Love them or hate them, NFL mock drafts arrive just the same.
With the first round set to begin Thursday night in Kansas City, analysts and draft experts have released their final predictions for how the first 31 picks will shake out. (Here is The Baltimore Sun’s final mock.)
For the Ravens, their options at No. 22 have emerged into three distinct categories — cornerback, wide receiver and wild card (quarterback, running back, defensive lineman, edge rusher, safety). A review of 41 recent mock drafts has Baltimore taking a cornerback in more than half (22) compared to just seven picks for wide receivers.
Here’s a look at the prospects whom experts and analysts think could land in Baltimore on Thursday night. All picks are No. 22 overall, unless noted otherwise.
Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes
NFL Media’s Peter Schrager: “Forbes doesn’t have an ideal frame at just 166 pounds, but holy cow does this ballhawking cover man have fans around the league’s scouting community.”
NBC Sports’ Peter King: “I’ve thought receiver for the last month, even after Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Ravens. But Forbes is the imperfect candidate in a wholly imperfect draft, and I think he’s going in the first round. There is so much to like with the 6-0 ¾, 168-pound corner, the most productive defensive back in this draft. The only thing not to like is his rail-thin physique. But how about missing one of 37 college games with injury, returning six interceptions for touchdowns (an NCAA record), and having 30 interceptions in his past six seasons (16 in high school, 14 in college)? You want this man on your team. The Ravens would figure out how to maximize his instinctive play.”
Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger (Ravens trade down to No. 29 with New Orleans Saints): “The Ravens let Marcus Peters walk in free agency and have yet to address the position otherwise, so here they land another ballhawk with college interception prowess who can hopefully replicate that at the next level like Peters did for years.”
The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown: “The Ravens almost landed Darius Slay before he returned to the Eagles. Forbes will need to bulk up if he can — scouts would be over the moon if he could get to 180 — but his preternatural instincts has produced historically-good ball production.”
Underdog Fantasy’s Josh Norris: “Corner is a massive need, and like Anton Harrison, I have been consistent in my belief for weeks that Forbes will be a first round pick.”
Establish the Run’s Evan Silva: “I’m entirely unsure of the player’s identity, but I think the Ravens are going DB here.”
Philly Voice’s Jimmy Kempski: “The Ravens have finished in the bottom half of the NFL in INTs in each of the last three seasons, and Forbes is a turnover machine.”
Football Outsiders’ Benjamin Robinson: “When a player this good falls to the Ravens, it’s easy for them to pull the trigger—especially when it’s a player at a position of need like cornerback. This could also be a trade-out spot since the Ravens are lacking in draft capital this year, but the production profile of a player like Forbes might entice the team to run up the card.”
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: “Porter following in his father’s footsteps and landing in Pittsburgh would be a nice story. If he falls to the Steelers’ AFC North rival, that might be even better.”
ESPN’s Todd McShay: “The Odell Beckham Jr. signing lightens the need for a receiver a little bit, but I could also see USC’s Jordan Addison here. Still, opponents completed 66.4% of passes against the Ravens last season, and there is currently a hole at cornerback opposite Marlon Humphrey. Porter is physical in coverage, and he forced incompletions on 37.9% of passes thrown his way last season, best in the nation.”
Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema: “The Ravens have only five picks in the draft, so they are unlikely to stay in this spot and will be eyeing a trade-down. If they do stay, expect them to land on a cornerback. Pick one of Porter or Deonte Banks.”
USA TODAY’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: “Selecting the son of a former Steelers standout might generate some queasiness in Baltimore and Pittsburgh alike, but Ravens coach John Harbaugh had some fun this week when discussing the potential for this pick. What would really make Harbaugh smile, however, would be landing a hyperphysical cornerback like Porter Jr. to fluster AFC North receivers at the line of scrimmage.”
Fox Sports’ Jason McIntyre: “It appears they’re moving on from Marcus Peters and Kyle Fuller, and Porter’s strong bloodlines should make it a seamless transition.”
The Score’s Dan Wilkins: “Signing Odell Beckham Jr. took care of an important need for the Ravens ahead of the draft. Porter Jr., a size-speed corner with press man skills, takes care of another. The Penn State product would round out Baltimore’s secondary as an immediate starter opposite Marlon Humphrey.”
4-for-4′s Scott Smith: “Porter likely ranks much higher on NFL team boards. Rumors suggest that Porter had some issues in medical checks that have him sliding a bit. As usual, talent falls right into Baltimore’s lap.”
Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline: “The Ravens filled their receiver need with Odell Beckham Jr. just a few weeks ago, and now they fill another need with Joey Porter Jr.”
Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah: “Baltimore doesn’t have to travel far to find its next cornerback. The Ravens have always valued the position. Banks’ speed and toughness is a good match for them.”
Fantasy Pros’ Matthew Jones: “Baltimore’s been doing a lot of work on the cornerback class, and should be at liberty to choose one now that they’ve brought Odell Beckham Jr. into the fold.”
NFL Media’s Eric Edholm: “The clarion call to draft another receiver high remains loud, but here the Ravens address a different priority. Pairing the athletic Banks with Marlon Humphrey could really pay off down the line. Banks’ injury history is a bit worrisome, but he has the talent to become a starter-grade corner in the NFL.”
Underdog Fantasy’s Hayden Winks: “Baltimore has 3rd- and 4th-rounders starting next to Marlon Humphrey at corner right now, and it’s a premium position that this organization has valued recently. Banks has the elite athletic traits they are attracted to, too. If not CB, the Ravens are a trade down candidate. Banks’s consensus draft ranking: 25th.”
4-for-4′s John Daigle: “Maryland’s own stays in the area after displaying above-average man-coverage ability in his final year.”
Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez
Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi (Ravens trade up to No. 22 with Seahawks): “Ravens move up to get Gonzalez, who provides immediate help for a pass defense that finished 26th.”
Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers
ESPN’s Matt Miller: “Even after signing Odell Beckham Jr., there is still a need in Baltimore for pass-catchers. Flowers’ stock has been soaring of late, with multiple scouts predicting he would be selected in the top 20 on Thursday night. His burst and ability to line up both in the slot and split out wide have won him many fans in the NFL scouting community despite a 5-9, 183-pound frame. Flowers’ improvement over the past four seasons at BC has been widely praised by evaluators, too. “He went from having bad hands in ‘20 to some of the best hands in football last year,” said one longtime AFC scout.”
Los Angeles Times’ Sam Farmer: “Flowers instantly helps whoever is at quarterback for the Ravens and can learn from Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor.”
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer: “Consider this another olive branch to Lamar Jackson, and an important move to address a long-range need, with Odell Beckham Jr. there on a one-year deal. Flowers is a popular man with teams these days (I could see the Chiefs or Rams moving up to get him), and his jack-of-all-trades ability as a gadget guy, paired with an ability to develop into a Brandin Cooks–type of receiver, makes him a very good value here. It’d be fun to see what new OC Todd Monken could do with him and Jackson together, both in the run game and the pass game.”
Pro Football Focus’ Cris Collinsworth: “I’m not crazy about this wide receiver class, but Flowers gets open and makes plays. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s hamstring issues at Ohio State make me want to take a guy like Flowers over the Buckeyes wideout here. I love how Flowers uses his speed to get away from people on shallow crosses.”
Sharp Football’s Ryan McCrystal: “Baltimore just can’t quite get it right when it comes to drafting and developing receivers around Jackson, but they have to give it another shot even after signing Odell Beckham. Lamar Jackson is rumored to like Zay Flowers, which could make him appealing to the Ravens as another sign of their commitment to Jackson.”
Southern California wide receiver Jordan Addison
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: “Cornerback would have been the preference here, but none of the first-round cornerbacks are left. There were no trade offers to move back, either. Getting one of the draft’s better receivers will suffice for the Ravens, who now have a high-quality group of targets for (presumably) Lamar Jackson to throw to in 2023. A Maryland native, Addison is a good route runner with the speed to get behind a defense. With newcomers Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor and Addison joining returners Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay, GM Eric DeCosta has delivered on his vow to upgrade at receiver. Now about the quarterback situation…”
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: “Smith-Njigba could go earlier than this, but he would really help Baltimore. He could be a star out of the slot. The Ravens added Odell Beckham Jr., but that was just a one-year deal, and he wouldn’t take away reps from Smith-Njigba. This would be a selection to get Lamar Jackson some help.”
Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson
NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein: “Oh yes I did! It just doesn’t feel like the Ravens and Lamar Jackson are going to find a long-term solution here. If that is indeed the case, why not add the talented dual-threat quarterback and allow the leadership of Baltimore’s coaching staff and locker room to help bring him along slowly, giving him the best chance to reach his ceiling?”
NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks: “Adding a developmental dual-threat quarterback with superstar potential gives Baltimore a solid insurance policy behind Lamar Jackson. If the former MVP signs a short-term deal or refuses to return to the team, the Ravens have an explosive option in the bullpen waiting to take over the squad.”
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker
Fox Sports’ Rob Rang: “Projecting a 25-year-old injured quarterback to a team that already has one of the most gifted players at the position in league history makes me more than a little nervous. Of course, Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta is likely even more concerned with the seemingly growing possibility that the Ravens and Lamar Jackson will not be able to come to a long-term agreement. Like Jackson before him, Hooker is entering the NFL with plenty of critics but with the talent and leadership skills to project as a starter for a team willing to build around his unique skill-set.”
Ohio State offensive tackle Dawand Jones
Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner (Ravens trade down to No. 36 with Rams): “This not only gives the Ravens the two largest offensive tackles in the NFL, but they’re also afforded more insurance for Ronnie Stanley’s injury issues of late.”
Texas running back Bijan Robinson
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: “Bijan Robinson is a top-10 talent but we couldn’t find a landing spot for him until the Ravens jumped at the chance to continue to improve the offense in the hopes that Lamar Jackson will make his way back to the building. Robinson is a Day 1 starter and immediately makes this unit more dynamic.”
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs
Fantasy Football Metrics’ Xavier Cromartie: “Todd Monken’s Georgia offense had a great receiving back (Kenny McIntosh). A receiving back helps Lamar.”
Alabama safety-slot cornerback Brian Branch
New York Post’s Steve Serby: “Kyle Hamilton moves over to strong safety to replace Chuck Clark, and executive VP Ozzie Newsome might just whisper in GM Eric DeCosta’s ear that there’s an instinctive slot corner from his old school still on the board.”
Fantasy Pros’ Russell Brown: “We’ve seen the Ravens take players from Alabama in the past and I think they’ll do so here. Brian Branch is a versatile defensive back that can play as a safety in a buzz role but he could also cover the slot. I love the player despite his numbers at the Combine being underwhelming. Regardless, putting him in a secondary with Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey is fun.”
Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy
NFL Media’s Charles Davis: “The Ravens’ signing of Odell Beckham Jr. lessens the need to select a WR here, and they could use help along the DL. They certainly expect this Tiger to “Play like a Raven” right away.”
Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson: “Receivers Zay Flowers and Quentin Johnston are both in the mix here, but in this mock the Ravens can capitalize on a player slipping further than he should. Murphy is an elite athlete with some inside-outside versatility and is an excellent run defender. A hamstring injury delayed his ability to work out, but the 268-pound edge defender ran a 4.51 40-yard dash with a 1.59 10-yard split at a workout in early April.”
Iowa edge rusher Lukas Van Ness
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: “As a big, tough, versatile, and athletic defensive lineman, Van Ness checks a lot of boxes for the Ravens. He can line up at multiple spots on the defensive front and provides a power element to the team’s pass rush.”
Pittsburgh defensive lineman Calijah Kancey
Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder: “Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey isn’t a typical Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman, but he brings a completely different skill set to the lineup. The Ravens typically prefer big, long and physical options along their front. Kancey is undersized (6′1″, 281 lbs, with 30⅝-inch arms) and his game is predicated on speed, quickness and being disruptive. … An interior presence that can consistently collapse the pocket should make Odafe Oweh and Tyus Bowser more effective.”
()
