The NFL draft is just one day away as the first round is set to begin Thursday night live from Detroit. Rounds two and three will take place on Friday night, and the 2024 NFL draft will conclude on Saturday with rounds four through seven. The Chicago Bears hold the first overall selection and are expected to select USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2024 draft class has a lot of talent, in what many experts say is especially deep at the wide receiver position.
The Baltimore Ravens currently hold the 30th overall selection in the first round. In total the Ravens have nine draft picks. It’s another important draft for the Ravens and GM Eric DeCosta as they look to build back the depth that was lost during free agency. The Ravens have several holes that need to be filled specially along the the offensive line, which could be a direction they look with their first pick on Thursday. The Ravens however, are no strangers to trading back during the draft to acquire more picks, and because the Ravens are picking so late in the first round it would be no surprise to see the Ravens do just that Thursday night.
Team Needs: Offensive Tackle, Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Guard, Running back, Defensive End
Round 1
Pick 30: Jordan Morgan, Arizona, Offensive Tackle, 6’5″, 311 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.36
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 37
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.05, Vertical: 28″, Broad Jump: 9’2″, Bench: 21 reps
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 83.5, played in all 12 games, was named First-Team All-Pac 12, allowed only two sacks, helped Arizona average 448 yards per game
The Ravens get a versatile tackle that can not only play both tackle spots, but also both guard spots. With a hole at right tackle Morgan can fill in there, before the Ravens are likely to move him over to his natural left tackle spot to replace Ronnie Stanley in the future. Selecting Morgan gives the Ravens options as Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees could slot into the right tackle spot. Thus Morgan can fill a guard spot in 2024 that the Ravens also desperately need to fill.
Strengths: Good feel for the pocket, quick slide step, uses wight to advantage, athletic lower half, great run blocker
Weaknesses: Needs to improve against long armed defensive ends, lacks good first punch, can get too far outside in pass slides
Round 2
Pick 62: Xavier Legette, South Carolina, Wide Receiver, 6’1″, 221 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.26
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 53
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.39, Vertical: 40″, Broad Jump: 10’6″, Bench: 24 reps
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 82.5, 71 receptions, 1,255 yards, seven touchdowns, 17.7 yards per catch, Second-Team All-SEC
Wide receiver is another position they Ravens need to focus on in the draft, and very well could select one with the 30th overall pick should a player they like fall. But with offensive line being a bigger need the Ravens wait until the second round to use their second pick to select the big bodied Xavier Legette out of South Carolina. Legette posses the size and speed that has lacked in the Ravens receiver room for years, and gives quarterback Lamar Jackson a jump ball big target in the outside.
Strengths: Plays up to his size, good blocker, strong hands, attacks ball in the air, good burst to create separation
Weaknesses: Needs to improve overall route running, struggles against press coverage, below-average quickness off the ball
Round 3
Pick 93: Blake Corum, Michigan, Running back, 5’7″, 205 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.15
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 52
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.53, Vertical: 35.5″, 3-Cone: 6.82, Bench: 27 reps
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 84.0, 1,245 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns, 16 receptions, 117 yards, one receiving touchdown, named First-Team All-American, rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the National Championship win over Washington
The St. Francis Academy graduate returns to Baltimore as the Ravens select the running back that helped lead John Harbaugh’s brother Jim’s Michigan Wolverines to a national championship in 2023. Corum is a hard-nosed back that is great in short yardage. With the loss of Gus Edwards, Corum slots perfectly into that running back three role to compliment both Justice Hill and Keton Mitchell.
Strengths: Strong North-South runner, good vision, creates yards after contact, doesn’t shy away from blitzing linebackers, high volume back
Weaknesses: Lacks elite burst, tends to be impatient at times, not an every down back
Round 4
Pick 112: Kalen King, Penn State, Cornerback, 5’11″, 191 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.69
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 177
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.52, Vertical: 37″, Broad Jump: 10’2″, 20-yard shuttle: 4.16
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 60.3, started all 12 games, 29 total tackles, two pass breakups
You can never have enough cornerbacks as the Ravens have shown. Kalen King is a work in progress but has time to develop behind both Marlon Humphrey and and Brandon Stephens. King could be a key rotational player in 2024, while also having the talent to fill in should something happen to Stephens or Humphrey.
Strengths: Good hips, long strides and arms, good punch and use of hands in press, attacks blockers
Weaknesses: Needs to improve focus in coverage, poor tackler, needs to improve closing speed when beat
Pick 130: Jonah Elliss, Utah, Defensive End, 6’2″, 248 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.12
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 55
Combine/Pro Day: DID NOT PARTICIPATE
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 85.3, played in 10 games, 37 total tackles, 12 sacks, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, named Consensus All-American
Another depth piece that could turn into a productive NFL player is Utah’s Jonah Elliss. Elliss dealt with a season ending shoulder injury in 2023, but was a force prior to the injury. While Elliss lacks the ideal size for an NFL edge rusher, he can be utilized situationally in 2024, as he continues to put on weight and learn to be an impact player for a Ravens defense that had 60 sacks in 2023.
Strengths: High motor, good spin move and bend, quick off the ball, good hands and punch to ward off blockers
Weaknesses: Lacks power, needs to be better against NFL sized tackles, wide strides create slow rush
Round 5
Pick 165: Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State, Offensive Tackle, 6’6″, 311 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.90
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 253
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.22, Vertical: 38.5″ (combine record for an O-lineman)
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: N/A, started 15 games, named AP FCS First-Team All-American, helped lead South Dakota State to a National Championship
The Ravens continue to bolster their offensive line as they select tackle Garret Greenfield. The Ravens greatly value offensive lineman that can play multiple spots, and Greenfield is no exception as he can play both tackle spots. Greenfield has the size to be a starting tackle in the NFL and works best as a run blocker, which fits perfectly for a run dominate offense in the Ravens.
Strengths: quick first step, forceful hands, good feet, athletic blocker in space, keeps good pad level
Weaknesses: Needs to improve as a run blocker, long strides and steps in pass sets, needs to improve balance
Round 6
Pick 218: Trey Taylor, Air Force, Safety, 6’0″, 213 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.84
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 201
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.53, Vertical: 37.5″, Broad Jump: 10’3″, Bench: 22 reps
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 83.9, started all 13 games, 74 total tackles, three interceptions, four pass breakups, named Second-Team All-Mountain West
The Ravens again turn to defense as they fill the spot that was left by Geno Stone this offseason, selecting safety Trey Taylor. Taylor is a big safety that possesses similar traits to that of Kyle Hamilton. With Hamilton and Marcus Williams slotted as the starting safety’s for 2024, Taylor slots in nicely on the backend, filling that spot left by Stone, and allowing Hamilton to be used in various spots across the Ravens defense. Taylor has Ravens blood in him already as he is the cousin of NFL Hall of Fame safety and Super Bowl Champion Ed Reed.
Strengths: Hard worker and good teammate, great build for an NFL safety, plays fast and down hill, exceptional tackler
Weaknesses: Needs to improve lateral quickness, lacks good recovery speed, struggles with pursuit angles
Round 7
Pick 228: Qwan’tez Stiggers Toronto (CFL), Cornerback, 5’11″, 204 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.00
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: N/A
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.45, Vertical: 36.5″, Broad Jump: 10’8″
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: N/A, 2023 season with Toronto Argonauts, played in 16 games, 53 total tackles, five interceptions, CFL East All-Star, named CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie
The Ravens continue to add to their cornerback room as they select Qwan’tez Stiggers. Stiggers is raw, but has the size and talent to become a legit NFL cornerback. The Ravens love finding impact players late in the draft and Stiggers at justt 22-years old could be just that. Stiggers incredible journey to the NFL could also boast well as he has the mentality and heart to play like a Raven.
Strengths: Great ball skills, good frame, playmaker, good closing speed
Weaknesses: Inexperienced, need to improve tackling, lacks in press coverage, needs time to learn NFL coverages
Pick 250: Marcus Harris, Auburn, Defensive Tackle, 6’2″, 286 Ibs
NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.10
Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 245
Combine/Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.06, Vertical: 29.5″, Broad Jump: 8’7″, Bench: 34 reps
2023 Stats: PFF Grade: 82.4, played in 12 games, 40 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, seven sacks, one forced fumble
With the Ravens final draft pick of 2024 they select defensive tackle Marcus Harris. Harris isn’t the biggest interior defensive lineman, but what he lacks in size he makes up for in pass rushing ability. With the breakout season in 2023 by Justin Madubuike, the Ravens know the value of creating pressure up the middle, and Harris could provide that in a rotational role.
Strengths: Good feet, low center of gravity, good hand with solid punch, good range to make tackles
Weaknesses: Undersized, needs to improve get off speed, lets blockers get into body, need to improve pass rush moves
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