Wide receiver, cornerback and pass rush: Baltimore Ravens fans seem to agree these are the Ravens three biggest needs heading into the 2016 offseason. Accordingly, fans expect to see the Ravens use what should be a very high pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to fill one of these needs. Of course, Ozzie Newsome doesn’t care about fan expectations: He is going best player available, and there is a very good chance that player won’t fill a need.
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Currently 4-8 and with next to no hope of winning another game, the Ravens will almost certainly be picking in the top five. Of my current top three prospects, however, only one fills a need for the Ravens. That would be Joey Bosa, who is the best edge rusher in this draft and has a game reminiscent of Terrell Suggs. That said, Bosa is my third ranked player. Let’s take a look at my top three, and how they would fit on the Ravens.
1. Jaylon Smith, OLB Notre Dame
Drafting a 4-3 outside linebacker with the Ravens’ highest draft pick since at least 2000 probably wouldn’t go over well with the fan base, but it should. Jaylon Smith could be a long-term answer at inside linebacker in the Ravens’ base 3-4, and he could help solve one of the Ravens’ most pressing issues, pass defense over the middle.
How many times have we seen C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith look lost in coverage, allowing big gains to tight ends over the middle of the field? When both are in mid-to-deep coverage, tight ends can just sit between them, knowing full well neither will break on the ball fast enough to make a stop. It’s maddening.
Jaylon Smith will not have that issue. He is blisteringly fast for the position, and I’m not just talking about timed speed. His hands are fast getting off blocks, his reactions are fast and of course, he is rarely outran. Smith is one of the fastest linebackers I’ve ever scouted, both physically and mentally.
How fast is he? Well, star Clemson running back Wayne Gallman (1,332 yards this year) couldn’t outrun him on this play.
Nor could Clemson wideout Deon Cain (averaging 17.1 yards per catch this year). Check out Smith running stride for stride with the freshman speedster on this crossing route.
Typically, speed linebackers like Smith struggle with getting off blocks, but that’s not true for the Notre Dame star. Smith excels at keeping blockers’ hands off of him in the open field, using quick, subtle moves to keep opposing linemen from latching on.
Smith has two weaknesses that I see right now, and they’re minor. First, he is not as effective at shedding blocks if his first move fails. He will need to develop counter moves to get off blocks against more technically sound NFL linemen. This is easily fixed: Smith is already well ahead of most young linebackers with regards to his moveset. Learning to chain moves together and turning that into successful hand fighting is easier than starting with no moves at all.
Second, Smith over pursues on a semi-regular basis, chasing plays with such abandon that opponents can easily get him off balance and make him run out of the play. Again, this is easily fixed with good coaching and sound schemes, which the Ravens have in the front seven.
Though Smith doesn’t fill a positional need, he does fill a huge need for two specific skills, speed and pass defense. If the Ravens draft him, they will have their two ILB spots set for the next 10 years.
2. Laremy Tunsil, OT Ole Miss
I floated the possibility of drafting Laremy Tunsil on Twitter, and it didn’t go over well with the Ravens’ fan base.
@TDavenport_NFL @63brubaker Unless u think our current LT is done at 28 really don’t see how it will matter anyway. Unless u want backup/1st
— Pauly (@thenflanalyst) November 29, 2015
I don’t think Eugene Monroe is done. Not yet, despite the news that Monroe is done for the season.
The #Ravens placed LT Eugene Monroe on IR, add QB Bryn Renner and WR Chris Matthews. Also waived G Kaleb Johnson.
— Jon Meoli (@JonMeoli) December 12, 2015
Regardless, the Ravens need a better backup plan than James Hurst, who could double for a turnstile at a DC Metro station. Monroe cannot be relied upon, so the Ravens need someone who can be. That might be Laremy Tunsil, who is as technically sound as a young lineman can be.
In pass pro, Tunsil shows an excellent kick step, good balance and good strength to absorb initial contact.
That right there is as good as pass blocking gets, as Tunsil demonstrates the quick feet and balance necessary to excel on the blind side. It’s also Tunsil’s typical level of play.
Though not a mauler, Tunsil demonstrates good positional blocking, and he should be a good fit for the zone blocking scheme. He doesn’t get a lot of push, but defensive players rarely get off his blocks either.
There is one big weakness the Ravens will need to check in on, Tunsil’s fitness level. He consistently struggled at the end of halves. As he got tired, Tunsil’s technique dissolved, and he allowed more pressure. That could be indicative of a lack of dedication. The Ravens will need to find that out. It’s quite possible that in an NFL conditioning program, the issue will disappear.
Before moving on to Bosa, I’d like to address the question I’m sure some are asking: Why not Ronnie Stanley from Notre Dame? It comes down to positional blocking. Tunsil does a good job latching on to defenders and keeping them from making the play, regardless of what kind of block he’s asked to do. Tunsil can block down on an inside lineman, he can kick step out to meet an edge rusher, or he can get downfield and block linebackers. Stanley, on the other hand, is a one-trick pony. Given a defender right in front of him, Stanley excels. Ask him to block down on an inside D-lineman or to block in space, though, and Stanley is lost. In fact, of the tape I’ve watched so far, Stanley seems to me to be the most overrated player in the draft.
In sum, Monroe’s unreliability has made left tackle a need, and Tunsil is a very good left tackle. If his work ethic and conditioning check out, don’t be shocked if the Ravens bring on the big tackle from Ole Miss.
3. Joey Bosa, DE/OLB Ohio State
When I watch Joey Bosa on film, I see a guy who will consistently be in the 8-12 sack range, will set the edge well and will be an emotional leader for his team. Sound like someone Ravens fans know? Yes, Bosa is very similar to Terrell Suggs.
First of all, Bosa is like Suggs in that he is very good at setting the edge. Stronger than the average edge rusher, Bosa plays with a lot of sand in pants: He’s very hard to push around. An edge defender’s job is to keep plays inside. Watch as Bosa (97) maintains his presence outside while pushing his blocker directly into the play.
Bosa was in complete control there. Had the running back tried to bounce the run outside, Bosa has shown the ability to easily shed the block and make the stop himself.
Where Bosa’s upside is limited is as a pass rusher: He’s good, but his lack of explosiveness keeps him from being a can’t miss prospect. That said, Bosa’s first step is good enough, and he is so strong that his bull rush regularly puts opposing linemen on skates.
That poor Penn State lineman didn’t have a chance.
Long term, Bosa would be best served playing a Pernell McPhee type role as a pass rusher. The Ravens used McPhee as an interior rusher for much of last year, and that’s probably where Bosa would be most effective too. Accordingly, drafting Bosa wouldn’t really solve the Ravens’ edge rush issues. They would still need to draft a high-upside speed rusher, but there is no doubt that Bosa would make life easier for Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs.
Honorable Mentions
I’ve watched film on Vernon Hargreaves and Jalen Ramsey, two highly touted cornerbacks. There is no doubt both would fill a need, but I’m not convinced they’re better players than the guys mentioned above. Ramsey is nearly always in the right position, but I’m not sold on his ball skills, while Hargreaves gives up a lot of receptions in front of him. Ravens’ fans tired of watching their cornerbacks get beat on comeback routes would get sick of Hargreaves very quickly. Both have the tools to be successful, but aren’t quite there yet.
Robert Nkemdiche, meanwhile, is talented but not a scheme fit for the Ravens. I think he would be best served as a 4-3, one-gap defensive tackle, where his quickness off the snap would be better used and his tendency to get pushed a bit would be less of an issue.
There may also be a riser that I have yet to account for. There is still more tape to be watched and information to be gleaned. Stay tuned.
Shawn began his writing career with Bleacher Report as a Ravens featured columnist and Breaking News Team writer. He moved on to write for Yahoo! and work on the Ravens Central Radio podcast. Most recently, he was an Editor at the Baltimore Wire. Shawn is a 2013 graduate of the Catholic University of America.