Perfect Picks 2023: Baltimore Ravens
With the NFL Draft approaching we will be looking at each team and evaluating where they need to improve. In this particular series we will run a seven round mock using the Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator and find the ‘Perfect Picks’ for each franchise.
We will highlight four players that could help each team. This will feature picks 1 and 2, a mid round gem and a late round sleeper.
Round 1 - Bryan Bresee (Defensive Tackle, Clemson)
There can’t have been a player in college football that faced more adversity in 2022 than Bryan Bresee. Touted as one of the elite defensive prospects going into the season, Bresee had to deal with the tragic death of his sister from brain cancer. While that rather puts football in perspective, Bresee returned. and still accounted for 27 pressures, including 3 sacks.
Bresee has the inside/outside versatility suited to the Ravens’ defensive style. Calais Campbell will return to Baltimore for his fourth season, and at the age of 36, you would expect it to be close to his last. Bresee’s versatility would allow him to spell Campbell as well as learn from one of the game’s best at the 3-4 defensive end spots.
Round 3 - Julis Brents (Cornerback, Kansas State)
The Ravens have a decision to make when it comes to veteran cornerback Marcus Peters. At 30 years old, this will likely be Peters’ last decent payday. After a significant knee injury in 2021 and then niggles cropping up again in 2022, it could be time for the Ravens to move on. Jalyn Armour-Davis will likely get the first shot in a new, younger secondary but adding another outside corner is on the table.
Julius Brents has had an impressive pre-draft process so far. At 6’2 he is a long corner who recorded an impressive RAS of 9.82. Add that to a confident display against his peers at the Senior Bowl, and his stock has risen dramatically. The Iowa transfer had his best year to date in 2022 as part of a successful Kansas State team. Brents nabbed four interceptions and three pass breakups. That type of production would be welcome, especially in the third round.
Mid Round Gem - Dontayvion Wicks (Wide Receiver, Virginia)
The wide receiver position continues to be an issue for the Ravens. While they have invested significant draft capital at the spot, it remains undermanned. The free agency pool is pretty barren, and while there are plenty of draft options, few early on fit the mould the Ravens could do with. Rashod Bateman will anchor the group, but they could do with a big-bodied target.
Dontayvion Wicks’ combine performance was underwhelming and a 4.62 40-yard dash time will give some teams pause for thought. That said, Wicks has good tape from his time at Virginia. He was Brennan Armstrong’s main target in 2021, hauling in 1,203 yards, a Cavaliers record. While 2022 saw a drop-off, Wicks has shown himself as a solid route-runner who isn’t a blazer. A reliable outside weapon in the middle rounds would be a nice find for the Ravens.
Late Round Sleeper - (Cam Jones, Linebacker, Indiana)
Having inked linebacker Roquan Smith to a bumper $100 million deal, it’s safe to say the rest of that position group will need to be fleshed out with cheaper guys. Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison are on rookie deals, but it pays to keep the arsenal stocked with solid backups.
Jones was a three-time captain at Indiana and was having an excellent season in 2022 until a foot injury ended it prematurely. He had earned a PFF run defense grade of 89.3 and a low missed tackle percentage of 7.1%. His coverage grades show that he is more proficient coming downhill but should get a shot due to his size, experience and special teams value.
Draft In Full:
Round 1 – Bryan Bresee (Defensive Tackle, Clemson)
Round 3 – Julius Brents (Cornerback, Kansas State)
Round 4 – Dontayvion Wicks (Wide Receiver, Virginia)
Round 5 – Nick Broeker (Offensive Guard, Ole Miss)
Round 6 – Cam Jones (Linebacker, Indiana)
