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Let’s take a look at all three phases – re-signings, cuts, and free agent targets.

Potential Salary Cap Casualties

Jamison Hensley broke down the list of potential salary cap casualties nicely at ESPN. To summarize:

• Elvis Dumervil (savings of $6 million)
• Lardarius Webb ($5.5 million)
• Ben Watson ($3 million)
• Shareece Wright ($2.6 million)
• Jeremy Zuttah ($2.3 million)
• Kyle Arrington ($2.1 million)
• Kendrick Lewis ($1.8 million)

Cutting Arrington and Lewis are no-brainers. They made no impact last year and don’t look likely to improve in 2017. Dumervil, despite being a fan favorite, fell off mightily in 2016 and at age 33 will probably regress further going forward. He too should be an easy decision

Webb, Wright, Watson and Zuttah are more debatable.

Zuttah was underwhelming last year, but is a better option on the roster? John Urschel has regressed since his solid rookie season, and Ryan Jensen has not impressed. Zuttah may still be worth letting go, but there will be a downgrade unless an outside option is signed.

Wright is a steady, mediocre cornerback. He is easy to pick on, but a reliable tackler. That kind of player is worth a fair bit in the NFL, and again, the Ravens’ lack of cornerback depth might increase Wright’s internal value. I’d be surprised if he is released.

Ben Watson was the Ravens’ first big free agent signing last year, and the Ravens probably want to get him on the field depending on his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. That’s a tough injury to recover from, but the Ravens need a dose of athleticism and playmaking at tight end after incumbent Dennis Pitta averaged an abysmal 8.5 yards per catch.

Finally, Lardarius Webb successfully made the adjustment to playing safety last year. He and Eric Weddle gave the Ravens their best safety tandem since Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard terrorized quarterbacks. Despite his relatively high cap figure ($7.5 million), I think Webb stays. If he is released, don’t be surprised if he comes back on a small deal.

Expiring Contracts

Brandon Williams, DT

As the most critical component of the Ravens’ dominant run defense, re-signing Brandon Williams is a top priority. Despite the lack of national recognition in the media, the rest of the NFL seems to have caught on to how talented Williams is.

Some fans seem resigned to losing Williams, assuming his price tag will be too high. There is a very real chance of that, but there is reason to believe the Ravens have a chance at retaining him. Nose tackles have not been richly compensated for the most part: Their gap-shooting 4-3 brethren have done much better financially. 

And though Williams is an immense talent in the ground game, his failure to develop as a pass rusher this year played a role in the Ravens’ pass rushing woes. Frequently, Terrell Suggs or Matt Judon would get around the edge, only to have the quarterback step up in the pocket due to the lack of interior rush.

Those factors could keep Williams in Baltimore. And considering the Ravens have a talented backup in Michael Pierce, they should not get into a bidding war for his services. Anything over $11 million per year is on the edge of Williams’ value.

Kamar Aiken, WR

Another fascinating story, Kamar Aiken had a career year in 2015 before plummeting back into obscurity in 2016. Aiken lacks big-play flair, but does the little things well and generates decent separation on short and intermediate routes for a guy with his limited physical skills.

Aiken is really just a guy, and the Ravens should make him an offer as such. Any more than $4 million per year would be too much, but really the Ravens should look to use their money elsewhere.

Kyle Juszczyk, FB

What Kyle Juszczyk gets in free agency will be a case study into the value of a fullback. “Juice” is a fan favorite, known for hard hits with and without the ball in his hands. He showed some surprising pop last year as a runner, and his ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield is beyond reproach.

But can a guy who only touches the ball 40 times in a season and who isn’t a big threat really earn a big contract? Finding out the value of the most used fullback in the game will be fascinating.

Rick Wagner, OT

Another good, not great player with an expiring contract, Rick Wagner had a bounce back 2016 after struggling in 2015. Wagner is a tough technician who moves reasonably well, but lacks strength and can be beaten with speed moves. He’s a solid right tackle, and those guys don’t make a ton of money unless a team is projecting a move to left tackle. Wagner should probably be the Ravens’ second priority behind Williams, but they should keep their offers relatively low. Right tackles are not hard to find in today’s NFL.

Targets

Pierre Garcon, WR Washington

Fans are pining for Alshon Jeffery, but I’ll let another team overpay for an oft-injured guy who hasn’t gone over 1,000 yards since 2014. Pierre Garcon is more in line with the kind of receiver the Ravens go for, and his ability to create separation would be valuable on a team that saw receivers struggle to get open last year.

Kenny Stills, WR Miami

Kenny Stills would be a nice insurance policy in case Breshad Perriman fails to develop as a deep threat. Stills is hardly reliable, but his ability to make big plays would be valuable for Joe Flacco. At just 25, there is reason to believe he can continue to grow.

Anquan Boldin, WR Detroit

Why not replace one old, tough possession receiver with a former Ravens Super Bowl hero? Joe Flacco could use a guy who he trusts aside from Dennis Pitta, and Boldin can still make tough catches. It’s not like he was generating separation in his last Baltimore stint, so the extra years are not that concerning.

Jabaal Sheard, DE/OLB New England

Just 28 years old, Sheard seems like he has been around forever. He’s a solid edge rusher and run defender and should be within the Ravens’ price range. Getting him in the Ravens’ system, where front-seven players tend to excel, could make him a high upside play as well.

Larry Warford, Guard Detroit

The Ravens have claimed they want to get bigger on the offensive line, and Warford’s 317-pound frame would accomplish that. Warford might be overpaid by a team that remembers his phenomenal rookie year more clearly than his more pedestrian recent seasons, but if the price is right, Warford would be a fit for what the Ravens need on the interior of their line.

There are numerous other players the Ravens should kick the tires on. They have needs at cornerback, offensive line, running back, wide receiver and pass rusher. Getting a cornerback in free agency is usually a fool’s errand: They are just too expensive. The other needs could be filled if the Ravens are lucky.

And don’t forget, the Ravens are unlikely to sign a large quantity of unrestricted free agents. They prefer to pick up other team’s cap casualties so they can acquire compensatory picks.

Keep an eye out for those salary cap casualties, both the Ravens’ and other teams. They will ultimately decide what direction the Ravens go in free agency.

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If social media is to be believed, the Ravens’ season was filled only with lows. We will get to those, but there were high points too. And that is where we will start our recap of the 2016.

Highs

1. The Ravens have two cornerbacks

Going into the season, I did not think the Ravens had a single cornerback who was a legitimate NFL starter. By the end of the season, they had proven they have two in Jimmy Smith and Tavon Young.

Smith, who struggled with injuries but played very well when healthy, frequently guarded opponents’ best receivers and held up well. He showcased improved physicality and speed when compared with his 2015 season, when he was still recovering from a foot injury. If Smith can retain this form in 2017, the Ravens can feel secure that they can stack up against most receivers.

Tavon Young was the real story, though, as he came out of nowhere to be an excellent corner. Two skills stood out: Young’s reaction time and his tackling.

In Dean Pees’ preferred off-coverage, the cornerback needs to react quickly to the ball when it’s thrown, and he needs to either play the ball or make the tackle. Young broke up eight passes this year, mostly by breaking quickly on routes and using his quality ball skills to make the play. When he didn’t get there on time, Young was among the most reliable tacklers in the Ravens’ secondary. Despite his slight frame, Young was willing to bring down any player, and he did so well.

The depth remains an issue, one that is intensified by Smith’s injury issues. But at least the Ravens have two quality cornerbacks on the roster, which is two more than I thought they had at the beginning of the seasons.

2. Improved safety play

The key difference in the Ravens’ defense from this year compared with 2015 can be summarized in a simple formula:

Eric Weddle + Lardarius Webb > Kendrick Lewis + Will Hill

Eric Weddle played at an All-Pro level. His ball skills, reliable tackling and intelligence made this years’ Ravens defense the best of the Dean Pees era (which isn’t saying much). Weddle is without question the defensive MVP, and it’s not close.

And though fans remained critical of Lardarius Webb’s play, he was excellent in 2016. Webb’s stiffness, the result of years of injuries, wasn’t as harmful at the safety spot, and his speed, ball skills and tackling helped limit big plays. Prior to this season, Webb would have been a safe bet to not return in 2017. Now? He might still be cut to save $5.5 million next year, but Webb has clearly earned a role on next year’s Ravens.

3. C.J. Mosley learned how to cover

I have been critical of C.J. Mosley early in his career as the athleticism he displayed in the ground game failed to translate to coverage. No longer. Mosley played very well in pass coverage this year, ranking in the top 25 among linebackers on Pro Football Focus.

The Ravens gave up countless passes over the middle in years past. This year, Mosley’s improved play, as well as a talent influx at safety, limited the damage in that area of the field. And Mosley’s four interceptions helped lead a Renaissance in the Ravens’ ability to create turnovers. Now if he could only hold on to the football when he returned interceptions…

4. A healthy Dennis Pitta

Don’t buy the hype that Dennis Pitta had a great season for the Ravens. His only skill at this point is turning around and catching the football for a five-yard gain. That said, seeing Pitta out on the field again was a great story for the Ravens. To come back from two horrifying hip injuries and to take hit after hit over the middle of the field is awe-inspiring.

Maybe a healthy offseason will help Pitta come back in earnest. But even if his athleticism never returns, Pitta was healthy and proved he still has a spot in the NFL. It was a joy to see.

5. The swaggiest kicker in the NFL

Justin Tucker was the best kicker in the league, and it wasn’t close. He did not legitimately miss a single kick all year (his single miss was blocked). This while tying an NFL record or most 50+ yard field goals in a season. The difficulty of Tucker’s kicks was as high as any kicker in the league, yet Tucker literally never missed.

Yes, we’re all sick of hearing that Tucker is an opera singer (you can stop bringing this up, national broadcasts). That’s the only bad thing that can be said about Tucker, and in a league that is suffering from kicking woes, that’s a valuable thing to have.

Lows

1. High draft picks disappointing

Except for C.J. Mosley and Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens’ high draft picks the past few years have ranged from disappointing to complete busts.

Start with this year’s second-round pick Kamalei Correa, who was a healthy scratch for seven games this year. High draft picks are expected to contribute in today’s NFL, and Correa filled a position of dire need. That he couldn’t get on the field, especially considering that the later drafted Matt Judon did, is hugely disappointing.

Step back to the class of 2015 and it looks even worse. Maxx Williams went on IR in October, and he didn’t even catch a single pass before that. First-round pick Breshad Perriman finally confirmed his existence by getting on to the field. Unfortunately, he also confirmed the concerns about his hands, as he dropped 7.6 percent of his passes. He also failed to get open frequently, not showing the burst he was drafted for and lacking craft in his routes. 

2014 is the outlier here, as C.J. Mosley had a career year and Timmy Jernigan showed his usual flashes (before tailing of dramatically in the second half of the year). 

Finally, 2013 continued to be one of the Ravens’ worst draft classes ever. Matt Elam was injured for much of the year and ineffective for the rest of it. Arthur Brown was finally released after failing to develop. Even the crown jewel of the class, Brandon Williams, had a down year. His inability to push the pocket made life a lot harder for the Ravens’ overmatched edge rushers.

The Ravens’ inability to restock their roster in recent years with young talent has kept the team from getting to the playoffs in three of the past four seasons. The Ravens need to strike gold soon, or they may be irrelevant for many more years to come.

2. Joe Flacco forgot how to play football

“Don’t throw off your back foot. Step in to your throws.” It’s one of the first things young quarterbacks learn, and Joe Flacco completely abandoned that fundamental this season.

Some of Flacco’s struggles this season can be explained away by poor receiver play – you can count on one hand the jump balls won by Ravens’ receivers this year. But there is no excuse for his consistent failure to play with solid fundamentals. Nor is there an excuse for his tendency to miss zone defenders and throw bad interceptions (especially in the red zone).

Joe Flacco will play better when he has actual talent to work with. I’m not worried about that. But the maddening mistakes that have grown more common over the years might not go away, and may put a ceiling on Flacco’s play that was not there in the past.

3. Fourth quarter collapses

My criticism of Dean Pees has always been this – Smart offenses take what the defense gives them, and Dean Pees always gives you something. Sometimes, Pees plays Cover-0 and gives up the deep ball. Most often, Pees lines up his cornerbacks far off the ball, opening up easy throws in the short passing game. That was never more apparent than in the fourth quarter of games this year, when the Ravens consistently gave up chunks of yardage just because they were so conservative.

The sudden tonal shift on defense when the Ravens are protecting a lead has given too many teams an opportunity to get back into the game. We saw it against the Eagles when Carson Wentz, a rookie, picked apart the Ravens’ defense en route to a near upset. Then, the Ravens could not contain the Pittsburgh Steelers in the biggest game of their season. Pro-tip: giving Antonio Brown 10 free yards to work with is not a winning strategy.

It’s hard to envision this problem being solved as long as Dean Pees is in Baltimore lining cornerbacks ten yards off the ball. Maybe the Ravens can live with it. Despite a late season collapse of the rushing defense, the defense was excellent this year despite the late game foibles. But fans will continue to get indigestion in late game situations with Pees calling plays.

4. Where is the star power?

At one point this season, I performed a thought experiment. If I was an opposing coach, how would I gameplan against the Ravens? I concluded that there is not a single Ravens’ player I would fear enough to gameplan for. And that’s a huge problem.

Think about how teams defend the Pittsburgh Steelers. It starts and stops with defending Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, and even concerted efforts to stop them sometimes don’t work. Compare that with the Ravens, who more often have receiver who can’t even break single coverage. And while Terrance West and Ken Dixon flashed this year, they won’t scare anybody until the Ravens commit to running the football.

On the other side of the ball, the aged, slow Terrell Suggs was the Ravens’ best pass rusher. And he was not great. The best skill position player the Ravens have, Eric Weddle, is the closest thing the Ravens have to a star, but he’s more extremely solid than dynamic.

Opposing quarterbacks cannot sit in the pocket unmolested. Joe Flacco cannot keep looking downfield and seeing no one open. This is why the Ravens are stuck in mediocrity.

Excluding Breshad Perriman, the Ravens have settled for safe draft picks, often at the expense of great athleticism. They can’t afford to do that again. The Ravens need speed, athleticism, and star power.

5. No balance

There is no question that Marty Mornhinweg was a vast improvement over Marc Trestman, whose commitment to short out and comeback routes fooled nobody. But Mornhinweg was far from ideal. Despite featuring two running backs who averaged over four yards per carry, Mornhinweg consistently abandoned the running game en route to a 674-attempt season from Joe Flacco.

I like Mornhinweg, but his shotgun, pass heavy scheme was not a fit for Flacco or the Ravens’ talent.

Flacco is not Drew Brees. He cannot will his team to victory by throwing 50 times in a game. Flacco needs a ground game to be successful. That’s why Gary Kubiak, with the help of a career year from Justin Forsett, led Joe Flacco to his best season as a pro.

If the Ravens want to improve on offense, the formula is simple. Joe Flacco has been in the league for nine years now, and how to help him succeed should be clear. Run the football and set up play action. Get Flacco out of the pocket on roll outs. Surround him with players who can make a play on the ball in the air. The Ravens failure to do that is confounding, and it’s the biggest reason the Ravens had to settle for another playoff spent at home.

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Those are the raw numbers in what will shape up to be the most interesting position battle on the Ravens this season. This group transcends a traditional depth chart: All three or four guys who make the final roster will play. Rather than trying to determine the eventual depth chart, I ranked the tight ends with any chance to make the roster in order of how many snaps I expect them to get.

1. Ben Watson

The Ravens don’t sign unrestricted free agents often, so when they do, the moves they make are bound to be meaningful. Despite not having a need at tight end, the Ravens signed Ben Watson early in the process. Why? I can think of two reasons.

First, Watson immediately is the fastest pure tight end on the team (another, converted tight end is faster, but we’ll get to him later). Watson can stretch the seam and get open deep, something the Ravens haven’t had at the position since Ed Dickson still remembered how to catch. After a year completely devoid of big plays, getting a field stretcher like Watson makes sense.

Second, the Ravens’ young tight end corps last year flashed talent, but never quite gelled. Watson brings a well respected veteran presence to the locker room. Maxx Williams in particular could benefit from a veteran to take him under his wing and help him develop.

Though he can’t be relied upon to block at this stage in his career, Watson should lead the Ravens’ tight ends in receiving yards and yards per catch. I would expect his role to diminish as the season wears on and Williams and Gillmore continue to develop.

2. Crockett Gillmore

Just call Crockett Gillmore the new Pitta, except huge and lumbering. Gillmore established immediately chemistry with Joe Flacco, proving to be a reliable outlet receiver and occasional big play threat. Gillmore was the Ravens’ most productive tight end last year, going for 412 yards and four touchdowns in just ten games. He unquestionably established himself as a legitimate starter in the NFL.

The key for Gillmore is to get healthy. He’s coming off torn labrums in both shoulders, and spent much of last season banged up, even when he was playing. If Gillmore establishes that he’s back at full strength (and initial reports are positive), then he will play a big role yet again, with similar production to last season.

3. Maxx Williams

Though Maxx Williams set Ravens’ rookie records for tight end receiving marks, his season was viewed as a disappointment by the fanbase. That’s not at all fair to Williams: He was targeted almost exclusively on short passes, limiting his yards per catch to a paltry 8.4, and his run blocking more than made up for the lack of receiving production.

In fact, on a team with two burly big guys like Gillmore and Nick Boyle, it was Williams who was the best run blocker the Ravens had at the position. That’s encouraging for a guy who wasn’t supposed to be a blocker coming out of college.

Another year in an NFL weight program will do Williams a world of good. In college, he looked just a little underpowered. Last year, he showed good run blocking technique, which made him an effective blocker. However, he wasn’t driving guys off the ball. With more strength, he has the potential to do that.

The Ravens targeted Williams predominantly on screens and in the flat, two areas he did not excel in while in college. There is no reason for Williams to go from averaging 16 yards per catch in college to 8.4 in the pros, yet the Ravens’ scheme made that happen. But that can’t happen again. On a team that was starved for big plays, the Ravens made a mistake not giving Williams more of a chance to make big plays. If Williams is on the field, they need to give him a chance to make plays rather than just using him as a dump off threat.

Williams has more potential than anyone at this position, and his ability to catch contested balls should endear him to Joe Flacco. Yet, their chemistry seemed off last year. Accordingly, despite his potential, Williams is the biggest boom or bust option at the position.

4. Dennis Pitta

On one hand, Dennis Pitta has been the most consistently productive tight end on this team when healthy. His hands are unquestionable, and his chemistry with Flacco unmistakeable. If Pitta is healthy, and with $2 million in dead money associated with cutting him, Pitta will play.

That said, Pitta’s health is a huge question mark. Two catastrophic hip injuries leave no room for confidence, and even if healthy, Pitta has gone two years without playing meaningful football. He will be rusty, and his athleticism has to have tanked.

We all remember what Pitta does well. He has a preternatural ability to find the sticks, turn around and catch a tightly contested ball in traffic for a first down. That won’t change. What might is Pitta’s ability to stretch the seam and catch contested ball. Remember Pitta’s game-changing third-down catch in the Mile High Miracle game, in which he got a step on a deep ball then caught a contested ball? Who knows if he would be able to do that again?

5. Nick Boyle

Nick Boyle was a pleasant surprise last year, going for 18 catches and 153 yards in his rookie year. Unfortunately for him and the Ravens, he was suspended the final four games of 2015, and he will miss the first 10 games of 2016 due to a PED suspension. Boyle looked good last year, especially after the catch, but a mid-tier blocking tight end who runs a 5.0 isn’t worth the headache. He will need to be spotless off the field and stellar in training camp to earn a roster spot when he comes back after the 10th game.

6. Darren Waller

Here is the wildcard, the converted wide receiver Darren Waller. The athleticism is astounding: 6’6″, 238 pounds, 4.46 40-yard dash and 37″ vertical. With athleticism like that, Waller cannot be covered by a linebacker, and he’s too big for a safety.

Yet Waller did next to nothing as a receiver last year, catching just two balls for 18 yards. Waller will need to have a huge camp to get a chance to contribute as a tight end.

Aside from his athleticism, Waller has one other thing going for him that no other tight end has: He is excellent on special teams. Waller played as a gunner last year on punt team and was effective, coming up with three tackles and rarely getting beaten by opposing returners.

Waller looks like an excellent candidate for the practice squad if his special teams prowess isn’t enough to get him on the team. If cut, though, Waller might be an attractive option for a team looking for a high upside receiver who can contribute on special teams. That would make him hard to retain on the practice squad.

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Guys like Breshad Perriman and Chris Moore, brought in since Trestman joined the team, impersonate Alshon Jeffrey as big, physical downfield threats. Kamar Aiken could be a poor man’s Brandon Marshall. Likewise, running backs Buck Allen and Kenneth Dixon do passable Matt Forte impressions, and they too were brought in after the addition of Trestman.

The Ravens have a lot to prove to measure up to that Chicago offense. Let’s take a look at the depth chart for each team to see how it stacks up.

 On the whole, the Bears’ offense had stronger weapons at the top, while the Ravens are deeper and have a better quarterback. The offensive line play we’ll have to call a wash. The Bears’ line played very well that year, while the Ravens’ struggled last year but features at least one and probably two new starters.

Let’s take a quick look at the position by position breakdown.

At quarterback, Joe Flacco has a better track record than Jay Cutler and Josh McCown, but not by that much. Flacco has avoided turnovers for most of his career, while Cutler is notorious for flinging it to the other team. That said, Cutler has been a more prolific passer in his career, averaging 7.21 yards per attempt compared to Flacco’s 6.96 (a really bad number by the way). Cutler’s career high in passing yards of 4,526 absolutely dwarfs Flacco’s 3,912 yards as well.

Cutler is essentially a higher risk, higher reward passer. Flacco may be wildly inconsistent from game to game and even pass to pass, but he is less prone to self-destruction. Flacco has also not had the benefit of throwing to studs like Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery in his career. It’s close, but Flacco has the edge.

At running back, Justin Forsett is a poor man’s Matt Forte: A shifty, intelligent runner who can play all three downs. Kenneth Dixon showed similar traits in college, while Buck Allen is the most dynamic receiver of the group. Allen lacks Forte’s vision and blocking prowess, but the trio combined adds up to a fair approximation of Forte’s skillset. The Ravens’ ability to sub out a fresh back regularly should at least approach Forte’s overall statistical excellence.

Where the Bears’ offense trounces the Ravens is at receiver, where Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall formed one of the most dynamic duos ever.

The Ravens have their top two receivers coming off brutal injuries. One is an unproven player who has never played a down in the NFL, while the other is a 37-year old coming off a debilitating injury.

Kamar Aiken brings a modicum of stability here, and Mike Wallace was a nice low-cost addition, but it’s not enough to feel good about.

Chris Moore is a wild-card: A talented, explosive jump ball receiver who is a nice fit for the Ravens’ offense. If he can contribute and make the receiver rotation five deep, that would be a big boost to the Ravens’ deep passing game.

Similar to the running back position, the Bears had a better individual talent in Martellus Bennett, while the Ravens’ depth is perhaps unparalleled in the NFL.

Maxx Williams is the Ravens’ best chance to approximate Bennett. He’s the best individual talent they have at the position, and he is just scratching the surface of their potential. The big concern for him is whether or not he will develop, or even if he will be given the chance. The Ravens have so many tight ends that Williams may become an afterthought.

Crockett Gillmore is a beast in his own right but not a game breaker, while Benjamin Watson is a veteran option with some speed. Watson is coming off a career year but has been inconsistent from year to year in his career. Dennis Pitta could change all of this if he returns, but I find it hard to believe he could be an impact player again even if he is healthy enough to play.

There isn’t too much to say about the Ravens’ line, as unproven as it is. Offensive line play is not always consistent from year to year anyway due to injuries, chemistry and other factors. Regardless, the Ravens’ line will play a big role in the success of this offense.

That said, quarterback play is the engine that drives an NFL offense. Joe Flacco needs to pick it up, the way Jay Cutler and Josh McCown did in 2013. Usually, the longer a quarterback plays in a given system, the better he will perform. Consider the massive leap Andy Dalton made from year one to year two under Hue Jackson:

That’s not a coincidence. Transitioning from one offensive coordinator to another is tough, especially when it’s not a natural transition.

Then again, Marc Trestman has often experienced the opposite, seeing his quarterbacks, and in turn, his offenses, regress in his second year in a given job.Just look at his offensive rankings from year one to year two in the last several professional jobs he has held:

There’s no way around it: That’s concerning. I can’t begin to fathom why Trestman was so much worse from year one to year two in most of his jobs, but his past doesn’t necessarily predict his future in Baltimore. Even so, that usual regression is something to consider and be concerned about.

Regardless of Trestman’s track record, the Ravens have gone all in on adding players who fit Trestman’s preferences. Pass catching backs and big, physical receivers abound on the Ravens, just as they did on the very successful 2013 Bears’ offense. Now fans will have to see if those additions result in success like the 2013 Bears or failure like the 2014 Bears.

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Let’s take a look at the three players fighting it out for the spot opposite Mosley to determine who will get the job or if an upgrade is needed.

Arthur Brown (4^th year)

In one of the Ravens’ worst drafts in franchise history, Arthur Brown stands out as a true dud so far. Even in a draft in which the Ravens took Matt Elam in the first round, Brown has produced less relative to his draft stock than anyone in that class. Yet, all is not lost. There is precedent for a fourth-year revival for a Ravens’ second-round draft pick. Yes, Paul Kruger is the reason for optimism for Arthur Brown.

Heading into the NFL, Brown was well regarded for his ability to flow to the football and athleticism, but his ability to shed blocks was questioned. Three years later, throw out the scouting reports. Nobody except the Ravens’ coaching staff has any clue what Brown can do.

Fans wanted to see Brown on the field years ago for his athleticism, assuming he would be good in coverage. And to play in the pass happy Big 12 in college, Brown had to have some coverage skills. He showed as much his rookie year, his most productive and active year. Yet, the Ravens played Zach Orr in nickel situations more than Brown, who mostly was a healthy scratch. Why?

According to The Baltimore Sun, Brown has struggled to pick up the playbook and to put on weight. Well, he has had three years. Brown remains the most athletic and naturally talented option to replace Daryl Smith, and his athleticism would pair well with the more physical C.J. Mosley. Ultimately, the Ravens need to identify a linebacker who will shore up their coverage struggles in the intermediate middle of the field, and Brown has the best chance to be that.

If that happens, maybe Brown will be the next Paul Kruger, playing his way to a fat new deal in his contract year after years of disappointment. Regardless, the Ravens have to hope Brown finally steps up in his fourth season, if nothing else than for depth.

Zach Orr (3^rd year)

Despite less fanfare upon his entry into the league, Zachary Orr already has twice as many career tackles as Arthur Brown. Orr made the Ravens’ roster as an undrafted free agent due to his special teams play, gradually earning more of a role as he developed over the past two years. Now, Orr is the front runner for the job.

Orr was the Ravens’ highest graded inside linebacker per Pro Football Focus. I don’t put too much stock into those grades, but it’s one data point in a larger picture, and that Orr was the Ravens’ best coverage linebacker per the site is promising.

Another promising data point: Orr came into the league at 237 pounds and now is listed at 255 pounds. That’s a big difference indicative of hard work in the weight room.

That said, Orr played some last year and did not stand out, good or bad. He played 138 reps last year and netted a sack and a pass defense, but otherwise he blended into a mediocre defense rather than standing out. He should improve in this, his third year.

As with Brown, whether or not Orr should start comes down to coverage. The Ravens need to lock down the intermediate middle of the field if they want to become a quality defense again. C.J. Mosley is lousy in coverage and should not be asked to fill that role. If Orr can be that guy (and last year’s grades indicate he can) then he could be a long-term starter in Baltimore.

Albert McClellan (6^th year)

Unlike Zach Orr and Arthur Brown, Ravens’ fans know quite a bit about Albert McClellan. He has spent each of his first five years in Baltimore and even held down a starting spot for much of 2012. Though listed as an outside linebacker, McClellan has the skillset of a thumping inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense thanks to his size (6’2” 254 pounds), physicality and sound tackling.

What McClellan does not have, however, is explosiveness. Despite playing OLB for years, McClellan only has two career sacks. That’s not enough for an edge defender. Inside linebacker is a more natural home for McClellan, as he can take on blocks well and spring Mosley to flow to the football the way Ed Hartwell used to.

That said, McClellan will need to be taken off the field on passing downs. He isn’t fast or fluid enough to hang with running backs in the flat or tight ends over the middle of the field. Let McClellan back up Mosley as the run-stuffing linebacker, but the two do not belong next to one another except in obvious run situations.

The failure to add a coverage linebacker this offseason is, to me, the Ravens’ second largest failure this offseason behind failing to net a starting caliber cornerback. There is not much left in free agency either, leaving the Ravens’ stuck with these three options next to C.J. Mosley.

I would bet on Orr taking the starting job thanks to his development over the past two seasons and established coverage ability. Expect the Ravens to scour the waiver wires, though, for new talent. They desperately need it.

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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.

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Best First-Round Pick – Ray Lewis, 1996 (Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Ogden, Ed Reed)

There was a lot of competition for this, but selecting the most dominant defensive player of the past 20 years at the end of the first round is as good as it gets. Ray Lewis is the most important player in franchise history and was the clear choice as the team’s best ever first-round pick.

Worst First-Round Pick – Kyle Boller, 2003 (Honorable Mentions: Matt Elam, Travis Taylor)

While Matt Elam and Travis Taylor were huge disappointments, neither of them set the franchise back years like Kyle Boller. The Ravens were just not ready to develop a franchise quarterback: They had nothing for Boller to throw to! Boller didn’t help matters with scattershot accuracy. The Ravens needed five years to recover from the Boller pick, which they finally did when they selected Joe Flacco 18th overall.

Best Second-Round Pick – Jamie Sharper, 1997 (Honorable Mentions: Torrey Smith, Paul Kruger)

There were slim pickings in the second round, believe it or not. I excluded Ray Rice, because despite his high points with the franchise, his violence against his then fiancee was deplorable and set the franchise back years. The ultimate selection, Jamie Sharper, was just a very good linebacker on a Super Bowl winning defense. Sharper ultimately moved on to Houston, but his time in Baltimore was valuable and makes him a worthy choice. Torrey Smith, the only Ravens’ draft pick to exceed 1,000 yards, and Paul Kruger get honorable mentions for their big roles in the Ravens’ second championship.

Worst Second-Round Pick – Arthur Brown, 2013 (Honorable Mentions: Patrick Johnson, Dan Cody, Sergio Kindle)

The Arthur Brown pick was given an A in most, if not all draft grades following the 2013 NFL draft. Since then, he has barely played a down and has been supplanted on the depth chart by an undrafted free agent. Unlike Dan Cody and Sergio Kindle, who can’t entirely be blamed for their failure to produce due to their injury situations, Arthur Brown has been healthy and has had opportunities in camp. He just hasn’t taken advantage of them.

Best Mid-to-late-Round Pick – Adalius Thomas, 2000 (Honorable Mentions: Marshal Yanda, Brandon Williams, Edwin Muitalo, Jarret Johnson)

The Ravens have had no trouble finding quality starters late in the draft, as the above names indicate. Adalius Thomas gets the nod, with Marshal Yanda a close second, as Thomas was a sixth-round pick who developed into a true impact player on defense. The Ravens took a flyer on a guy with immense physical attributes and turned him into something special, a guy who could cover, rush the passer and play the run.

Yanda deserves mention as a potential Hall of Famer. Brandon Williams may be the best player on the Ravens’ defense right now, which is quite the feat for a third-round pick. Edwin Muitalo is well behind Marshal Yanda on the Ravens’ pecking order of guards over the years, but he was a solid long-term starter. Same goes for Jarret Johnson, who was a solid long-term starter but never a star.

Best Draft Day Trade: 1999 second-round pick for Atlanta Falcons’ 2000 first-round pick

Any time a team has a chance to trade a second-round pick for a first, do it. The 42nd pick in the 1999 draft, which the Falcons used to draft tight end Reggie Kelly, turned into the fifth pick. The Ravens used that pick on Jamal Lewis, a key player in their 2000 Super Bowl run, the franchise’s leading rusher, and one of the only players to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season in NFL history. Not bad.

Worst Draft Day Trade: 15th and 42nd picks for the 10th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft

Not only was Travis Taylor one of the worst picks in franchise history, but the Ravens traded up to get him. This was a deep draft: There were six straight Pro Bowlers selected from 12-17 (though one was Sebastian Janikowski, so take that with a grain of salt). The Ravens gave up a high second-round pick to move up five spots in a move that did not pan out at all.

Best Draft Class: 1996 (Jon Ogden, Ray Lewis, DeRon Jenkins, Jermain Lewis, Dexter Daniels, James Roe, Jon Stark)

Two Hall of Famers and one of the best returners in the NFL for a few years? Call that a win. Other classes might have produced more quality players in total, but no draft class can match the impact that the 1996 group did. Ogden and Lewis set the Ravens up for success for a decade.

Worst Draft Class: 2004 (Dwan Edwards, Devard Darling, Roderick Green, Josh Harris, Clarence Moore, Derek Abney, Brian Rimpf)

Only Dawn Edwards ever found success at the NFL level from the Ravens’ 2004 draft class, and much of his success was in Carolina. Devard Darling was a bust, and most of the rest of the class never played at all. Clarence Moore did flash as a rookie, but he fell off quickly. 

The 2010 class deserves an honorable mention. The best players to come out of that group were Arthur Jones and Dennis Pitta. Pitta was invaluable for the Ravens in the Super Bowl, though, and Arthur Jones had a very nice two-year stretch in Baltimore, but taking Sergio Kindle and Terrence Cody with their first two picks hurt. 

Also, the 2012 class deserves mention. After Kelechi Osemele and Courtney Upshaw left in free agency, there is not a single player left from that draft class on the roster. The only reason this class didn’t get a nod is because of Kelechi Osemele, who is a Pro Bowl talent the Ravens just couldn’t afford.

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Jalen Ramsey, Vernon Hargreaves and Eli Apple are almost certainly first rounders. Beyond that, there are numerous corners who could go as early as early Round 1 or as late as Round 3. I took a look at them and ranked them based on who I would like to see in Baltimore.

1. William Jackson, Houston (6’0″, 189 pounds, 4.37 40-yard dash)

Strengths: Smooth backpedal. Can stay in backpedal a long time before having to flip hips, which gives him ability to react quicker. Incredible ball skills. Has a sense for when ball is thrown and has rare ability to track it. Very fast. Willing hitter. Good reaction time on underneath routes. Can play close to LOS or off ball. Experience on special teams as blocker on punt returns. Good size. Stays with receivers without using hands downfield. Played one of his best games of the 2015 season against best opponent in Florida State.

Weaknesses: Needs to be careful with his hits, many of which would have been penalized at the NFL level for leading with the helmet. Doesn’t wrap up when tackling consistently. Poor time in the 20-yard shuttle at Pro Day is concerning for a position that requires a lot of changes in direction, but did not see an issue in his film. 

Outlook: William Jackson has star written all over him. Not many corners blend his technical skills with his size and athleticism. And nobody I’ve watched in this draft, including the top guys, share his ball skills. If Jackson fails at cornerback (which I don’t think will happen), he could have a second life playing free safety with such great ball skills. The highest upside of any corner aside from Jalen Ramsey in this class.

2. Mackensie Alexander, Clemson (5’10”, 190 pounds, 4.47 40-yard dash)

Strengths: Tremendous quickness. Ability to mirror receivers in man-to-man coverage. Willing run defender. Quick to react to routes in front of him. Great effort. Showed ability to turn head and play the ball in the air. Exudes confidence. 

Weaknesses: Size works against him on deep balls and run defense. Backpedal was tentative, preferred to shuffle. Not a great tackler. Better defending outside routes than inside routes. Not impressed with his instincts in zone. No interceptions at Clemson, but more a reflection of lack of targets than lack of ball skills.

Outlook: Mackensie Alexander should succeed as a man-to-man cornerback at the NFL level despite his lack of size. The Ravens have alternated between man coverage and zone, so Alexander would be able to find a role in Baltimore. A lot of upside here. Only two years in college.

3. Artie Burns, Miami (FL) (6’0″, 193 pounds, 4.46 40-yard dash)

Strengths: Long physique with long (33.25″ arms). Oozes confidence on tape. Strong ball skills. Had a tremendous interception against Nebraska that would have been a great catch for any receiver. Good jam. Excellent athlete. Quick to react to throws in front of him. Showed understanding of how to defend read option when tasked with guarding the QB.

Weaknesses: Grabby downfield. Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties his last year in college. Not a strong backpedal. Too quick to flip hips, and not fluid in doing so. Still learning the nuances of the position. Less polish than top prospects in terms of change of direction and grabbiness.

Outlook: Artie Burns has a lot of upside to be a really good cornerback. His swagger, physicality and ball skills would all be fits on a Ravens’ defense lacking all three of those traits, but his tendency to attract pass interference penalties would be an issue with Jimmy Smith having a similar issue. Might need some time before he can be more than a dime back to start.

Xavien Howard, Baylor (6’0″, 201 pounds, 4.58 40-yard dash)

Strengths: Size. Built like a safety. Uses size well in tackling. Mostly good ball skills. Good change of direction for his size. Effort level is there.

Weaknesses: Didn’t look 4.6 slow, but didn’t look fast either. Grabby downfield. Will get called for a lot of holding and PI penalties. False steps on almost every single snap. Often beat deep.

Outlook: A lot of Howard’s flaws can be corrected with good coaching, and you can’t teach his ball skills or size. A bit of a project, but one worth taking on. Might not be willing to take him or anyone listed after at 36th overall though.

Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech (5’11”, 187 pounds)

Strengths: Has the necessary quickness and speed when healthy. Good instincts and ability to mirror in man coverage. Virginia Tech trusted him in difficult situations.

Weaknesses: Horrible ball skills on deep balls. Doesn’t turn his head to track the ball. Gave up 16.7 yards per completion in 2014, when he was healthy. Torn meniscus limited him to three games in 2015. Bites too hard on double moves.

Outlook: Good production and mostly sound coverage skills, but his lack of ball skills downfield is a complete no-go for me. I would not touch Kendall fuller in the first four rounds in the draft because of it.

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That’s exciting, and it has the Baltimore, Sports and Life Ravens contributors paying close attention. I and my fellow contributors took a crack at some of the pressing questions facing the Ravens in this year’s draft.

Regardless of fit in Baltimore, who is the best player in this draft?

Jason B. Hirschhorn – Though he won’t hear his name called first, Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey has earned the status of top player in the 2016 draft. Whether you think he’s a cornerback or a safety in the NFL, you’re right. His has the athletic profile and skillset to thrive at either spot, reminding many of a young Charles Woodson. In 2015, opposing quarterbacks went to great pains not to challenge him, which is perhaps the only reason he didn’t record an interception that season. However, he can expect more passes to come his way in the pros, and his turnover numbers should spike accordingly.

Gabe Ferguson – I have similar grades on a few players, but I will give the nod to Jalen Ramsey. Not only is he an elite athlete, but he has sound technique and great versatility. My one concern with Ramsey is his questionable ball skills, but I think in the end he will be a dynamic playmaker who will create turnovers.

Mike Randall – Jalen Ramsey – DB, Florida State. He is special in so many ways. Versatile enough to play CB, safety, nickel. Speed and agility. Man or zone. Playmaking game changing ability at any moment. Tall at 6’1″. It’s not often that a DB could be the number one overall pick, and that should tell you something about the potential Ramsey has.

Andy Guyader – Jalen Ramsey – guys with that much athleticism will change games in the NFL. Antonio Cromartie x 2. I predict a 109 yard TD return for Ramsey.

Shawn Brubaker – Laremy Tunsil, who is one of the best tackles I’ve ever scouted. Smooth, athletic and physical, Tunsil is a plug-and-play left tackle who should be a Pro Bowler for 10 years.

Whose film did you most enjoy watching?

JBH – No player jumps out on the tape more than TCU wideout Josh Doctson. While some of this draft’s receivers possess better speed, none can create separation as consistently or in as many ways as Doctson. Better still, no player at his position does a better job in contested-catch situations. Everything you see suggests that he should have a successful career in the NFL.

GF – Myles Jack no question. I’ve never seen a LB that can cover like a CB like Jack, and he has great instincts and playmaking ability from sideline to sideline. He’s going to be an outstanding linebacker in today’s NFL and he can even take a few snaps at RB!

MR – Mackensie Alexander. I was blown away by the guy’s ability to cover WRs. He takes away one side of the field which is a huge advantage. There was a noticeable difference in Alabama’s offense in the title game when Alexander had to leave the game injured. He was brilliant while dealing with a bad hamstring to start with. Zero INTs in two seasons for the sophomore because they just don’t look his way often.

SB – Shaq Lawson. Early in the process I went to watch the Notre Dame Clemson game to watch Ronnie Stanley, and I came away floored by how well Lawson played. As a former defensive end, I have a thing for skilled defensive ends, and he is among the most technically sound pass rushers in this draft (it’s between him and Bosa). Lawson plays with intense effort on every snap and exudes passion for the game. Other players on the Clemson defense seemed to respond positively to his energy, and that’s some I like to see.

What player do you think is most overrated headed into the draft?

JBH – I have concerns about Joey Bosa’s ability to win consistently at the NFL level. While he possesses better athleticism than the majority of edge rushers in his class, he ranks a notch behind those usually selected in the top 10. Unlike other positions, defensive ends without elite physical traits rarely live up to that kind of draft hype. While he could still have a solid career, teams looking to improve their pass rush may want to choose someone with a higher ceiling.

GF – A’Shawn Robinson. I’ve seen him rated as the top DT in the draft by some, but I don’t think he is deserving of a 1st round pick. He’s too limited athletically and is a non-factor as a pass-rusher.

MR – Laquon Treadwell. I see a big WR who has room to grow into his frame. Otherwise, his hands are ok. His speed isn’t blazing. He doesn’t create matchup problems with his size. He rounds off his routes which will throw off needed timing with the QB in a faster pro game. I just don’t see the first round talent others do.

AG – Robert Nkemdiche. Feels like a GM will be haunted by this pick for many years. Hope I am wrong but I would steer clear if I was drafting.

SB – Ronnie Stanley. He’s a good pass blocker, but I saw some troubling signs in his run blocking that make me wonder why he’s considered a top-tier left tackle prospect. He struggles blocking downfield, often lunging at linebackers rather than engaging them with a solid base and his weight under him. In the Ravens’ zone blocking scheme, that’s a big issue that makes me take pause.

If you’re the Ravens, what is your strategy headed into the draft? (Note… not looking for specific players here so much as trade back trade up scenarios, positions you target, etc.)

JBH – The Ravens sit in a particularly advantageous spot at No. 6. If either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff makes it past Dallas, interested teams may look to jump ahead of the 49ers, who pick at No. 7, to land one. That gives Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome plenty of leverage in a draft-day negotiation. While the team could land a field-tilter at their original pick, it probably makes more sense to take the king’s random to trade down instead.

GF – Best defensive player available in the first round, or trade back if the top rated prospects are off the board. I think the 2nd and 3rd round will have lots of value at WR and CB, and I would definitely get at least one defensive lineman in the first 4 rounds. The Ravens need a pass-rusher more than any other position in my estimation.

MR – Simply, you don’t get top ten picks in the draft often. While that is a very good thing, don’t screw this one up. Not really a strategy, so here’s what I got. There is no reason to spend draft picks to trade up. Staying at #6, they will get a very good player based on projections that someone ahead of Baltimore will take a quarterback. I’m sure the Ravens have a list of players they want, and if they feel then can move back and still land someone they rank highly on their board, they’ll go for it. Then maybe use those picks to move up in round two or three, to grab someone they really want there. Moving up in round two could mean two first round picks at the end of the night. Instead of having #6 and #37, maybe they get #15 and #27 or so.

AG – Follow the Cardinal’s model – you have a franchise QB so don’t ruin it while you have it. Surround him as best you can. Draft on offense. Trade down if the offense guy you want is not there. Get two later.

SB – If none of Tunsil, Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack or Joey Bosa are on the board when the Ravens’ pick, I’m trading back. I think this is a great draft for the Ravens to get cornerback and pass rush help in the middle rounds, so I’d make a point to address those spots in the second through fourth round. Add some O-line and receiver depth later in the draft. If Corey Coleman is there in the second round, though, go for him.

Who is a mid to late-round prospect that you would like to see the Ravens target?

JBH – With the defection of Kelechi Osemele, the Ravens may want to find a mid-round guard in case John Urschel doesn’t pan out as a starter. North Dakota State’s Joe Haeg fits the mold of a Baltimore offensive lineman both in stature (6-foot-6, 304 pounds) and athleticism (63rd percentile by SPARQ). With some seasoning, he can become a fixture along the Ravens’ line.

GF – I put Max Tuerk in my recent mock draft. He’s a versatile offensive lineman that I think would be a great fit in Baltimore.

MR – So many for different reasons, I can’t name one. Jaydon Mickens of Washington is the best pure slot receiver in the draft. The Ravens Michael Campanaro can’t stay healthy and Mickens is a kick returner as well. Another WR is Charone Peake of Clemson. Death Valley has churned out Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, Martavis Bryant of late. They know a little something about developing wideouts. At RB, Kenyan Drake from Alabama would be a receiving asset that Marc Trestman loved to utilize with Matt Forte in Chicago, and Joe Flacco loved to check down to Ray Rice in years past. Justin Forsett doesn’t excel there, and Buck Allen has to step up in the rushing department to convince me he can be the starter. I’ll limit it to those three for now.

AG – Wish I knew the entire draft better.

SB – Sterling Shephard. He’s not just a skilled slot receiver. Shephard’s lack of size didn’t stop the Oklahoma Sooners from targeting Shephard on fade routes, and he brought them down with regularity.

Finish this sentence… “With the sixth pick in the NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select…”

JBH – Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle from the University of Notre Dame.

GF – Joey Bosa. I think he has a good chance of falling to the Ravens and he is too talented to pass on if he does. He can rush from a variety of alignments and is as good as it gets as a run defender on the edge.

MR – I see this as a real possibility. I see it going Tunsil-TEN, QB(Goff or Wentz)-CLE, Ramsey-SD, Bosa-DAL, Jack-JAX. Ravens could go DeForest Buckner, Ronnie Stanley (hope not). I think they move back and land Shaq Lawson or Noah Spence. If one of Ramsey, Jack, or Bosa fall, that has to be the pick, no trading back with one of those three available.

AG – Ezekiel Elliott…. Camera flashes…. Bear hug the commish and have Flacco immediately on stage handing him a football. 

SB – DeForrest Buckner. I’m not exactly excited about it, but I think that’s what ends up happening. Hard for me to imagine any of Bosa, Ramsey, Tunsil or Jack falling, and the Ravens have made a big deal about having a high pick this year.

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I talked to fellow-BSL contributor Zack Kiesel, a Terrapins expert, and did some scouting of my own to determine whether or not Ngakoue is a fit in Baltimore.

Strengths

Explosion on speed rush

Zack and I agree here… Yannick Ngakoue is explosive.

Zack – “I wouldn’t call him a fast pass-rusher, but he’s explosive. He uses his smaller size to his advantage, moving nimbly around opposing tackles and exploding toward the quarterback.”

The numbers and the tape both support this: Ngakoue’s 10-yard split was one of the best marks among defensive linemen at 1.65 seconds. His 34.5″ vertical and 118″ broad jump are also fairly good numbers for an edge rusher.

When Ngakoue times the snap right, opposing offensive tackles have trouble blocking him. Watch as he gets around the South Florida left tackle with ease.

Plays with good leverage

Length is not a prerequisite for success at the NFL level. Players like Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller have been giving offensive tackles headaches for years, using their relatively small size as an advantage to get leverage. Yannick Ngakoue, at 6’2″, does the same thing very well.

 Watch as Ngakoue gets under the left tackles pads, shoves him back and gets a sack

Swim move

I didn’t see many moves from Ngakoue, but his swim move consistently produced pressure. 

Some experience playing standing up

 Ngakoue played in a 3-4 before Maryland shifted to a 4-3. He can play either, according to Zack. Per Zack:

“Ngakoue is a pure pass-rusher. In fact, he is one of the primary reasons why Maryland moved from a 3-4 defensive scheme in 2014 to a 4-3 in 2015. The coaching staff wanted to feature him as a pass-rusher, and he served as the team’s starting weakside defensive end all year, with most of his playing time coming with his hand down, rushing the passer.

“He can absolutely play in a 3-4 system, and may even fit better there than in a 4-3 due to his size. He played the first two years of his career in a 3-4 system under Brian Stewart before moving to a 4-3 in his final season under Keith Dudzinski. Of course, he wasn’t a full-time starter until that final season in a 4-3 system. During his first two years, he usually entered the game in Stewart’s third-down package and was allowed to let loose and rush the passer. But he’s a player who is more than comfortable standing up and moving around the defensive formation.”

Weaknesses

Hand fighting to shed blocks

Loses track of ball easily

These two weaknesses are intimately related. Too frequently Ngakoue gets locked on his blocker and can’t shed the block. Consequently, there are times that the ball goes right by Ngakoue and he either is unaware or unable to stop it.

Timing the snap

Ngakoue is not always great at timing the snap. He’s not awful, just more inconsistent than a top-tier prospect should be.

Long speed

Ngakoue ran a 4.75 at the combine, and that looks about right. He won’t be chasing down dual-threat quarterbacks, running backs or receivers, but he can hang with tight ends and pocket quarterbacks well enough. This isn’t a big concern, since Ngakoue is fast enough to function in the Ravens’ 3-4, but it does put something of a ceiling on him.

Zack: “I suppose you could consider his speed a weakness, as he certainly isn’t the fastest pass-rusher in the draft (then again, neither is Joey Bosa). For a smaller guy with more of an outside linebacker’s build, his slower 40-time came as a bit of a surprise, but I wouldn’t worry about it too much.”

False steps off the line

See the gif above, where I discuss his explosiveness off the snap. Ngakoue moves so well, yet it took him about five steps to go five yards. Anyone who has ever been a sprinter knows the best way to accelerate quickly is with a big first step. If someone teaches Ngakoue to do that, watch out. For now, his happy feet off the snap are holding him back from being as effective as he could be.

Pro Comparison – Elvis Dumervil

According to Zack, “If you ask him, he’ll tell you Von Miller.” I see Ngakoue more like a former Bronco, the Ravens’ own Elvis Dumervil. Like Dumervil, Ngakoue is explosive off the snap without possessing elite long speed. Further, Ngakoue plays with great leverage, but might lack the rush moves to ascend to the top-tier of NFL pass rushers. Some double-digit sack seasons may be in his future, but Ngakoue is probably no Miller.

Value – Mid-second round

Here, Zack and I agree again. Zack: “I’d put him in the second tier of pass-rushers behind guys like Joey Bosa, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Shaq Lawson. He’s in that group with Shilique Calhoun, Carl Nassib, and Sheldon Day. He came into the Combine as a very underrated player, but people are seeing his abilities on full display now.”

I would put Ogbah in that second tier as well, but I do think Ngakoue is a quality player just behind guys like Bosa and Lawson. His value is probably in the second round, as Ngakoue has great upside but a pretty low floor as well. If he never develops the ability to hand fight, Ngakoue may never become a quality starter, but the athletic upside is there to be a Pro Bowler.

That said, I would be surprised of Ngakoue ends up a Raven. He is too good to fall to the third round, yet he is not quite good enough to be selected 38th overall. The only way Ngakoue ends up being the best value for the Ravens is if they trade back in the second round. It’s certainly possible, but I wouldn’t count on it.

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