Our series “32 NFL Mock Drafts in 32 Days” continues with the Baltimore Ravens mock draft. Baltimore has had a relatively quiet offseason with just one key signing (Kevin Zeitler) and one key re-signing (Tyus Bowser). They’ve lost a pair of defensive pieces in Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue, but Baltimore is poised to make the playoffs for the fourth straight season.
Baltimore has made the divisional round of the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The Ravens have $17.7 million in cap space available, and they have seven picks in the 2021 NFL Draft, beginning with No.27.
Lamar Jackson returns as the catalyst for the Baltimore offense, and the defense hopes to improve with 2020 draft picks Patrick Queen, Justin Madubuike, and Malik Harrison. Even with the losses of 2019 Pro Bowler Mark Ingram on the offense and the aforementioned Judon and Ngakoue, Baltimore projects to once again make the playoffs with a deep roster with upside at key positions.
While the media continues to bang the drum that the Ravens need a Number one-caliber wide receiver, Baltimore has a few under-the-radar needs. Baltimore must adjust the center position in the draft, and they need reinforcements at the edge position. Safety is commonly listed as a need for Baltimore, but incumbent starters DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark are solid players. For the offense that the Ravens run, expect them to pick up a tight end in the middle rounds of the draft. Even if tight end Nick Boyle returns to full health, Baltimore was particularly dominant in three tight end sets in 2019.
With seven total draft picks, Baltimore can patch up several holes through the draft. Expect them to accumulate value and trade down when necessary. In Eric DeCosta’s two drafts as general manager, he has been stellar at sliding down in the draft while obtaining high-quality players. He has yet to draft a Pro Bowler, but he has filled Baltimore’s ranks with talented players.
Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Day 2
Trade: Baltimore sends No.27 to Jacksonville in exchange for Nos.33 and 65.
Trade: Baltimore sends No.58 to Kansas City in exchange for Nos. 63 and 94.
2.33 | Alijah Vera-Tucker | OL | USC
In this scenario, Teven Jenkins would have been the selection at 27, but the Cleveland Browns inexplicably drafted him one spot ahead of Baltimore. Cleveland has one of the best offensive lines in football, as everyone is young. There is no reason for the Browns to draft Jenkins, yet they did, and the Ravens decided to slide back six spots and take Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Vera-Tucker likely would start on the interior, potentially replacing left guard Bradley Bozeman. At the very least, Vera-Tucker would compete with Bozeman and new signing Kevin Zeitler. Vera-Tucker would provide an option for Baltimore to trade right tackle Orlando Brown. Vera-Tucker should be a high floor option as the future left guard or right tackle, but he lacks the All-Pro upside that Jenkins has.
2.63 | Joseph Ossai | EDGE | Texas
Baltimore values edge defenders that can play the run. In 2020, Joseph Ossai posted an 81.1 run-defense grade to go with his 80.5 pass-rushing grade. Ossai is a plus athlete with an elite motor. With Baltimore losing both Yannick Ngakoue and Matthew Judon in the 2021 free agency period, they desperately need an influx of talent. While Tyus Bowser is a good player, and Jaylon Ferguson had an elite college career, Baltimore needs more. Ossai should provide exactly that.
Ossai does not project as a superstar pass rusher, but the Ravens just need a player who can play quality snaps as an edge player, which Ossai can do.
3.65 | Creed Humphrey | C | Oklahoma
With the Ravens running more gap concepts than in the past, Creed Humphrey fits right in as a day-one starter. Humphrey was a three-year starter in Norman, logging almost 2,500 snaps. Humphrey earned an 84.7 run-block grade and a 68.9 pass-block grade in his final season with Oklahoma.
3.94 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | WR | USC
Baltimore gets a value play here near the end of the third round. Amon-Ra St. Brown is a terrific separator over the middle of the field. While not a track star like incumbent slot receiver Devin Duvernay, St. Brown can fill in the gaps and even create yards after the catch. St. Brown earned a receiving grade of 73.0 in 2020.
3.104 | Brevin Jordan | TE | Miami (FL)
After trading away Hayden Hurst and losing Nick Boyle to an injury, the Ravens needed another tight end. Brevin Jordan does not have the blocking chops of the aforementioned pair, but he is a menace as a pass-catcher. Jordan breaks a lot of tackles, and he’s a walking first down. However, he is not as physical as one might like out of a tight end. He profiles more as a “weapon” than a “tight end,” but the Ravens could use an extra weapon to help Lamar Jackson reach MVP form once again.
Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL Mock Draft: Day 3
Trade: Baltimore sends No.131 to Atlanta in exchange for No.148 and a 2022 fifth-round pick.
Trade: Baltimore sends No.184 to Dallas in exchange for Nos. 192, 227, and 238.
Trade: Baltimore sends Nos. 192 and 210 to Houston in exchange for Nos. 195, 233, and a 2022 sixth-round pick.
5.148 | Amari Rodgers | WR | Clemson
Baltimore lofts another dart on the wide receiver board, selecting Amari Rodgers here. Rodgers had a strong season with the College Football Playoff-bound Clemson Tigers, finally breaking out.
Similar to Jordan, he is better described as a weapon than a pure wide receiver. He is a slot receiver with great production after the catch. He is fairly similar to the incumbent Duvernay, but Rodgers is a top-100 player and too great of a value to pass up here.
5.171 | Damar Hamlin | S | Pittsburgh
Not the flashiest player, Damar Hamlin is versatile. In four years in Pittsburgh, Hamlin functioned in both safety roles, and he was a competent slot defender. He performs well against the run and the pass. Hamlin is a smart football player, and he would be a nice utility piece to add to a strong Baltimore secondary.
6.195 | D’Wayne Eskridge | WR | Western Michigan
In real life, D’Wayne Eskridge is a top-100 pick, but here he is. Eskridge crosses his T’s and dots his I’s exceptionally well, and he would be a favorite of the coaching staff with his run blocking and special teams production. Eskridge would likely not play much on the offense if he were taken (at least in 2021) but with Sammy Watkins on a one-year deal, Eskridge could be a long-term option for Baltimore.
6.227 | Jack Anderson | G | Texas Texas
A right guard through and through, Jack Anderson started 31 games with the Red Raiders. He was sturdy in pass protection in the pass-heavy Texas Tech offense, and he has upside as a run blocker. While he would not supplant Bozeman, Zeitler, or Vera-Tucker, he would provide depth to Baltimore’s offensive line room.
7.233 | Tony Fields II | LB | West Virginia
After Baltimore selected Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison in the 2020 NFL Draft, it seems unlikely that Tony Fields II would play much if drafted by the Ravens, but he is a steady tackler, and he could be productive on special teams. As with most seventh-round selections, any snaps for the NFL team would be seen as a win for the organization.
7.238 | Jonathan Marshall | IDL | Arkansas
Jonathan Marshall played 34 games in Fayetteville, posting PFF grades of 66.2, 77.8, and 79.3 in his three seasons. He earned an 80.4 run-defense grade in 2020, and his pass-rush grade (71.2) displays some upside. Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe are not long-term options on the interior, and Marshall could be a space-eater for the Ravens if he is taken.
Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL Mock Draft Recap
After beginning the draft with seven picks, Baltimore moved down several times to expand to 11 total picks while also adding a pair of extra 2022 selections.
Baltimore acquired two pieces that will compete for Day 1 reps in Vera-Tucker and Humphrey. If Orlando Brown is dealt, expect Vera-Tucker to be the day-one right tackle and Humphrey to slide in at center. Beyond those two players, Ossai could be impactful as an edge rusher for Baltimore early. With three wide receivers, Baltimore increases the chances that one of them becomes a good player, creating a dynamic trio with incumbents Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay.
Thanks for reading my first Baltimore Ravens 2021 NFL mock draft! For more content, follow me @MrSplashMan19 and follow the OTH Football page on Twitter!
Main Image Credit
