Scouting the 2016 Ravens Draft Picks

Eleven Ravens draft picks have entered the fold in Baltimore, yet only the most informed fans knew any of the players selected after Ronnie Stanley. Let’s get to know them: their strengths, weaknesses and fit in Baltimore.

 Discuss in the BSL Forums here…

Round 1, Pick 6 Ronnie Stanley, OT Notre Dame

6’6″, 312 pounds, 5.20 40-yard dash, 24 bench reps

Strengths

• Mirrors well in pass protection
• Long frame with long arms (35 5/8″)
• Has some polish, can start right away

Weaknesses

• Poor balance on downfield blocks. Tends to lunge and whiff. Big issue for the Ravens’ zone-blocking scheme
• Minimal power and mean streak. Does not drive defenders off the ball
• Needs some time in an NFL weight program

How he fits with Ravens

Ronnie Stanley can start right away and be an adequate starter. His upside is limited unless he develops power, but he should at least be a long-term solid starter in Baltimore. Reminiscent of a healthy Eugene Monroe in terms of skill set.

 

Round 2, Pick 42 Kamalei Correa, DE Boise State

6’3″, 243 pounds, 4.69 40-yard dash, 21 bench reps

Strengths

• Well-rounded player. Rushes the passer, covers and sets the edge.
• Active hands when rushing the passer
• Quick first step and good speed
• Plays with passion
• Very good at forcing fumbles when getting after the quarterback

Weaknesses

• No power on initial punch whatsoever
• Bull rush is non-existent
• Gets too wrapped up in hand fighting and sometimes loses track of the ball

How he fits with Ravens

Kamalei Correa’s well-rounded game fits very well with the Ravens’ needs. For too long the Ravens have settled for edge setters who make no contribution to the pass rush to supplement Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs. Correa can cover, rush the passer and still set the edge as well. He can be brought along slowly, perhaps seeing the field mostly on passing downs to start his career, but he profiles as a long-term starter with some development in the weight room. Has some Clay Matthews to his skillset. 

 

Round 3, Pick 70 Bronson Kaufusi, DE BYU

6’6″, 285 pounds, 4.87 40-yard dash, 25 bench reps

Strengths

• Size and arm length (34.5″)
• Quick first step for size
• Good awareness, understood responsibilities in BYU scheme and executed them consistently
• Good at generating strip sacks
• Plays with passion

Weaknesses

• Learning to play with leverage
• Didn’t display great interior pass rushing ability, more of an edge rusher
• Might struggle against NFL tackles’ physicality

How he fits with Ravens

Bronson Kaufusi has a similar game to Brent Urban, but with more natural athleticism. Should be able to contribute to the D-line rotation immediately on passing downs. Needs to show he can take on double teams without getting pushed downfield before the Ravens trust him regularly.

 

Round 4, Pick 104 Tavon Young, CB Temple

5’9″, 183 pounds, 4.46 40-yard dash, 13 bench reps (Pro Day)

Strengths

• Reacts to the ball quickly in off coverage
• Competed well with Will Fuller, Texans’ first round pick. Tasked with covering Fuller most of game and held him to 46 yards.
• Good ball skills, plays the ball, not the man
• Plays bigger than listed size, not afraid to fight for ball against big receivers and wins those battles more than a small corner should
• Exudes competitiveness

Weaknesses

• Needs to learn to backpedal. More of a shuffler at this point.
• Tentative tackler
• Can be too handsy in downfield coverage

How he fits with Ravens

Tavon Young fell in the draft due to his size, but his film was every bit as impressive as higher-rated players like Xavien Howard, and more impressive than Kendall Fuller. Could conceivably contribute as a nickel corner as early as this year, and the Ravens are probably counting on that. Similar skill set to Asa Jackson, but with more competitive fire and ball skills.

 

Round 4, Pick 107 Chris Moore, WR Cincinnati

6’1″, 206 pounds, 4.53 40-yard dash, 10 bench reps

Strengths

• Long strider who can get separation downfield
• Good at boxing out defenders and attacking the ball at its highest point to come down with downfield catches
• Huge performance against Houston’s William Jackson III, Bengals’ first-round pick
• Strong build and uses it well, physical
• Long arms (33 3/8″) compensate for average height

Weaknesses

• Not sudden out of cuts
• Ran limited route tree
• Unclear how he will fare against press coverage
• Not a threat in the short passing game

How he fits with Ravens

“Jump Ball” Joe Flacco needed a few more deep threats who can go up and get the ball, and they nabbed a good one in Chris Moore. His tape showed a bevy of highlight reel, jump ball catches. Moore should continue to make big plays in the NFL, but he has to learn the nuances of the position before he can be more than a complementary threat.

 

Round 4, Pick 130 Alex Lewis, OT Nebraska

6’6″, 312 pounds, 5.22 40-yard dash, 27 bench reps

Strengths

• Excellent size and arm length
• Strong hands in pass pro, wins hand fights more often than not
• Downfield blocking, keeps his weight under him and engages with good balance
• Ran some zone blocking scheme at Nebraska

Weaknesses

• Short, slow kick step in pass pro
• Not a powerful drive blocker in the ground game
• Plays too high

How he fits with Ravens

Alex Lewis has a lot in common with Rick Wagner. He’s not overwhelmingly strong, nor is he especially quick, but he plays with good technique and competes well. Should provide good depth in the short term and could develop into a starting option at right tackle with work in the weight room.

 

Round 4, Pick 132 Willie Henry, DT Michigan

6’3″, 305 pounds, 5.00 40-yard dash, 28 bench reps

Strengths

• Young, only 21
• Versatility, played inside and outside at Michigan despite pure DT size
• Plays with good leverage, hard to move
• Big, violent hands
• Good at shedding blocks and making play when run is in his gap

Weaknesses

• Five encroachment penalties last year
• Limited rush repertoire, uncreative hand use
• Doesn’t deal with cut blocks well

How he fits with Ravens

Willie Henry fits very well in the role currently occupied by Timmy Jernigan, who is the only single-gap penetrator among Ravens’ defensive linemen on most plays. With his natural strength and good leverage, he could also serve as a backup at nose tackle as well. A good, long-term depth piece.

 

Round 4, Pick 134 Kenneth Dixon, RB Louisiana Tech

5’10”, 215 pounds, 4.58 40-yard dash, 18 bench reps

Strengths

• Comfortable receiver (64 total receptions his last two years)
• Falls forward for extra yardage
• Very good juke move, both in the open field and in the hole
• Not coming into the NFL with too much wear, only had more than 200 carries once in his four seasons
• Keeps his feet driving, good power

Weaknesses

• Long speed
• 13 fumbles in last three seasons
• Not a strong pass protector

How he fits with Ravens

Kenneth Dixon has all the features that had Ravens’ fans salivating over Lorenzo Taliaferro. Powerful, competitive and probably the most creative runner on the Ravens roster right now, Dixon should challenge Justin Forsett and Buck Allen for carries right away.

 

Round 5, Pick 146 Matt Judon, DE Grand Valley State

6’3″, 275 pounds, 4.73 40-yard dash, 30 bench reps

Strengths

• Quick first step, effective speed rusher
• Extremely aggressive rushing the passer, good closing speed to finish sacks
• Strong rip move
• Great natural athleticism, see combine numbers

Weaknesses

• Doesn’t always time snap well
• Level of competition (Division II)
• Lack of counter moves
• Tendency to overrun the QB on speed rush
• Unproven as OLB

How he fits with Ravens

This is the biggest boom or bust pick the Ravens made in this draft, but with 11 picks, it’s a good move to make. Judon dominated Division II and has the athleticism to stack up at the NFL level. He will take some time to learn the nuances of the game before he can be an effective contributor, but he has the best chance of anybody in the Ravens’ class to become a star.

 

Round 6, Pick 182 Keenan Reynolds, QB/WR/RB Navy

5’11”, 205 pounds, 4.57 40-yard dash, 15 bench reps

Strengths

• Can actually throw the ball, function as emergency QB or be a weapon on gadget plays
• Almost always made the right read as option QB
• Very slippery with ball in his hands
• Great vision as runner
• Highly competitive

Weaknesses

• No way to project how he will perform as slot receiver. Can he catch?
• 18 lost fumbles during time at Navy

How he fits with Ravens

The Ravens’ announced him as a receiver, and there is no way to project how he will perform. His physical skill set is akin to Julian Edelman, another former quarterback. Can Reynolds make the same transition? Regardless, Reynolds could serve as a valuable dual-threat quarterback for the scout team as he learns how to play receiver. Should be a willing special teamer as well.

 

Round 6, Pick 209 Maurice Canady, CB Virginia

6’1″, 193 pounds, 4.49 40-yard dash, 16 bench reps

Strengths

• Triangle numbers are everything you look for
• Fast, smooth backpedal
• Effective punt returner

Weaknesses

• Only plays off coverage, rarely plays tight to LOS
• Not a consistently high effort player
• Minimal physicality despite upper body strength

How he fits with Ravens

Another high upside player, Maurice Canady wasn’t especially good in college, with no picks in 2015. In all, he allowed 10 touchdowns his last two seasons. There is upside here, though, in terms of Canady’s athleticism and length. Will need to make an impact on special teams if he wants a roster spot.