Dueling Ravens mock drafts: Two views on how to rebuild a Super Bowl contender

The NFL draft kicks off Thursday in Detroit. After a dearth of picks in last year’s draft, the Ravens have a healthy nine selections this year, beginning with No. 30 overall.

Given more than a dozen departures from last year’s team and the financial breakdown of the current roster, this will be an important draft for Baltimore if it’s going to match or surpass the success of last season when it reached the AFC championship game.

How could it unfold? While Ravens officials always have contingency plans, there’s no way to take into account every option. Still, their needs — offensive line, receiver, cornerback and edge rusher being the most obvious — have been well-documented.

Using Pro Football Focus’ simulator and taking into consideration Baltimore’s needs along with other scouting and draft projection information, Baltimore Sun reporter Brian Wacker and editor C.J. Doon played the role of general manager and picked their own rookie class. Here’s whom they took.

Brian Wacker’s picks

No. 30 (Round 1): Oklahoma OT Tyler Guyton

It would not be a surprise to see the Ravens trade out of this spot, either back into Round 2 or possibly up with the thought that the overall draft class is not as deep as they like. It is, however, a deep tackle class and staying put will give the Ravens someone they can plug in as a starter on the right side of the line this season and eventually move to the left side. If the 6-foot-8, 322-pound Guyton is still available here, they get a large and athletic player who immediately checks that box. He didn’t allow a sack in more than 350 pass-blocking snaps at right tackle last season for the Sooners and would give quarterback Lamar Jackson the protection he needs for years to come.

Also considered: Arizona OT/G Jordan Morgan, Florida State WR Keon Coleman, Clemson CB Nate Wiggins

No. 62 (Round 2): South Carolina WR Xavier Legette

Baltimore could go in several directions here. If the Ravens take a wide receiver or cornerback in the first round, expect them to go offensive line in the second. If they go offensive line in the first round, it seems like they will go with a cornerback or wide receiver in Round 2.

Though the receiver class is deeper than the cornerback class, Legette (6-1, 221 pounds) is an NFL-sized target who can make contested catches and has tremendous speed, reaching 22.3 mph on one play last season. His route running isn’t as smooth, but his size and ball skills give Jackson a great target opposite Zay Flowers, especially with Rashod Bateman’s future murky if the Ravens decline his fifth-year option.

Also considered: Georgia CB Kamari Lassiter, Kansas State G Cooper Bebe, Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley

No. 93 (Round 3): Oregon CB Khyree Jackson

As mentioned, I could certainly see the Ravens taking a cornerback before a wide receiver. But Jackson’s size (6-3, 195 pounds) and physical nature make him an intriguing option, and here he falls into their lap in Round 3.

The Ravens are in good shape with Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens on the outside, but they’ve made it clear they never have enough corners and Stephens will be a free agent after this season. Jackson is a reliable tackler who graded well against the run and is a Maryland native, having starred at Henry A. Wise High School in Upper Marlboro.

Also considered: Washington WR Jalen McMillan, Boston College G Christian Mahogany, Illinois OT/G Isaiah Adams

No. 113 (Round 4): Miami S Kamren Kinchens

Kinchens had a less-than-stellar scouting combine, turning in a 40-yard dash time of 4.65 seconds, which has caused him to possibly slide on some boards. But he brings athleticism, experience and good ball skills. He played in a dozen games as a freshman before taking over as the full-time starter in 2022 and 2023 and had 12 career interceptions, five of which came last season. With Geno Stone having bolted for the Bengals in free agency, Kinchens gives the Ravens a solid third safety option.

Also considered: Washington State EDGE Brennan Jackson, Wake Forest S Malik Mustapha, Georgia S Tykee Smith

No. 130 (Round 4): Washington State EDGE Brennan Jackson

With Baltimore having lost outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney in free agency and questions surrounding young pass rushers Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo and others, Jackson is the kind of player who fits the Ravens mold.

The 6-4, 264-pound sixth-year senior lacks refined pass-rush moves but plays fast and with high energy. He was always around the football for the Cougars and unsurprisingly led the team with 12 1/2 tackles for loss and 8 1/2 sacks last season while also forcing a fumble and recovering four. He consistently got to the quarterback with 26, 31 and 23 hurries over the past three seasons.

Also considered: Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara, Notre Dame RB Audric Estimé, Temple LB Jordan Magee

No. 165 (Round 5): Temple LB Jordan Magee

With Trenton Simpson stepping in to take over for the departed Patrick Queen, the Ravens could use some depth behind last year’s third-round pick.

Magee, who is from Dover, Delaware, led the Owls with 80 tackles, including 14 for loss, tied for the team lead with 3 1/2 sacks, recorded four pass breakups and forced a fumble. He’s also fast, with his 4.55-second 40-yard dash time ranking fifth among linebackers at the scouting combine.

Also considered: Clemson RB Will Shipley, Monmouth RB Jaden Shirden, Notre Dame LB Marist Liufau

No. 218 (Round 6): Marshall RB Rasheen Ali

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said during the team’s predraft news conference earlier this month that there’s a “pretty strong chance” that Baltimore would draft a running back. With Derrick Henry and Justice Hill their only healthy backs on the roster as Keaton Mitchell continues to recover from a torn ACL suffered in mid-December, there’s also a need.

Ali had a predraft visit with the Ravens and there’s a lot to like about the elusive 5-11, 206-pound back, who had 1,135 yards and 15 touchdowns on 212 carries last season. He also had 28 catches for 213 yards and another score. In other words, in some ways, he’s this year’s version of Mitchell until Mitchell is healthy enough to return.

Also considered: Michigan TE AJ Barner, Illinois TE Tip Reiman, Colorado State TE Dallin Hooker

No. 228 (Round 7): Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd

DeCosta enjoys finding talent at small schools and Boyd also met with the Ravens on a predraft visit. The 6-4, 317-pound 24-year-old is a project to be sure, but if he sticks he would add depth behind Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington and Travis Jones.

Boyd’s stock has also been rising since the Shrine Bowl, and his 38 reps on bench press during his pro day would’ve ranked second at the scouting combine.

Also considered: Mississippi DT Jaden Crumedy, Air Force S Trey Taylor, Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden

No. 250 (Round 7): Canadian Football League CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers

Sticking with the mantra that the Ravens can never have enough cornerbacks, they snag perhaps the most intriguing prospect of the draft. Stiggers essentially went from high school to semipro football to the CFL, overcoming tragedy along the way when his father was killed in a car accident.

The 5-11, 204-pound corner was the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie last year with the Toronto Argonauts after 53 tackles and five interceptions and ran a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash during his pro day last month. He also recently visited with the Ravens.

Also considered: Maryland OT Delmar Glaze, Florida Atlantic DT Evan Anderson, Iowa DT Logan Lee

C.J. Doon’s picks

No. 30 (Round 1): Arizona OT/G Jordan Morgan

The Ravens have no shortage of options in the first round, but I keep coming back to the offensive line. Sure, it’s a deep class at the position, but how long are you willing to wait to find a potential starter?

The 6-5, 311-pound Morgan checks all the boxes for me. He’s experienced (37 career starts at left tackle), athletic (seventh in athleticism score among tackles at the scouting combine) and resilient, playing through a high-ankle sprain in 2021 and coming back from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2022 season. Arizona offensive coordinator Brennan Carroll called him a “fantastic role model.”

His NFL future might be at guard — a position the Ravens also need to fill — but I’m willing to bet on the 22-year-old’s athletic traits and intangibles to develop into a starting-caliber tackle.

Also considered: Florida State WR Keon Coleman, Alabama CB Kool-Aid McKinstry, Oregon C/G Jackson Powers-Johnson

No. 62 (Round 2): Kentucky CB Andru Phillips

The run on receivers and cornerbacks in the second round took some of my favorite prospects off the board, but I’m not going to call Phillips a consolation prize.

What the 5-11, 190-pound corner lacks in size and speed (4.48-second 40-yard dash) he more than makes up for with physicality and toughness. And he’s far from a middling athlete, posting a 42-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot, 3-inch broad jump that both rank in the 97th percentile at the position in the MockDraftable database.

With two years of starting experience playing both inside and outside, the strength and mentality to defend the run and the tools to grow into a lockdown press defender, the 22-year-old Phillips brings an intriguing package to a cornerback room that needs to bolster its depth behind Humphrey and Stephens.

Also considered: Alabama EDGE Chris Braswell, Connecticut G Christian Haynes, Central Florida WR Javon Baker

No. 93 (Round 3): Southern California WR Brenden Rice

Yes, he’s from that Rice family. Brenden is the youngest son of Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice, but those bloodlines are not the only reason to be excited about his potential.

The 6-2, 208-pound Colorado transfer was a two-year starter at outside receiver for the Trojans and became one of star quarterback Caleb Williams’ favorite targets, catching a team-leading 12 touchdown passes this past season.

While Rice isn’t an outstanding separator downfield, his size, feel for the game, long arms (33 inches, 79th percentile among wideouts per MockDraftable) and strong hands offer starting potential for a team that needs a true outside receiver — especially if Bateman doesn’t return next year.

Also considered: Washington EDGE Bralen Trice, Kansas State G Cooper Beebe, Texas Tech S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson

No. 113 (Round 4): Notre Dame RB Audric Estimé

The fourth round feels like the sweet spot for the Ravens to find their running back of the future.

With Henry, Hill and Mitchell leading the way, there isn’t a clear path for a rookie to get many touches this year or next. But Estimé has a tantalizing package of size, athleticism and experience that could push him onto the field.

At 5-11 and 221 pounds (and only 20 years old), Estimé might be the hammer the Ravens need to keep Henry fresh and wear down opposing defenses late in the game. He averaged an incredible 6.39 yards on 210 carries last season, using his imposing physique (reportedly 7% body fat), agility and balance to churn through defenders. A whopping 892 of his 1,341 yards came after contact, according to PFF, and he forced 64 missed tackles.

While his lack of long speed (4.71-second 40-yard dash) might limit him to being a short-yardage grinder like Gus Edwards, that’s still a valuable role for an offense that runs the ball as much as the Ravens do.

Also considered: Texas DT T’Vondre Sweat, Penn State C/G Hunter Nourzad, Pittsburgh OT Matt Goncalves

No. 130 (Round 4): Wake Forest S Malik Mustapha

After saying goodbye to breakout star Stone, the Ravens are left with no depth behind starting safeties Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams. And given how important Stone was when Williams was injured last season, finding a third safety is a must.

While undersized at 5-10 and 209 pounds, Mustapha is well-built, reportedly adding 25 pounds of muscle during his time in college. What sets him apart is his ability to fly downhill in run support and cover ground quickly. The Richmond transfer models his game after Arizona Cardinals star Budda Baker and lined up all over the field, including in a hybrid “Panther” position on third downs that ranged from covering the slot to blitzing off the edge.

Mustapha might be best served taking on a special teams role as a rookie, but he has the athleticism, versatility and mentality to grow into a dependable part of the secondary.

Also considered: Temple LB Jordan Magee, LSU DT Mekhi Wingo, Colorado State EDGE Mohamed Kamara

No. 165 (Round 5): Michigan EDGE Braiden McGregor

The Ravens still have high hopes for Oweh and Ojabo, but the return of veteran Kyle Van Noy suggests they’re not satisfied with their group of edge defenders.

The 6-5, 257-pound McGregor’s production and athletic profile are not very inspiring, but there’s a strong case to be made that his best football is ahead of him. The top recruit in Michigan’s 2020 class improved over the past three seasons and saved his best for last, recording 3 1/2 sacks over his final five games.

With just 697 career defensive snaps, the former hockey, basketball and lacrosse player is still raw in terms of technique and might already be maxed out as an athlete, but his first-step quickness and relentless attitude could help him earn playing time. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler said he often wrote “fast” and “violent” in his notes while watching McGregor’s tape, and those traits would be a welcome addition to the Ravens’ group of pass rushers.

Also considered: Michigan G Zak Zinter, Tennessee CB Kamal Hadden, Oregon State WR Anthony Gould

No. 218 (Round 6): Northern Iowa DT Khristian Boyd

The Ravens reportedly brought in Boyd for a top-30 visit, so there’s a chance we might see this match in the real draft.

The 6-2, 329-pound Football Championship Subdivision star stood out during the East-West Shrine Bowl, showing off a strong bull rush that proved difficult for offensive linemen to stop. After posting 10 1/2 sacks and 22 1/2 tackles for loss in six college seasons, the surprising combine snub finished with a school-record 38 bench-press reps at his pro day.

Boyd is already 24 years old and didn’t face top competition during his college career, but he can be a reliable run defender with the potential to grow into a better pass rusher.

Also considered: Mississippi State DT Jaden Crumedy, Utah OT Sataoa Laumea, Tennessee QB Joe Milton III

No. 228 (Round 7): Arizona TE Tanner McLachlan

Another tight end for the Ravens? Hear me out.

Mark Andrews is a star, Isaiah Likely is quickly becoming one and Charlie Kolar has the potential to be a productive player, but none of them are going to earn much praise for their blocking. There’s no guarantee McLachlan will ever become an outstanding blocker, either, but his effort and competitiveness suggest there’s a chance.

The 6-5, 244-pound McLachlan is also no slouch when it comes to catching the ball. The Southern Utah transfer’s 79 career receptions in two seasons at Arizona broke Rob Gronkowski’s school record for a tight end, and he did plenty of damage after the catch, too, including some hurdles.

He’d face a steep climb to not only make the roster but earn playing time behind the Ravens’ top tight ends, but McLachlan could carve out a role for himself because of what NFL.com scout Lance Zierlein described as a “whatever it takes” mentality.

Also considered: NC State C Dylan McMahon, Maryland CB Tarheeb Still, Pittsburgh WR Bub Means

No. 250 (Round 7): Wyoming OT Frank Crum

We’re in dart-throw territory at the end of the draft, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a quality player.

The 6-8, 313-pound Crum, a third-generation Wyoming player, was a full-time starter for four seasons with the Cowboys and has experience at both tackle spots. He earned the nickname “Frank the Tank” for his prowess as a run blocker, and that showed up at the combine when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.94 seconds, third-best among offensive linemen. He also posted a vertical jump of 31 1/2 inches (85th percentile, per MockDraftable) and a 9-foot, 6-inch broad jump (93rd percentile), showing off his explosiveness.

Ultimately, Crum has work to do to hold up as a pass protector at the next level, but his athletic profile is worth betting on as the Ravens seek a long-term solution at tackle.

Also considered: Penn State CB Daequan Hardy, Charlotte EDGE Eyabi Okie-Anoma, Mississippi State LB Nathaniel Watson

NFL draft

Round 1: Thursday, 8 p.m.

Rounds 2-3: Friday, 7 p.m.

Rounds 4-7: Saturday, noon

TV: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network