Baltimore Ravens Draft Blitz: First Round
This piece is the first installment of the Baltimore Draft Blitz series where we analyze round by round who the Ravens could and should take.
The 2017 draft provides enough talent for the Ravens to pick up a day one starter with the 16th overall pick. Still, it is never easy to predict exactly what an NFL team’s front office is thinking.
Team Needs
To decide what direction the Ravens will go we need to assess their needs. First and foremost, the Ravens lost two huge building blocks of their offense. The retirement of wide receiver Steve Smith creates a void of playmakers for Joe Flacco to utilize. In addition, losing Ricky Wagner to the Detroit Lions leaves even more question marks up front.
The Ravens also have holes at left guard and right tackle that need to be filled. A strong offensive line would assuredly jumpstart the team on their road back to success. Baltimore’s receiver core is also hurting as they lack a deep threat, an experienced receiver, and a receiver with sure hands.
Player Fits
Nearly every mock draft has the Ravens taking a different player with their first round pick. Luckily for them, there will be no shortage of players available at 16 that will not only fit their offense, but can be a potential day one starter.
One player who would be able to help the Ravens out immediately is wide receiver Corey Davis from MAC powerhouse Western Michigan. Davis is a talented young receiver that has the body type, hands, athleticism, route running IQ, and play making ability that every NFL offense needs. It is certainly possible however, that Davis will not be around at 16 or the Ravens will go in a different direction.
In that case the former Alabama left tackle Cam Robinson would be a nice fit for the Ravens scheme. Robinson would likely need to move from left to right tackle in order to help the team succeed. With holes upfront it would be wise for Baltimore to fill a hole with this talented young tackle. Robinson also happens to come from Ravens pipeline school, the University of Alabama.
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Another offensive lineman that fits the Ravens system and can be a day one starter is highly praised, former Western Kentucky left tackle, Forrest Lamp. Lamp is not tall enough to be a NFL tackle, but he is all but tailor made to be a dominate left guard at the next level.
The Best Pick
Baltimore will have many options with their first round pick. The best pick for the organization however will be Forrest Lamp. Lamp will be able to make the transition to guard because of his athletic ability, motor, and nasty streak. Robinson would be another great pick because of his ability to get movement at the point of attack. Like with other former left tackles, the move to right tackle might be the best thing that has ever happened to him.
No matter what, Baltimore needs to solidify their offensive line. This would be most effectively done with their first round pick going to Forrest Lamp.
— Chase Diehl covers the Baltimore Ravens as a columnist for cover32 Ravens. Connect and follow on Twitter @chase_diehl and @Cover32_bal
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