Grading draft classes immediately after the draft is a pointless exercise. Instead, let’s look at who the Ravens selected by considering the following question. Were alternative players available at any selection who were better players and/or better fits for the 2024 Ravens? I offer some draft reflections, and a bit more.
For the Ravens, the first round went just about as expected. Each of the first round caliber offensive tackles were off the board by pick 30. Nate Wiggins, given that he upped his weight by almost ten pounds, was the correct choice. And a good one at that. The Ravens rightly have every expectation of Wiggins becoming a top corner. He’s an exciting addition and should help the Ravens immediately.
Draft Reflections: Round Two – Offensive Tackle
The claimed depth of the much-vaunted offensive tackle class was overstated. As noted, the Ravens simply had to select Wiggins. He was the only first-round caliber talent left on the board at pick 30. But after going cornerback in round one, filling the right tackle spot in round two became an imperative. The Ravens had no choice; right tackle was a giant hole.
Granted, I had Kiran Amegadjie rated higher than Roger Rosengarten, because I believe Amegadjie has a higher upside. He was the only tackle to whom I gave a (somewhat half-hearted) round two grade. Frankly, I was surprised that three more tackles were selected before he went.
Rosengarten has his plusses and minuses, as I wrote here. Whether he was round two worthy is problematic, because the Ravens had a glaring need. His selection is a good example of drafting for need (even though the Ravens – haha – never do that). But other than Amegadjie, Rosengarten was the best remaining tackle available at pick 30 in the second round.
I don’t have a horrible dispute with the Ravens on the Rosengarten pick. I just liked the other player better. Both players have work to do to become proficient and more in the NFL. Without drafting a right tackle in round two, by the end of round three no starter-caliber right tackle remained.
Bypassing a Better Guard
The Ravens obviously saw right tackle as a bigger need than guard. They didn’t select any guard in the draft. By selecting Rosengarten at pick 30 in round two, however, they passed on Cooper Beebe, a guard who’s a better player (in my view). It’s understandable, inasmuch as I just can’t see Daniel Faalele as a full time starter at right tackle. But Beebe, who went ninth in the third round, is a really good player who, I believe, has a very high ceiling.
Could the Ravens have moved up 21 picks in the third round via trade to get Beebe? Would they be better off with Beebe starting at one guard and Andrew Vorhees at the other, and no Adisa Isaac on the team? We know what their answer is. But were they right? Seemingly, the Ravens were more concerned about their in-house solutions at edge linebacker, than their in-house solutions at guard.
But bypassing a chance to get Beebe and taking Isaac instead screams “need” over player. The likely cost to move up to get Beebe was the fourth round pick of Devontez Walker. Effectively, the trade would have been Walker and Isaac for Beebe.
Draft Reflections Round Three – Adisa Isaac
I can’t quibble with where the Ravens selected Isaac. I rated him a third round talent, after all. His plusses and minuses are laid out here. As readers know, I’m a believer in Odafe Oweh, for reasons I described here. Nevertheless, the Ravens had a glaring need at the second edge spot. Was Isaac the best edge linebacker on the board at pick 93? Yes. His selection, given the need, was obvious.
This is where Chuck Smith’s coaching could really improve the Ravens selection. Isaac has talent. He needs better hand usage, power, and some counter moves. Smith can make a real difference here if Isaac is willing.
Rounds Four and Five: Devontez Walker and Rasheen Ali
This is where I have a real difference with the Ravens. First, Devontez Walker. What did they get with Walker? A man who is very fast vertically and has some height. His hands are poor. His route running needs a lot of work. He’s physically weak. Take a look back at his write-up. I obviously don’t like the player. And still don’t.
No doubt the Ravens needed to select at least one wide receiver in this draft. There were 11 receivers selected after round one and before Walker. Given this run on receivers, could the Ravens have “forced” themselves into the Walker selection? In certain respects, I think so. Was there a better receiver on the board selected after Walker? In my view, yes, albeit we are talking slot receivers at that point. Which is fine with me because Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers are solid on the outside. Personally, I liked Jha’Quan Jackson, Jacob Cowing, and Malik Washington (all slot guys) better than Walker.
What’s even more bothersome to me is who the Ravens passed on when they selected Walker with pick 13 in the fourth round. This ties into their running back pick in the fifth round. Rasheen Ali is a good talent. He’s had some significant injuries, and his skillset meshes nicely with where the Ravens are likely going with their run game – more zone schemes. Ali has the chance to be a solid contributor.
But Ali is nowhere near the talent of Jaylen Wright, my favorite running back prospect (other than Jonathan Brooks and, yes, in front of Blake Corum). He’s extremely fast and has the whole package. Wright was drafted with pick 20 in the fourth round by the Dolphins. After the Ravens selected Devontez Walker. I think this was a big miss by the Ravens. I much prefer having Wright and any of the three slot receivers above, then Walker and Ali. Wright is a top, and possibly elite, talent. Neither Walker nor Ali figure to be (though we are all rooting for them!).
Draft Reflections Round Four – T.J. Tampa
The Ravens were right drafting two corners. They need cornerback help. The real issue with selecting Tampa at pick 30 in the fourth round was whether he was the best remaining cornerback at that point. Tampa is definitely slower than what you’d like to see in an outside corner. He certainly has his weaknesses (look here). He’s well suited for zone schemes. Like most corners picked at the bottom of the fourth round or lower, there are aspects to his game that demand improvement.
Nehemiah Pritchett went several picks below Tampa. He’s much faster than Tampa. He’s a more skilled man-defender. Pritchett is weak in run support. He’s a reasonable alternative to Tampa, but not definitively a better prospect. Jarvis Brownlee was also still on the board, and he was also a reasonable alternative to Tampa.
But in all, it’s hard to argue that either Pritchett or Brownlee were definitively better players than Tampa.
Draft Reflections – The Rest
Short and sweet here. I think Leary is a comparatively inaccurate, turnover-prone passer who likely would not have been drafted at all. Samac looks like he’s a practice squad candidate. By the math, there’s no roster spot available for him (assuming he can earn one), absent injury. Candidly, I’m not familiar with Sanoussi Kane. The only player drafted below Leary that might have intrigued me was safety Daijahn Anthony.
I’d be surprised if any of these late picks were able to make the roster.
. . . and More – Undrafted Signees
These signees included a couple who are intriguing, with a shot to make the roster. This includes two wide receivers. First is Tayvion Robinson, a very quick, explosive slot receiver. Second is Dayton Wade, another slot candidate who is very short and small, but quick and fast.
Next is an edge linebacker prospect, Joe Evans. Though Evans is only 6’1 (very short for an edge defender) he displayed the fastest shuttle and 3-cone for an edge prospect at the Combine. The athleticism is there, and Evans had some college success as a pass rusher. Another Chuck Smith project to work on.
Strong practice squad candidates in the crop include the following three players. Running back Chris Collier, who ran a fast 4.48 forty at his pro day and was very productive, albeit at a small school. Tight end Mike Rigerman, who more likely will compete at the fullback position. And defensive back Jordan Toles.
Post-Draft Roster Concerns
Let’s take a brief look at the roster’s current status.
Wide Receiver
The fifth wide receiver slot (not to mention a possible sixth) seems open to me. Neither Deonte Harty nor Tylan Wallace have offered much beyond special teams in their careers. Harty will make the team as a kick returner, at the least. Now that Michael Gallup has signed elsewhere, there’s not a lot to like about the currently available veteran free agents. I’m not paying for Odell Beckham Jr. or Tyler Boyd. This is why one of the undrafted free agents have a shot.
Guard
Guard remains a concern. As we sit here today Ben Cleveland and Andrew Vorhees have to be seen as the leaders in the first stretch. Cleveland has been adequate in his infrequent appearances. Vorhees is completely untested but a good prospect. There’s clear room for an upgrade. But there’s also not much available in the free agent market at this time.
Inside Linebacker
The first three are set (Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, and Chris Board). With Josh Ross penciled in as the fourth, there’s room for an upgrade.
Safety
Though I generally like Ar’Darius Washington, he’s not the third safety that I’d count on in the back end. This is where the Ravens could look for veteran help. According to cap guru Brian McFarland, considering pending moves and projected future expenses, the Ravens have a negative $7.4 million of cap space. They could create $11.1 million by restructuring Lamar’s contract, $7.1 million by restructuring Marcus Williams, $7.0 million with Marlon Humphrey, and an aggregate of $8.2 million more via Roquan Smith, Mark Andrews, and Justin Tucker. I’m assuming they restructure Lamar and Williams, leaving them with roughly $11 million of space, if they choose.
This is enough to pursue a veteran free agent safety. The only one who appeals to me is Justin Simmons. Who knows whether Simmons would be attracted to the role available to him in Baltimore. There are probably more appealing places from a playing time perspective.
Simmons would likely cost real money in 2024. If appropriate, Marcus Williams is cap-releasable in 2025 (significant cap savings potential). Knowing this, the Ravens could opt to sign Simmons to a longer term contract, if they are interested. I’m not voicing an opinion here. Just pointing it out, depending on how the Ravens view Simmons.
Then there’s Quandre Diggs, who will be cheaper to sign than Simmons, but who had an off year in 2023. The Ravens should consider both Simmons and Diggs.
At this point I no longer see the Ravens chasing one of the veteran cornerbacks on the market. But, I remain intrigued by Steven Nelson or, possibly, Xavien Howard (depending on his health). In all, I’m guessing that there’s a move coming in the defensive backfield.
