2018 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens 7-round mock
By Conor Dorney
The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion in 2017 but will look to revamp their roster and add more weapons for Joe Flacco in the 2018 NFL Draft.
No team in the NFL experienced quite the level of heartbreak in Week 17 like the Baltimore Ravens. Simply needing a win to make the playoffs, the last-second heroics of Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton instead sent the Ravens packing and the Buffalo Bills on to their first playoff appearance since 1999.
Now, Baltimore will enter the draft looking to upgrade an offense that ranked 27th in the league in total yards. Owner Steve Bisciotti has made it clear that adding weapons for Joe Flacco, both through the draft and free agency, is a top priority. This will also serve as the last season for general manager Ozzie Newsome, with current assistant GM Eric DeCosta ready to take the reigns in 2019. Thankfully for Baltimore, this draft class possesses a wealth of talent on the offensive side of the ball, and here is just how the Ravens may address their needs in the 2018 NFL Draft.
1st round
Joe Flacco, coming off a down season and injury problems in recent years, isn’t getting any younger. That’s why I think it’s a very real possibility that the Ravens wind up selecting a quarterback early in the 2018 Draft. In this scenario, they land one of the draft’s most volatile quarterback prospects in Wyoming gunslinger Josh Allen.
There’s no doubting Allen’s arm talent or athletic ability, but he’s more than likely a project rather than a plug-and-play starter. Landing with a team like Baltimore, who is in no rush to get rid of Joe Flacco, would give Allen a good chance to develop before being thrown into the fire of a starting role.
Allen improved his stock with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, but there are still a good deal of people around the league who don’t believe he belongs in the range of a top ten selection like many are projecting him to be. I’ve mentioned before how Allen is the “Jekyll and Hyde of 2018 quarterback prospects” but his raw talent will still be too much for a team to pass on early in the first round.
The Ravens have done their homework on this class of quarterbacks, particularly Allen, so don’t be surprised if they pounce on him if he falls to this range. Other possibilities at this spot could include LSU running back Derrius Guice and Oregon offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby.