With the NFL season over and the scouting combine’s first group of draft prospects three weeks from arrival in Indianapolis, it’s starting to smell like mock draft season in Baltimore.
Here’s the first of several first-round projections, based on early scouting reports, team needs and expected offseason moves. The Ravens have the No. 22 overall pick in the draft, which starts April 25, and a number of weaknesses to address.
1. Arizona Cardinals: Ohio State DE Nick Bosa: The best prospect in the draft can play as a defensive end or outside linebacker in the Cardinals’ 3-4 front. Arizona needs someone to get after the quarterback in a division with Jared Goff, Russell Wilson and Jimmy Garoppolo. Despite missing most of his junior season with a core muscle injury, Bosa has production and pedigree that few can match.
2. San Francisco 49ers: Kentucky DE/OLB Josh Allen: If the 49ers didn’t already have a high-quality three-technique defensive tackle in DeForest Buckner, Quinnen Williams would be the pick here. San Francisco’s secondary needs help, but there’s no sense in passing on Allen.
3. New York Jets: Alabama DT Quinnen Williams: In new Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ 4-3 scheme, there’s room for another Williams next to Leonard Williams, especially one as good as the Crimson Tide’s breakout star of 2018.
4. Oakland Raiders: Michigan DL Rashan Gary: Gary doesn’t have the production to match that of the draft’s other top defensive line prospects, but he has always had all-world potential. The Raiders need a Khalil Mack replacement.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Houston DT Ed Oliver: With the Buccaneers reportedly considering parting ways with defensive tackle Gerald McCoy this offseason, Tampa Bay can pair a potentially game-wrecking interior lineman with the run-stuffing Vita Vea, their top pick in 2018.
6. New York Giants: Ohio State QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.: Eli Manning’s return to the Giants is not guaranteed, but the team’s brain trust seems to believe the 38-year-old can handle starting duties for at least a little longer in New York. That would offer Haskins, a physically gifted passer who has been dinged for his lack of experience under center, more time to prepare.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Missouri QB Drew Lock: Teams tend to forgive quarterbacks with less-than-ideal accuracy, which Lock has, if they have a rocket for an arm, which Lock also has. He impressed at the Senior Bowl with his athleticism and charisma, enough to perhaps distance himself from Duke’s Daniel Jones.
8. Detroit Lions: Mississippi State DE/OLB Montez Sweat: Free-agent defensive end Ezekiel Ansah likely has played his last game in Detroit, and there’s not much talent waiting in the wings. A disruptive force at Mississippi State with impressive measurables, most notably a wingspan over 7 feet, Sweat flashed his potential during Senior Bowl practices.
9. Buffalo Bills: Alabama OT Jonah Williams: Before the Bills get Josh Allen some weapons on offense, they need to get him some protection. Most analysts have Williams, a three-year starter at Alabama, as the top-graded offensive tackle in the class.
10. Denver Broncos: Duke QB Daniel Jones: Even after up-and-down performances throughout his week at the Senior Bowl, Jones now seems unlikely to drop out of the first round, much less the top 15. He needs to improve his accuracy and decision-making.
11. Cincinnati Bengals: LSU LB Devin White: If the Ravens’ 267 rushing yards in their Week 11 matchup didn’t underline the Bengals’ need for a linebacker, the health of often-injured Vontaze Burfict should. As the reigning Butkus Award winner, White was considered the top linebacker in college football, amassing over 120 tackles for the second straight season.
12. Green Bay Packers: Clemson DE Clelin Ferrell: With Clay Matthews approaching his 32nd birthday and entering free agency after a 21/2-sack season, the Packers will need to replenish their pass-rush ranks one way or another. If the 6-foot-5 Ferrell can prove he’s athletic and savvy enough to handle outside linebacker responsibilities — Green Bay runs a 3-4 defense — he shouldn’t fall far outside the top 10.
13. Miami Dolphins: Florida State DE/OLB Brian Burns: The Dolphins need a quarterback. Boy, do they need a quarterback. But with the draft’s top passers already off the board and team officials unlikely to risk the first pick of Brian Flores’ tenure on Kyler Murray, another pass rusher should become a priority.
14. Atlanta Falcons: Clemson DT Christian Wilkins: One positive development for the Falcons last season: Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett emerged into a top-10 defensive tackle, according to Pro Football Focus. One negative development for Atlanta this offseason: He’s now a free agent. The Falcons can replace one Clemson product with another in Wilkins.
15. Washington Redskins: Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray: For as long as he’s open to playing football, Murray will be the draft’s biggest fascination. The diminutive Heisman Trophy winner could go in the top five or fall out of the first round. The Redskins have just as big an unknown under center.
16. Carolina Panthers: Florida OT Jawaan Taylor: With left tackle Matt Kalil coming off a season-ending knee injury and right tackle Daryl Williams headed to free agency, along with backups Chris Clark and Marshall Newhouse, the Panthers could enter training camp with just one returning tackle healthy.
17. Cleveland Browns: Mississippi State DT Jeffery Simmons: Many mock drafts have the Browns taking an offensive tackle in the first round. But if Cleveland officials trust a seemingly rejuvenated Greg Robinson enough to re-sign him, he’ll return to a line that kept defenses to just three sacks of Baker Mayfield in the rookie’s final seven games. That would leave Cleveland to address its interior defensive line.
18. Minnesota Vikings: Kansas State OT Dalton Risner: The Vikings didn’t get a great early return on their three-year, $84 million investment in Kirk Cousins, but their offensive line could’ve made life easier. Minnesota allowed the fifth-highest pressure rate in the NFL last season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
19. Tennessee Titans: Florida DE/OLB Jachai Polite: Marcus Mariota needs help in the receiving game, but the Titans won’t catch up to the Houston Texans or Indianapolis Colts if they can’t pressure their quarterbacks. Brian Orakpo wasn’t great last season, but he was Tennessee’s best edge rusher, and now he’s retired.
20. Pittsburgh Steelers: LSU CB Greedy Williams: The jokes will fly if the Steelers, who declined to reward running back Le’Veon Bell with a lucrative long-term contract, pick a guy named Greedy. But Joe Haden is approaching 30, Coty Sensabaugh is already there, and former first-round pick Artie Burns isn’t trusted to do much but sit on the bench.
21. Seattle Seahawks: Washington CB Byron Murphy: The Seahawks badly need interior line help, but there aren’t any first-round-caliber linemen who project as strictly guards. Seattle also might need a pass rusher to replace Frank Clark, who’s set to hit the open market after a standout season, but most or all of the immediate-impact players should be off the board here.
22. Ravens: Mississippi WR D.K. Metcalf: There are other receiver-needy teams, but maybe none as desperate for a playmaker as the Ravens. Attractive options exist, from Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown to North Carolina State’s Kelvin Harmon to fellow Rebels teammate A.J. Brown, but none are as tantalizing as the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Metcalf. He averaged nearly 22 yards per catch over seven games last season before suffering a season-ending neck injury that he has since recovered from. He’s inconsistent in some areas — drops will be be a concern — but has the potential to be a dynamic No. 1 wide receiver and franchise cornerstone.
23. Houston Texans: Mississippi OT Greg Little: Deshaun Watson should sue the Texans for reckless endangerment if they don’t address an offensive line that allowed an NFL-worst 62 sacks last season. Little could prove to be heaven-sent or just another warm body trying to keep Watson upright.
24. Oakland Raiders: Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown: The Raiders need to address the departures of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. With no blue-chip receivers available at the No. 4 spot, it’s hard to see them passing on the wideouts available toward the back end of the first round. The cousin of Antonio Brown, is as productive as any.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Alabama RB Josh Jacobs: The Eagles haven’t drafted a running back in the first round since 1986, and the relative value of players at the position has only diminished in the decades since.
26. Indianapolis Colts: North Carolina State WR Kelvin Harmon: The Colts got over 50 percent of their receiving yardage last season from a wide receiver (T.Y. Hilton), a tight end (Eric Ebron) and a running back (Nyheim Hines).
27. Oakland Raiders: Georgia CB Deandre Baker: It’s always a good sign when you can get the winner of the Jim Thorpe Award, given to college football’s top defensive back, with your third pick in the draft.
28. Los Angeles Chargers: Washington State OT Andre Dillard: The Chargers protected Philip Rivers well enough last season, allowing just 34 sacks, but the offense needs an infusion of young talent across the line. Dillard, whose stock rose with a strong Senior Bowl, likely wouldn’t supplant left tackle Russell Okung as a rookie.
29. Kansas City Chiefs: Alabama S Deionte Thompson: The Chiefs, it will not surprise you to learn, need help stopping passing offenses that put up numbers Patrick Mahomes would be proud of.
30. Green Bay Packers: Delaware S Nasir Adderley: With the number of talented safeties set to reach free agency this offseason the Packers don’t necessarily need the draft to address the glaring need in their secondary.
31. Los Angeles Rams: Clemson DT Dexter Lawrence: At 6 feet 4 and 340 pounds, Lawrence could be the draft’s best true nose tackle prospect.
32. New England Patriots: Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson: Sooner or later, the Patriots will have to replace tight end Rob Gronkowski.
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