The NFL draft begins in Mobile, Alabama, as the Senior Bowl likes to say.

This week, the top upperclassmen from around the country will gather for a week of practice and an annual exhibition that serves as the unofficial kickoff of draft season.

For the Ravens, the draft is perhaps the most important piece of offseason business. After another season ended short of the Super Bowl following a divisional round loss to the Buffalo Bills, the decisions to retool the roster around star quarterback and potential three-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson will shape the team for years to come. And with an expected 11 picks in April’s draft, including No. 27 overall, the Ravens will have plenty of chances to add impact players.

Here’s a look at 18 Senior Bowl prospects the Ravens could target, with a focus on positions of need — offensive line, cornerback, edge defender and wide receiver — as well as a look at defensive line, safety and inside linebacker. (Note: First-round prospects not listed for some positions based on current projections.)

Offensive line

First round: Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

With Ronnie Stanley entering free agency, the Ravens could be in the market for a new left tackle. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound Conerly has rare athleticism for his size and has been incredibly dependable for the Ducks, allowing just two sacks during his entire college career. The only problem? If he performs well this week and then tests off the charts at the NFL scouting combine, he could rise up draft boards and out of the Ravens’ range.

Day 2: Grey Zabel, North Dakota State

For prospects who come from the lower levels of college football, the Senior Bowl and other all-star events are a huge opportunity to prove their worth against elite competition. The 6-6, 305-pound Zabel played exclusively left tackle this past season for the powerhouse Bison, but he lined up mostly at right tackle in 2023 and has experience at left guard and center. That versatility could help him get on the field early for a Ravens team expecting more offensive line shuffling.

Sleeper: Charles Grant, William & Mary

The 6-4, 300-pound Grant has been a dominant force at the Football Championship Subdivision level, including a 90.7 overall Pro Football Focus grade this past season when he allowed just two sacks on 372 pass-blocking snaps. This week of practice will be a good gauge of whether he can hold up against bigger and better linemen in one-on-one drills.

Others: Armand Membou, Missouri; Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona; Marcus Mbow, Purdue, Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota; Wyatt Milum, West Virginia; Tate Ratledge, Georgia

Cornerback

First round: Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State

NFL Network analyst and former Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah had the Ravens selecting Thomas in the first round of his first mock draft, calling the Seminoles star “a smooth, fluid athlete.” With the Ravens likely saying goodbye to free agent Brandon Stephens, the 6-2, 198-pound Thomas (first name pronounced uh-ZAR-ee-yay) would form a strong young tandem alongside Nate Wiggins on the outside.

Day 2: Darien Porter, Iowa State

The 6-2, 197-pound Porter has an alluring combination of size and speed with 33-plus-inch arms and a 100-meter time of 10.6 seconds, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. He’s a standout special teams player, too, recording four blocked punts in his college career.

Sleeper: Jacob Parrish, Kansas State

Although undersized at 5-10 and 195 pounds, Parrish has earned plenty of praise for his speed and toughness, missing just five tackles this past season, per PFF. He was spotlighted before the Senior Bowl by Brugler, who wrote that Parrish “competes with surprising play strength in all areas” and “loves to play press man and challenge receivers” despite not playing cornerback until he arrived at Kansas State.

Others to watch: Trey Amos, Ole Miss; Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky; Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech

Edge defender

First round: Mike Green, Marshall

Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy are penciled in as the starters for next season, but the Ravens have every reason to add depth and look for upgrades at outside linebacker. Green measured in at 6-3 and 251 pounds with 32-plus-inch arms, alleviating some concerns about his size. Everything he’s shown on tape has made him a near-lock to be selected in the first round after a breakout season in which he led the nation with 17 sacks while recording 32 quarterback hurries and 22 1/2 tackles for loss.

Day 2: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

Ezeiruaku has been flying under the radar despite ranking second in the country with 16 1/2 sacks and fourth with 20 1/2 tackles for loss. The 6-2, 248-pound Eagles star also has 34-plus-inch arms, which he uses well to set a hard edge. Ezeiruaku led the Power 4 conferences with 30 run-defense stops, according to PFF.

Sleeper: Josaiah Stewart, Michigan

Only potential No. 1 overall pick Abdul Carter of Penn State earned a higher PFF grade among edge rushers in the Power Four this past season, so perhaps it’s unfair to call Stewart a “sleeper.” But at a listed 6-1 and 245 pounds, he’s been labeled undersized and is ranked just inside the top 100 on the consensus big board. His potential is evident, though, with his 27% pass rush win rate (how often he beats his block within 2.5 seconds) leading the nation.

Others to watch: Landon Jackson, Arkansas; Jordan Burch, Oregon; Kyle Kennard, South Carolina; Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M; Nic Scourton, Texas A&M; Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss

Wide receiver

Day 2: Savion Williams, TCU

For the Ravens, taking a chance on a boom-or-bust prospect like Williams might be worth it. Few athletes move as well as the 6-5, 225-pound Horn Frogs star, who forced more missed tackles (43) than any other wide receiver in the country this past season by a considerable margin. Drops are a major concern, as is his ability to separate and run consistent routes, but he’s shown a knack for making contested catches and could also be a playmaker out of the backfield after taking snaps at running back.

Sleeper: Jalen Royals, Utah State

With nuanced route running, strong hands and an enticing ability to pick up yards after the catch, the 5-11, 210-pound Royals could become a worthy No. 3 target next to Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. He was on pace for a second straight 1,000-yard season before a foot injury ended his 2024 campaign, recording 55 catches for 839 yards and six touchdowns while forcing 17 missed tackles in just seven games.

Others to watch: Elic Ayomanor, Stanford; Tez Johnson, Oregon; Xavier Restrepo, Miami; Jayden Higgins, Iowa State; Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Defensive line

First round: Walter Nolen, Ole Miss

The Ravens have a formidable duo up front in Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones but little depth behind them. In a deep class of interior defensive linemen, Nolen jumps out because of his ability to wreak havoc. The 6-3, 305-pound Texas A&M transfer put together his best season in 2024, recording 6 1/2 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hurries while earning an 88.9 PFF grade.

Day 2: T.J. Sanders, South Carolina

The 6-4, 290-pound Sanders is a gifted athlete who shows promise both defending the run and rushing the passer. He’s recorded 8 1/2 sacks and 16 1/2 tackles for loss over the past two seasons and has the length to be a difference-maker along the interior.

Sleeper: Darius Alexander, Toledo

Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy said that Alexander has a chance to be the highest-drafted player from the Group of Five this year while hinting at a lofty comparison for the Mid-American Conference star. The 6-3, 304-pound Alexander ranked third nationally with a 90.2 PFF grade and ranked sixth among that group with 37 pressures this past season.

Others to watch: Shemar Turner, Texas A&M; Ty Robinson, Nebraska; Deone Walker, Kentucky; Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee; Alfred Collins, Texas

Safety

Day 2: Sebastian Castro, Iowa

With Marcus Williams expected to be released and unproven depth behind Kyle Hamilton and restricted free agent Ar’Darius Washington, the Ravens are likely to add a safety this offseason. The 5-11, 205-pound Castro is already 24 years old, but with that age comes experience. He’s a versatile, instinctive playera who lined up mostly in the slot for the Hawkeyes. A strong tackler and run defender, he’s comfortable in the box and defending tight ends.

Sleeper: Jonas Sanker, Virginia

The 6-1, 210-pound Sanker fits the Ravens’ mold as a physical, downhill player who rarely misses tackles in the open field. He finished the 2024 season as the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leader in solo tackles (66) and led the Cavaliers with 8 1/2 tackles for loss.

Others to watch:Lathan Ransom, Ohio State; Andrew Mukuba, Texas; Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma

Inside linebacker

Day 2: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA

Ravens 2023 third-round pick Trenton Simpson was benched midseason in favor of Malik Harrison and Chris Board, who are both entering free agency. If the Ravens want to upgrade, Schwesinger would be a good fit. The 6-2, 225-pound Bruins star is a former zero-star recruit who walked on at UCLA and became the anchor of the defense, ranking third nationally with 136 tackles this past season. His ability to rush the passer, run sideline-to-sideline and drop into coverage would be a welcome addition.

Sleeper: Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina

The 6-2, 245-pound Knight is PFF’s highest-ranked linebacker prospect and could rise up boards with a strong showing this week. The Charlotte transfer became a fan favorite with the Gamecocks not only for his stellar play but his commitment to his two children and his refusal to give up the game ball after a rivalry win over Clemson.

Others to watch: Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon; Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.