With about ten days remaining the NFL Draft is fast approaching and with that in mind its time to focus on what the Baltimore Ravens might do in their attempts to strengthen their roster and remain among the AFC elite.
For now let’s take a look at the First Round. It only makes sense considering the league treats the first round completely different from the rest of the rookie selection process by giving it it’s own night in prime time.
There are certain advantages to getting the last pick in the draft, the most important being that it reminds you that your team won a championship the previous season and your fan-base is hopefully still basking in the glow of that victory.
So, with the Thirty-Second pick in the 2013 Draft the reigning Super Bowl champion, Baltimore Ravens select…
1) A DEFENSIVE PLAYER
This has been the popular consensus by most mock experts and fans for the past few months. It seems to make logical sense. The Ravens lost franchise icons Ray Lewis and Ed Reed and last season the once feared unit was unable to stop the run. The off-season plan was clear get younger, faster, and cheaper. With holes still remaining at Inside Linebacker due to the departures of Lewis and Dannell Ellerbee and the uncertainty surrounding Jameel McClain’s health status a choice of Kevin Minter (LSU) or Manti Te’o (Notre Dame) seems ideal.
The team could also choose to strengthen the back of the defense even though they recently inked former Raider Michael Huff to a three-year deal. Names such as Matt Elam (Florida), or Jonathan Cyprien (Florida International) could fit into the Ravens plans as both may be able to step in and contribute right away.
The problem projecting this pick is that you just don’t know who is going to fall here until draft day and then figuring if the Ravens would bite. Could linebacker Alec Ogletree (Georgia) still be there at #32? If pass rushing end “Tank” Carradine (Florida St.) was still out there would Baltimore call his name? One thing for sure Ozzie Newsome usually goes by “best player available” and not always need.
2) AN OFFENSIVE PLAYER
It’s an offensive league, right. Baltimore didn’t win it’s most recent championship on suffocating the opposition instead they piled up points, a ton of them. So why not look to replace Anquan Boldin and give Joe Flacco some more weapons in the passing game? Keenan Allen (California), Justin Hunter (Tennessee), or DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) are possible choices if Baltimore wants to add more offense. Then again maybe the Ravens brass should stay away from a Receiver in the First Round due to past choices that never panned out. (Travis Taylor,Mark Clayton)
Perhaps instead the Ravens should try and protect Flacco since that was a key ingredient to their Super Bowl run two months ago. Menelik Watson (Florida St.) is a physically gifted athlete that could be a long range answer at Left Tackle. Problem is that he played Right in college and would need time to ease into a transition to the blind side.
3) TRADE
This may be the most likely option of all. The Ravens have swapped out their First Round pick five of the past seven drafts and that would have been six if not for the Bears debacle. Newsome loves to deal on draft weekend and with twelve picks you wonder if Baltimore may attempt to trade up to grab a top Offensive Tackle or a playmaker like Tavon Austin. It’s possible but the Ravens are known to covet picks as well. If they do move up they must feel that that player would a difference maker.
After reviewing the possibilities I’m no closer to figuring out which direction the Ravens plan on pursuing in a few weeks. So I guess I’ll give it some more time so I can continue to change my pick several times over.
In the meantime feel free to put your selections on the board.
Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.