There will be some teams that head into the 2023 NFL Draft searching for their next franchise quarterback. The Ravens no longer have to worry about that.
Baltimore agreed to an extension with Lamar Jackson to keep him with the team for the next five seasons, ending years of speculation as to what his future with the franchise might be. The extension was announced the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft. Now with their franchise QB locked up, the Ravens can look to building up the team around him.
This draft could be a key one for the Ravens, who don't have many picks but do have several areas of need. Guard Ben Powers and EDGE Calais Campbell walked in free agency, and key defensive players like Justin Houston, Marcus Peters, Kyle Fuller and Jason Pierre-Paul remain available.
And with Jackson now locked up, the Ravens could also look to add some weapons around him. Even with Odell Beckham Jr., the receiver room could still stand to improve. Baltimore also might look to add some depth at running back and improve the protection for their franchise quarterback on the offensive line.
Baltimore still boasts one of the best defenses in the NFL, and with Jackson at the helm, this is a team that should be in a strong position to hang with the Bengals and make a run at trying to win back the AFC North.
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Here's everything you need to know about the Ravens draft in 2023.
Ravens draft picks 2023: When does Baltimore pick?
- Round 1, Pick No. 22: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
- Round 3, Pick No. 86: Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson
- Round 4, Pick No. 124: Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Mississippi
- Round 5, Pick No. 157: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford
- Round 6, Pick No. 199: Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT, Oregon
- Round 7, Pick No. 229: Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
Ravens NFL Draft order 2023
| Round | Pick, overall |
|---|---|
| 1 | 22 |
| 3 | 86 |
| 4 | 124 |
| 5 | 157 |
| 6 | 199 |
| 7 | 229 |
Ravens NFL Draft needs
- Wide receiver: The signings of Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor, along with the healthy return of Rashod Bateman, help improve a wide receiver room that has been among the worst in the league since Lamar Jackson became the starter. But counting on Beckham to return to form after a second torn ACL is a big ask, and even if he does, he's only on a one-year deal. The Ravens need a long-term answer at wide receiver if they want to keep pace with a division loaded with star receivers.
- Cornerback: As long as Peters and Fuller remain un-signed, mark this position as the most important on the defensive side of the ball. The Ravens are currently looking at Brandon Stephens to be the other starter along the outside opposite Marlon Humphrey, leaving a need for possibly two corners in the draft, even with Kyle Hamilton taking a number of snaps in the slot. Don't be surprised if the Beckham signing means corner is the Ravens' first-round target.
- Guard: Powers leaving for Denver leaves a vacancy on the left side of the offensive line, and Kevin Zeitler is headed into the final year of his deal in Baltimore at age 33. The Ravens' offensive line remains among the best in the league after first-rounder Tyler Linderbaum lived up to the hype and standout tackles like Ronnie Stanley and Morgan Moses continued to perform well. Baltimore's biggest offensive strength is its rushing attack, which places added importance on a strong front to help clear the way up the middle.
- Running back: The Ravens re-signed Justice Hill, but J.K. Dobbins is a free agent after 2023 and was clearly frustrated by his usage late in the season, putting doubt on the starter at the position moving forward. Teams that go far in the playoffs have also tended to find more success with running backs on rookie contracts as opposed to bigger deals, and the Ravens might opt to invest more resources at other positions rather than give Dobbins a big extension.
- Defensive end: Simply put, the Ravens need a standout edge rusher. The departure of Campbell leaves the team without a defensive end that placed better than 84th in PFF's positional ranking in 2022. David Ojabo could make an impact in his first healthy season, but the Ravens have to add more depth at the position, and could really benefit from adding an impact talent early.
Ravens mock draft 2023
Here is how the Ravens' draft will unfold in 2023, according to TSN's Vinnie Iyer's seven-round mock draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 | Cam Smith | CB | South Carolina |
| 3 | 86 | Steve Avila | G | TCU |
| 4 | 124 | DeWayne McBride | RB | UAB |
| 5 | 157 | D.J. Dale | DT | Alabama |
| 6 | 199 | Ken'Trel Clark | CB | Louisville |
