Posted Feb 10, 2014
Garrett DowningBaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer@Ravens All Garrett Downing ArticlesHere’s a roundup of who the draftniks think the Ravens will take in the first round.
Mock drafts are popping up everywhere as the pre-draft process has intensified in recent weeks.
NFL scouts got a good look at prospects during the annual Senior Bowl last month, and now teams are prepping for the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The common theme in the early round of mock drafts is experts predicting the Ravens to go after a pass catcher, and North Carolina’s Eric Ebron and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans appear to be popular picks.
Here’s a closer look at who the draftniks expect the Ravens to take in the first round:
ESPN, Mel Kiper
Posted Feb. 6
TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina
Junior; 6-foot-4, 231 pounds; 62 catches, 973 yards, 3 touchdowns
“I wouldn't compare Anquan Boldin to Ebron, but I will say this: Quarterbacks love to have guys they can throw to with the confidence that their guy can win a contested catch. You could say Boldin lacked the quickness to get open, but he was a trusted target because of the way he could use his size and strength to win a physical contest to catch a pass. Ebron is the kind of new-breed tight end who can be split out, line up in the slot, or take a hit from a strongside linebacker and get into a route where he becomes a constant matchup threat and a likely winner for contested passes. Joe Flacco
will like having him around.”ESPN, Todd McShay
Posted Feb. 6
TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina
“The Ravens would probably jump on one of the top three WR prospects if one falls to them here at No. 16 (or No. 17, if they lose their coin flip with the Cowboys at the combine), and they could also consider a tackle like Notre Dame's Zack Martin or consider trading back and drafting a tackle a little later. But Ebron would be a good fit, withDennis Pitta
(coming off an injury) and Ed Dickson (who has been disappointing) both set to become free agents, along with veteran Dallas Clark, and he would provide a legit vertical threat down the middle of the field for Joe Flacco. Ebron is the top TE prospect in this class.”Sports Illustrated, Doug Farrar
Posted Feb. 6
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
Redshirt sophomore, 6-5, 225; 69 catches, 1,394 yards, 12 touchdowns
“Baltimore’s offense fell off a cliff in 2013, and while the run game was the major issue, nobody with a brain is ready to give up on Ray Rice
. Instead, the Ravens should be looking at better targets for Joe Flacco, who desperately missed Anquan Boldin last season. Evans has the size at 6-5 and 225 pounds to deal with aggressive defensive backs, but he can also get free in a straight line — something he showed over and over when he was on the receiving end of footballs from Johnny Manziel. Given Flacco’s natural feel for the deep ball, Evans would have Rookie of the Year potential in this offense.”Sports Illustrated, Chris Burke
Posted. Jan. 9
WR Marqise Lee, USC
Junior; 6-0, 195; 57 catches, 791 yards, 4 touchdowns
“The Ravens cannot go through another season with their receiving corps in the shape it was in for 2013. Nabbing a potential game-breaker in the middle of Round 1 would do wonders for Joe Flacco, the run game and the offense as a whole. Lee bounced back from an injury-plagued season to star in USC’s bowl win. He has home-run potential whenever he catches the football, plus advanced capabilities as a route-runner.”
FoxSports.com, Peter Schrager
Posted Jan. 15
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
“The Ravens, as thin as any team outside the Jets at wide receiver, would have this pick's envelope in to Commissioner Goodell before the clock even starts. Some scouts like Evans almost as much as Watkins and every time I watch Texas A&M tape, it's Evans — not Manziel — who pops off the screen. He's 6-foot-5, 225 pounds and can fill the stat sheet.”
CBSSports.com, Rob Rang
Posted Feb. 4
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
“Earning comparisons to Vincent Jackson while dominating the SEC has pushed Evans, a redshirt sophomore, into the conversation as the top receiver in the country. Pairing Evans with speedster Torrey Smith
would give the Ravens the pair of playmaking wideouts to take full advantage of Joe Flacco's big arm.”CBSSports.com, Dan Brugler
Posted Feb. 4
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
“The Ravens have deep threats at receiver with Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones
and Marlon Brown, but could use a larger, more physical talent for Joe Flacco to target. Evans won't run a blazing 40-yard dash but he's fast enough with the aggressive nature to win contested throws and be a threat after the catch.”Sporting News, Eric Galko
Posted Feb. 4
TE Jace Amaro, Texas Tech
“Finding more receiving options for Joe Flacco may be atop the Ravens to-do list this offseason, especially considering their drop in offensive success once Anquan Boldin left. With the receiver class so deep, they’ll likely look there in later rounds. Pairing Amaro with the current tight end Dennis Pitta would give this team a unique two-tight end strength that would be extremely tough to defend for their AFC North foes.”
WalterFootball.com
Posted Feb. 5
ILB C.J. Mosley, Alabama
Senior; 6-2, 232 pounds; 108 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 5 passes defensed
“The Ravens had their eye on Dont'a Hightower as a possible replacement for Ray Lewis a couple of years ago. Perhaps they'll finally land an inside linebacker from Alabama. Baltimore took Arthur Brown
in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, but this position could still be addressed because Daryl Smith happens to be a free agent.”NFL.com, Bucky Brooks
Posted Jan. 14
WR Sammy Watkins
Junior; 6-1, 205 pounds; 101 receptions, 1,464 yards, 12 touchdowns
“A big-bodied receiver could be in play, and it would be hard for General Manager Ozzie Newsome to bypass the top receiver in the draft at this point.”
NFL.com, Daniel Jeremiah
Posted Jan. 15
WR Marqise Lee, USC
