It's almost too perfect that the Ravens have the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. A team that has meddled in mediocrity since it hoisted the Lombardi trophy in 2013, the Ravens are more than just a few key pieces away from reaching those heights again.
Joe Flacco is not getting any younger, and the team can’t continue to rely on aging receivers like Michael Crabtree. Plus, the Ravens could always use a youthful boost to their defense.
SIGN UP to stream the NFL Draft LIVE on DAZN in Canada
With all of that in mind, SN breaks down the Ravens’ 2018 NFL Draft outlook, including needs, first-round possibilities, Day 2 and Day 3 plans and a few sleepers.
Ravens 2018 draft picks
| Round 1 | No. 16 |
| Round 2 | No. 52 |
| Round 3 | No. 83 |
| Round 4 | No. 118 |
| Round 5 | No. 154 |
| Round 6 | No. 190 |
| Round 6 | No. 215 (Compensatory Selection) |
| Round 7 | No. 238 |
Ravens draft needs
Wide receiver: If somebody claimed general manager Ozzie Newsome had been convinced the NFL abolished the receiver position after 2013, one would have a hard time disagreeing. Seemingly every attempt Baltimore has made to find its next No. 1 receiver has fallen flat. Breshad Perriman’s ceiling somehow continues to fall, and Chris Moore might be a slot receiver at best.
MORE: How did a Central Ohio suburb with a population of 20,000 produce six active NFL players?
Offensive line: Tampa Bay was able to throw the bag at Ryan Jensen to lure him away from Baltimore. Combine that with Austin Howard’s release, plus the plethora of injuries that affected the Ravens last year, and you get a decimated line with plenty of question marks. Many of the players that gave the team the league’s fourth-best line won’t be there next season, so some youth would help.
Quarterback: Life without Flacco seems like an unrealistic fever dream at this point, but it actually will be happening soon. Injuries have limited Flacco’s ability to make plays outside the pocket, and when he throws from the inside the pocket, there’s not much of a guarantee the ball will reach its target.
Outside linebacker: Terrell Suggs' bite isn't matching his bark anymore. As one of the veterans still around from the Super Bowl squad, Suggs' decline is not a surprise for a player who has relied on his speed. It didn't help Baltimore that Matt Judon, Willie Henry and Tyus Bowser have not been able to pick up the pass-rush slack.
First-round plan
No. 16: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama
Alabama prospects and Ozzie Newsome go together like crabcakes and football. Ridley is projected as the only true first-round receiver in this year’s draft. He’ll be a bit older (23) than the average player selected, but that could mean he’s more in-tune with his skill set. Ridley also has top-tier athletic ability and soft hands to bring in even the most errant Flacco throw.
If not him, then ...
While it’s pertinent that the Ravens select the right offensive pieces to fill their outstanding voids, there’s always a chance Ridley goes earlier than expected — or Newsome simply forgets receivers exist again — and the best player available is on the other side of the ball.
Pairing Tremaine Edmunds with C.J. Mosley seems unfair to opposing offenses. Plus, it would limit Suggs' snaps to third downs. If Newsome doesn't take Edmunds, he could continue his tradition of drafting first-round defensive talent from Alabama with Rashaan Evans, who would be a great fit in new defensive coordinator Don Martindale’s system.
The Ravens also could trade down and target in-state favorite D.J. Moore late in the first round. History says drafting a Maryland receiver has worked well for Baltimore, and passing on an available wideout has come back to bite the team.
Or ...
Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
The Ravens are out of the running for the projected top quarterbacks, but they do have a chance at another big name in Jackson at No. 16.
A year behind Flacco would do Jackson a lot of good and give him time to work on whatever mechanical kinks the draft nitpickers have been harping on for the past few months. He also would get opportunities to learn under offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and assistant head coach Greg Roman, who have developed names like Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Colin Kaepernick.
Day 2 plan
With all due respect to Notre Dame’s Mike McGlinchey, who is projected as a first-round pick, the Ravens are not in that much need of a lineman. That’s where Day 2 comes into play.
Orlando Brown’s Combine performance might have been the joke of the week, but his height and frame make him an enticing prospect who could be placed an immediate starting position on the Ravens' line. His father’s legacy doesn't hurt, either.
Maryland’s J.C. Jackson or Alabama’s Anthony Averett could serve as important additions to the secondary. If all those boxes get checked, there’s room to pick a running back, and Bo Scarbrough would be a good middle-round fit.
Day 3 sleeper
This could be where the Ravens grab their tight end, and Wisconsin’s Troy Fumagalli is popular pick in late-round mocks. Another receiver wouldn't be a bad addition, with Daurice Fountain (Northern Iowa), Javon Wims (Georgia) and Trey Quinn (SMU) surrounding Baltimore’s Day 3 picks.
Ravens 2018 NFL Draft: Final Thought
Even with all of the holes in the team, the Ravens' planning for life after Flacco should begin now. They can't wait for another draft full of great QB prospects or hope a talented free agent falls in their lap. The pieces around Flacco could reach a higher ceiling if the QB is put under a little pressure. A young backup would provide that.
SIGN UP to stream the NFL Draft LIVE on DAZN in Canada
-