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2017 NFL mock draft: Mitch Trubisky heads west

By Brad Weiss

Sep 19, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) warms-up before the start of a game against the Utah State Aggies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Washington Huskies defensive back Budda Baker (32) warms-up before the start of a game against the Utah State Aggies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 8, 2016; College Station, TX, USA; Tennessee Volunteers defensive end Derek Barnett (9) in action during the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. The Aggies defeat the Volunteers 45-38 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
16

Derek Barnett

DE, Tennessee

The Baltimore Ravens have made their mark on the NFL by having an incredible defense. In years past, the Ravens have churned out a bunch of future Hall of Fame players like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs. However, only Suggs remains an active player, and his window of being an elite star is closing fast. The Ravens need to bring in some youthful players on the defensive side of the ball, and they should use the NFL Draft to do just that.

Derek Barnett had a standout career as a member of the Tennessee Volunteers, where he set the school’s career sack record. That record was held by none other than Hall of Famer Reggie White, who had an incredible impact on the game of football during his time in the NFL. Barnett may never reach the kind of production White did at the next level, but he certainly has enough physical talent to give it a try.

Barnett is as explosive off the edge as any player in this draft, and the Ravens need someone who can fill that role within their defense. The AFC North is a division that is up for grabs nearly every year, and the Ravens have enough talent right now to make a run at it in 2017. Quarterback Joe Flacco is one of the best signal-callers in the AFC, so if they organization can bolster the team’s defense, they could be right back in the thick of things next season.

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