams and Eagles don’t trade up, give up the haul of picks, unless it’s for a QB. That means that three players the Ravens have high on their board will be gone before their pick, instead of four or five. Connor Cook makes some risky decisions, and Hackenberg just isn’t that good. Cardale Jones is my wild card. He could be JaMarcus Russell, or Dante Culpepper.

     Running Back

Elite – E. Elliot (Ohio St.)

Tier 1 – D. Henry (Alabama)

Tier 2 – K. Dixon (LA Tech), K. Drake (Alabama)

Tier 3 – D. Booker (Utah)

WC – P. Perkins (UCLA)

 

It wasn’t until about a month ago that Zeke Elliott had shot up mock drafts into the top five in some, to the Ravens at #6 in others. He’s one of the best prospects at the position in a while. Henry is a hard runner who was used and abused in Tuscaloosa. Dixon, Drake, Booker, all seem to me like committee backs. Perkins is my wild card whose jump cut ability jumps (no pun intended) off the tape when you watch him. He’ll make guys look silly trying to tackle him.

     Wide Receiver

Elite- J. Doctson (TCU)

Tier 1- C. Coleman (Baylor)

Tier 2 – L. Treadwell (Miss), W. Fuller (ND), S. Shepard (Oklahoma), M. Thomas (Ohio St.)

Tier 3 – T. Boyd (Pitt.)

WC – C. Peake (Clemson)

 

I’m a little different than some experts. I feel strongly that Josh Doctson is the real deal. He plays the deep ball better than anyone and wins those contested matchups. Coleman is a solid one, and I don’t love Treadwell. Nothins great about him stuck out for me. Some other talent up there to be had on day two. Peake is my wild card coming from Clemson where they churned out Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Martavis Bryant of late.

     Tight End

Elite –None

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 – H. Henry (Arkansas)

Tier 3 – N. Vannett (Stanford), A. Hooper (Ohio St.)

WC – None

 

I don’t know what to tell you. Not an inspiring position at all this year. Hunter Henry is likely the top TE to be taken, showing reliable hands and lining up in all spots as a receiver. Not a great run blocker, but a team looking for fearless, and good hands, a chain mover, look no further than Henry. 

    Tackle

Elite – L.Tunsil (Miss.)

Tier 1 – R. Stanley (ND), J. Conklin (Mich. St.)

Tier 2 – T. Decker (Ohio St.), G. Ifedi (Tex. A&M), J. Spriggs (Indiana)

Tier 3 –  None

WC – C. Toner (Harvard)

 

Laremy Tunsil was supposed to go number one overall to the Titans. But the Rams appeared to have foiled that plan. It begs the question; how far will he fall? Will San Diego choose Jalen Ramsey to replace Eric Weddle at #3? Will a stout Cowboys O-line pass on Tunsil at #4? Will the Jaguars be the Jaguars and mess this up at #5 leaving him there for the taking to the Ravens at #6? Tunsil can’t fall out of the top six, right? No flaws in Tunsil’s game, Stanley is rock solid as well, but I wouldn’t take him in the top ten. After those two, guys have problems with speed rushers, or aggressiveness, despite having NFL built frames. Cole Toner is my wild card. Smart guys on the O-line proves useful. He practiced against Colts defensive lineman, Zach Hodges for two years, and showed very well at the Senior Bowl with the step up in competition from the Ivy League. 

     Guard

Elite – None

Tier 1 – C. Whitehair (Kan. St.)

Tier 2 – V. Alexander (LSU), J. Garnett (Stanford)

Tier 3 – I. Seumalo (Org. St.), C. Westerman (Az. St.)

WC – C. McGovern (Mizzou)

 

The guard position is looked at as the little brother of the tackle. Not highly rated on the draft boards, but talent can run deep (Marshal Yanda, 3^rd round pick, #86, 2007). Whitehair stands out among the class, with versatility to play tackle or guard. Alexander and Garnett are not the athletic type, but will eat up rushers and hold their ground. Westerman might actually have to move to center with a smaller than usual NFL body. Seumalo is also versatile, and physically gifted, but injury concerns drop him down the board. My wild card, McGovern, is a physical freak. Set weight lifting record in MIzzou’s weight room, reportedly maxing out a squat of 785 pounds. Should be hard to move him. Versatile enough to play tackle, and agile enough for any scheme.

     Center

Elite – R. Kelly (Alabama)

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 – N. Martin (ND)

Tier 3 – None

WC – E. Boehm (Mizzou)

 

Center is usually the leader, the communicator of the offensive line, but like guard, plays second fiddle to the tackles. Ryan Kelly hasn’t allowed a sack a in the last two seasons at Alabama, and possess every tool you need. Should be a Pro Bowler, and a starter for many years. Because he’s a center, he’ll fall to the middle or later portion of round one. Nick Martin is the younger brother of Zack Martin. He is fundamentally sound in technique but lacks explosiveness. Evan Boehm as wild card might even be a stretch. Only listed him because Missouri has become a pipeline for O-lineman to the NFL.

Defense 

     Defensive End/Outside Linebacker (Edge)

Elite – J. Bosa (Ohio St.), M. Jack (UCLA)

Tier 1 – D. Buckner (Oregon), S. Lawson (Clemson), D. Lee (Ohio St.), N. Spence (E. Kentucky), S. Calhoun (Mich. St.), K. Dodd (Clemson)

Tier 2 – E. Ogbah (Okla. St.) J. Bullard (Florida)

Tier 3 – L. Floyd (Georgia)

WC – Matt Judon (Gr. Vall. St. D-II)

 

It’s top heavy at the edge rushing spots, but the depth is not there. New concerns may arise on Myles Jack and his meniscus, but other reports are that teams are fine with the medicals on him. Jack is a “jack” of all trades. ILB, OLB, some RB in college. Coverage, speed, fundementals. All of it. Bosa as well. He is quick in small spaces, and the knock on him is only five sacks last year. As if college stats mean anything, and as if he wasn’t game-planned around more after a monster 2014 season. Anyone of my tier 1 guys should be solid contributors. I think Leonard Floyd is very much overrated by scouts as he plays more in coverage than he does rushing the passer. Like he should shed some weight and move to strong safety. Matt Judon has all the physical traits of an NFL edge rusher, the combine numbers to back it up, but his D-II competition drops him well down the board.

     Defensive Tackle

Elite – None

Tier 1 – A. Robinson (Alabama), A. Billings (Baylor), S. Rankins (L’Ville), J. Reed (Alabama), R. Nkemdiche (Miss)

Tier 2 – V. Butler (LA Tech), K. Clark (UCLA), C. Jones (Miss St.), S. Day (ND)

Tier 3 – A. Johnson (Penn St.)

WC – D.J. Reader (Clemson)

 

Much more depth at defensive tackle in this draft, but no stand out elite talents. Nkemdiche should have been the top guy, but I have to put him at the end of tier 1, if not tier 2 due to the character issues. Vernon Butler is the hogbody of the group, standing 6’4” and weighing in at 327 pounds. I like D.J. Reader as a wild card, who saw his draft stock fall after leaving the Tigers for “undisclosed personal reasons” in August, and returning after six games passed. His father had passed away in June, but it is unknown if that was a leading cause for stepping away. Reader still attended classes duing his leave from football, and the senior graduated.

     Inside Linebacker

Elite – None

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 – R. Ragland (Alaama)

Tier 3 – S. Wright III (Arizona), K. Brothers (Mizzou)

WC – B. Martinez (Stanford)

 

By far the shallowest position in the draft. I wouldn’t be shocked in no inside linebackers went off the board in day one. Although some talk is that Myles Jack is so versatile a team could move him to the inside. Look for Kentrell Brothers and Scooby Wright III to be intriguing in the middle rounds. Wright was slowed by injury, but plays with a non stop motor. His 110% all the time causes him to over commit at times. Blake Martinez of Stanford for my wild card. There is probably a lot to work on with his game, but he has a nose for finding the football, leading the Pac-12 in tackles (141).

     Cornerback

Elite – J. Ramsey (FSU)

Tier 1 – M. Alexander (Clemson), V. Hargreaves (Florida)

Tier 2 – E. Apple (Ohio St.), W. Jackson III (Houston), A. Burns (Miami)

Tier 3 – K. Fuller (Va. Tech)

WC – R. Robinson (LSU)

 

Ramsey can play anywhere you want. It’s not often a DB is considered for the top one or two picks, and without the trade ups for QBs by LA and Philly, this could have happened. That should tell you how good Ramsey will be. Alexander is the best pure cover man. If any of the tier 2 guys fall to round two, they are worth consideration, but not in round one. Fuller is the third Fuller brother to play at Va. Tech. He’ll also be the third one drafted by the NFL. Reports are he’ll best fit off-coverage and cover-2 schemes, which screams Dean Pees and the Ravens. Robinson as my wild card. He was a standout as a freshman in Death Valley, but multiple suspensions have derailed his college career to the point where he didn’t enroll in classes in 2015. But, he’s got elite skills and stands 6’1”, which could be worth a shot late in the draft. LSU knows a thing or two about DBs, churning out eight of them to the draft in the last nine years.

     Free Safety

Elite – J. Ramsey (FSU)

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 – K. Neal (Florida)

Tier 3 – J. Mills (LSU)

WC – T. Powell (Ohio St.)

 

Ramsey again. Then the rest. Neal might project better as a run stopping SS with less than stellar 40-times. Mills, again with the LSU draft history of DBs. Powell I like as the wild card. At 6’3”, he projects as a centerfielder with a knack for making big plays, earning defensive MVP honors in the Buckeye’s 2014 National Championship game.

     Strong Safety/Nickel

Elite – J. Ramsey (FSU)

Tier 1 – None

Tier 2 –  J. Cash (Duke), K. Joseph (West VA.)

Tier 3 – V. Bell (Ohio St.)

WC – M. Killebrew (So. Utah)

 

Now you see why Jalen Ramsey is so coveted. Other than his film being incredible. I find Bell a bit overrated compared to Cash and Joseph. Cash is a hybrid that could nearly play OLB, while Joseph goes out simply seeking to lower the boom and dish out pain. Killebrew as my wild card is like Jeremy Cash “light”. A hybrid SS/LB who has a nose for finding the football. He racked up 243 tackles in the last two seasons. As a four-year starter, he’s primed to make the jump to the NFL.

Special Teams

*wont bother with tiers

     Punter

Tom Hackett – Utah. Two-time Ray Guy Award winner. Booming and accurate leg. The Australian born has a unique personality. Sounds like a punter to me.

     Kicker

Roberto Aguayo – Florida State. Lou Groza Award winner in 2013. Most accurate kicker in NCAA history with a 96.7% conversion rate. He was perfect (49-49) from inside 40 yards, which will improve his stock now that the NFL extra point is moved back to 32 yards for good. Not a boomer with a career long of 53 yards, and misses from 54 and 56 yards. Aguayo, a kicker, is leaving school early to join the draft.

Ka’imi Fairbairn – UCLA. Lou Groza Award winner in 2015. He is the boomer of the class, nailing a 60-yard field goal with room to spare this year. This right after he made a 55 yarder which was nullified by a false start.

There you have it. 81 players. Theee specialists Follow along during the draft. See where the value picks are.