Here’s a quick post day one draft commentary.
The Cornerback Versus Wide Receiver Debate, Continued
After they were unable/unwilling to acquire DeAndre Hopkins, the Ravens drafted Zay Flowers, the best wide receiver in the draft in my view. I believe the Ravens were working the phones while we waited for the selection (near the end of the allotted ten minutes), but presumably didn’t get what they wanted.
I had made the case that cornerback was a bigger need than wide receiver. My view is unchanged. But in fairness I can’t ignore the following in the analysis. This is a weak wide receiver class. Given that the Ravens next pick isn’t until selection 86, the odds of them finding a potential 2023 starting wide receiver at that point were quite low. The odds were high that none of those prospects would be available. And of the remaining veteran free agent wide receivers on the market, none of them would make much of an impact.
On the other hand, two starting caliber free agent veteran cornerbacks remain on the market. Marcus Peters and Rock Ya-Sin. With Lamar Jackson signed, the Ravens have the cap space to acquire Peters and/or Ya-Sin. Thus, bypassing a starting corner in round one would not eliminate the Ravens’ options at acquiring another starting corner for 2023.
On the other hand, bypassing the wide receiver in round one would have eliminated their chance of acquiring another starting wide receiver. In the end, that could easily have been the analysis. But Deonte Banks – to me – was too good to pass up. Which explains which the Giants with Wink Martindale’s press-covering style of defense traded up to get Banks. Smart move by them.
Post Day One: Who to Draft in Round 3?
I’d be very surprised if any of my round two players from the Big Board were still available at pick 86. If cornerback is still a Ravens focus – and it should be – there is no way D.J. Turner or Darius Rush (round two players) will be available. From my round three group, I rate Ringo slightly above Brents, who is slightly above Stevenson as I reflect on it.
As to the balance of the round two list, I’d take any of them with pick 86 (other than Tank Dell, given the Flowers selection), in the priorities as listed.
The remaining wide receiver prospects should be eliminated from consideration by the Ravens. Turning back to my round three players other than the corners, Chandler Zavala and Marte Mapu are my favorites, but I’d also be happy if the Ravens focus on the defensive line (Grevon Dexter Sr. or Siaki Ika) or at edge (Byron Young and Tuli Tuipulotu).
Last Word on DeAndre Hopkins
Rumors swirled last night that the Ravens were about to acquire Hopkins by swapping pick 22 for pick 34. I’m glad that trade didn’t go through. It was way too much to give up to acquire the 31 year-old Hopkins. Now that the Ravens drafted Flowers, they are out of the Hopkins sweepstakes. They sit with money to spend elsewhere. Had they swapped to pick 34, the corner they would have then needed – Deonte Banks – was long gone.
Miscellaneous
- Will Levis – No surprise here that Levis slid out of the round. He’s just not an elite prospect; and certainly not one I’d trust with my franchise.
- C.J. Stroud – I have my doubts about him, which increased when I heard about his ridiculously low score of 18 on the S2 Cognition test (replaced the Wonderlic). This is consistent with my biggest concern about Stroud, that he’s simply unable to get to his second and third reads on any regular basis. He really struggled get to that third read.
- Emmanuel Forbes – Good luck to the Commanders on getting Slim McSlimmy. Forbes was over-drafted here. I’m surprised he went before Christian Gonzalez.
- Quentin Johnston – So happy the Chargers took him right before the Ravens. He’s just not a first round caliber prospect.
- Another two players I just don’t see as first rounders are Mazi Smith and Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Smith is just a run stuffer and I’m not excited about his rushing potential. Anudike-Uzomah is third round talent.
The Ravens will be really busy post-draft. Expect a huge undrafted free agent signing group
