2019 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens 7-round mock

Round 1 – Pick 22

Jachai Polite, EDGE, Florida

Baltimore is in an interesting draft spot. It is the sweet spot for receivers in this draft but they should not get positional tunnel vision. There are other needs on this team and the depth of the wide receiver class is strong. Baltimore’s patience here could provide them with some home runs. Without a second round pick this year, thanks to the Lamar Jackson trade, the Ravens will need to nail this first round pick.

Jachai Polite of Florida would be that home run pick at 22 in this draft. Polite is not often discussed along the likes of Nick Bosa and Josh Allen but he may deserve to be. What he does, first and foremost, is get after the quarterback. Polite’s lightning quick around the edge and gets into the backfield in a hurry. He uses an excellent long arm move to disrupt tackles that try to get into him and has showed an arsenal of pass rush moves.

There will need to be improvements in the run game from Polite but his play strength is excellent. His biggest strength is just his constant improvement while at Florida. He is a player trending in the right direction.

Baltimore would be wise to go edge rusher early. Their leader in sacks Zadarius Smith is set to be a free agent and priced out of the Raven’s range. Suggs may return at the right price but is closer to 40 than 30 and not a long-term option. Baltimore also has not got much out of 2017 second and third-round picks Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams at the position. Polite allows the Ravens to be patient with those two while still getting production at an extremely important position.