Mock draft time
So I got a bit bored assembling my big board (that post is still to come) but I realised I've not put my thoughts down anywhere so I decided to get fairly creative...
I think it's important to note I had no idea what the Ravens pick was going to be or what they would do with the pick - all I knew going in was that I was not going to leave those top 15 picks stay where they were - I'd rather be completely wrong than just mostly wrong if it brings up something interesting...
Round 1
1: Browns: SAM DARNOLD QB
16: Ravens: CALVIN RIDLEY WR
17: Chargers: DA'RON PAYNE DL
Round 2
Some interesting players make it to the 2nd round and one guy gets a bit forgotten and falls to the Ravens...
52: Ravens: BILLY PRICE OG/C
Round 3
The Ravens nab their own flashy name and a guy who supposedly thinks of the Ravens as his hometown team...
83: Ravens: IAN THOMAS TE
Round 4
118: Ravens: HOLTON HILL CB
Round 5
154: Ravens: DURHAM SMYTHE TE
So I got a bit bored assembling my big board (that post is still to come) but I realised I've not put my thoughts down anywhere so I decided to get fairly creative...
I think it's important to note I had no idea what the Ravens pick was going to be or what they would do with the pick - all I knew going in was that I was not going to leave those top 15 picks stay where they were - I'd rather be completely wrong than just mostly wrong if it brings up something interesting...
Round 1
1: Browns: SAM DARNOLD QB
The Browns take the consensus number 1 qb even though I disagree but the media lovefest about him throwing in the rain just cements his status as the number 1 overall pick
2: Bills (via Giants): JOSH ROSEN QBThe Bills realise they have to get into the top 4 picks or one of the top 4 qbs will be gone - the giants make the mistake of not taking a qb this year and take the 2 first rounders this year (and maybe the bills first next year too)
3: Jets (via Colts): JOSH ALLEN QBThe Jets have the ability to take Allen for his traits and not worry about his problems - a year sat behind teddy bridgewater who's looking to save his career and josh mccown who is an extra qb coach and the jets will hope he is the clear starter to enter the 2019 season
4: Broncos (via Browns): BAKER MAYFIELD QBThe Broncos are terrified that the Cardinals or Dolphins are going to jump up ahead of them to take the last qb they deem draftable - Elway overpays a bit and the Browns are happy to only move back one spot and still get the same guy - initially I thought this would be the Cardinals jumping up here but then I thought Elway might be more desperate...
5: Browns (via Broncos): SAQUON BARKLEY RBThe Browns take a guy who on some boards has a perfect grading and the best player on most draft boards
6: Colts (via Jets): BRADLEY CHUBB EDGEThe Colts consider potentially trading further back but ultimately take the other guy people refer to most often as a top 3 pick (and probably would have ended up being their pick at number 3 if they'd stayed there
7: Bucs: MINKAH FITZPATRICK DBThe Bucs are spoilt for choice but ultimately take the guy who helps them move Vernon Hargreaves to the inside full time
8: Cardinals (via Bears): LAMAR JACKSON QBSurprise! 4 qbs in the top 4 and now a 5th in the top 10... The cardinals know they need to find a guy and Jackson is rated high enough on their board that they go up and get him a la Deshaun Watson who they were apparently very interested in last year
9: 49ers: TREMAINE EDMUNDS LBThe 49ers take the highest guy on their board and a nice complement to Reuben Foster (if he returns)
10: Raiders: ROQUAN SMITH LBThe Raiders have a need and old-fashioned sensibilities at coach now so they get the hard-nosed inside linebacker who they needed anyway
11: Dolphins: VITA VEA DLThe Dolphins try to make up from looking silly all offseason with some of their personnel moves and from being jumped on every single viable potential qb so they take the guy they hope replaces Ndamukong Suh for a tenth of the cap space
12: Giants (via Bills via Bengals): QUENTON NELSON OGA team finally takes the best player on my board and despite being a guard Nelson is the first olineman off the board - and way too late
13: Washington: DERWIN JAMES SWashington can't believe its luck - maybe the premier db in the draft on many boards falls to them and a new locker room leader in this era of roster identity change in their building
14: Packers: DENZEL WARD CBThe Packers upgrade on Demarius Randall and fill a huge franchise need
15: Bears (via Cardinals): MIKE MCGLINCHEY OTThe Bears hired the Notre Dame Oline coach and they were always going to give him one of his guys - it was only a question of which one - Nelson goes to the Giants so Mcglinchey is going to Chicago to protect Trubisky
16: Ravens: CALVIN RIDLEY WR
The Ravens are dumbfounded, they have multiple guys they liked at this spot and were soliciting offers to jump ahead of the Chargers but Ridley fell to 16 and nothing makes more sense than Ozzie ending his Ravens tenure by taking a Bama WR (his most positive and negative draft habits in one pick)
17: Chargers: DA'RON PAYNE DL
The Chargers take the top rated DL on their board
18: Seahawks: CONNOR WILLIAMS OTThe Seahawks breathe a sigh of relief that Germain Ifedi doesn't have to play right tackle and can move inside - and suddenly their whole Oline looks much sturdier and the Seahawks protect Russel Wilson for the first time in his career
19: Cowboys: COURTLAND SUTTON WRThe Cowboys (rightfully) fear the Ravens taking Ridley but can't work out a trade to 13/14/15 and so end up taking a big bodied WR they feel can add the athleticism to make up for Prescott's crushing inaccuracy at qb and ultimately give them more leverage with Dez Bryant
20: Lions: JOSHUA JACKSON CBThe Lions give rookie head coach Matt Patricia a nice outside corner to help build that defence up
21: Bengals (via Bills): ISAIAH WYNN OGThe Bengals finally invest some draft capital in their Oline
22: Giants (via Bills): MASON RUDOLPH QBAnd now the draft gets really crazy because the Giants realise they might need to take their last high rated qb before the saints or the jags (or if the dolphins wake up) and think they can get an EDGE guy later on
23: Rams: RASHAAN EVANS LBWade Phillips chuckles menacingly to himself as Les Snead gives him another weapon to attack other teams with on defence
24: Panthers: CHRISTIAN KIRK WRThe Panthers continue changing the way their offence looks by adding a high octane shifty weapon and eschewing a big-body type
25: Titans: HAROLD LANDRY EDGEThe Titans feel comfortable without interior OL help and don't need a 3 down OLB with Derrick Morgan and Brian Orakpo in house but want to add a speed threat to their pass rush immediately
26: Falcons: MAURICE HURST DLThe Falcons revamp their DL and take maybe the best pass rushing DL in the draft now that the NFL is comfortable with the heart scare from the combine
27: Saints: DALLAS GOEDERT TEThe Saints couldn't get the TE they want in free agency so they take the best one available with their first round draft pick and put him in an offence where he wont need to be featured and likely won't see much attention from defences
28: Steelers: JAIRE ALEXANDER CBThe Steelers could go linebacker but they ultimately like the feistiness of this DB more who can play nickel as well as outside
29: Jags: WILL HERNANDEZ OGOutside of QB this Jags team is absolutely stacked at most positions but they take a mauler on the inside to help open some holes for Fournette and take more pressure away from Bortles
30: Vikings: DJ MOORE WRAnd Baltimore hearts break but it makes so much sense for the Vikings to go and pick up another Maryland guy but with even more upside than even Diggs to give Cousins more weapons and put him in prime position
31: Patriots: KOLTON MILLER OTThe Pats have to reach (in conventional terms) for a replacement for Nate Solder as every other position on their line is solid - and who knows how the Pats grade players because the media sure as hell dont
32: Eagles: DERRIUS GUICE RBThe Eagles take a high value player at a position of need and get a 3 down back to give Wentz yet another outlet in his comeback - the eagles despite ending the year in cap hell have somehow managed to seriously improve their roster significantly from their superbowl victory
Round 2
Some interesting players make it to the 2nd round and one guy gets a bit forgotten and falls to the Ravens...
52: Ravens: BILLY PRICE OG/C
His injury at the combine and the large amount of Oline talent in and around this range causes Price to fall and the Ravens take their time but ultimately the talent and positional fit make the opportunity cost of not taking him at pick 52 too large and they hand his name to the commish - assuming the Ravens checked his medicals and were confident the issue really was minor, Price is expected back by training camp and the Ravens nab a steal that seriously beefs up their interior
Round 3
The Ravens nab their own flashy name and a guy who supposedly thinks of the Ravens as his hometown team...
83: Ravens: IAN THOMAS TE
This might be a bit of a stretch that he's available but I could see the Ravens maybe manoeuvring around the 3rd round if he's still hanging around or hoping that he falls into their laps like Timmy Williams did - he's a high ceiling move tight end with potential as an in-line tight end too who's raw all around (i'd say of everyone in this mock that Thomas lasting this far into round 3 seems most far-fetched to me personally but it felt right picking him here)
Round 4
118: Ravens: HOLTON HILL CB
Not a position of need but a guy with day 2 talent but who's been consistently inconsistent throughout college - he's a young outside corner with length but maturity issues and inconsistency get him falling into day 3 and the Ravens decide to take a chance on a guy with immense potential but is an incredibly boom/bust prospect
Round 5
154: Ravens: DURHAM SMYTHE TE
The Ravens double down at tight end with a safer but less spectacular prospect in Smythe who has great catch potential and a strong basis for NFL blocking albeit will never be a dynamic downfield threat - partly a future replacement to boyle and/or maxx and partly a complement to Thomas
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