Baltimore Ravens Mock Draft Roundup 4.0

I swear I'm not doing this geographically. The Ravens really could use another corner with size and ball skills, and this would not be a reach.

Whoever is playing quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens next season deserves to have more options at receiver. Jordan Addison has been highly productive with two different programs, showcasing exciting vertical skills, yards-after-catch ability, route-running ability, and explosiveness that would pair wonderfully with Rashod Bateman.

Wide receiver, wide receiver, wide receiver. Assuming Lamar Jackson is still a Raven, Baltimore has got to give the guy someone dangerous to throw to. The wide receivers will drop, and the Ravens will get their pick.

Lamar Jackson's future is up in the air and should get resolved soon enough. Either way, the QB is going to need a reliable target that can be a constant threat to defenses and the Biletnikoff Award winner who just played with a Heisman winner seems like a perfect addition.

The Ravens need a few things here, and the length of that list is going to depend on what happens with Lamar Jackson. The good news, though, is that Baltimore should have options in the 20s. Offensive lineman O'Cyrus Torrence would fit, as would Smith, Banks or defensive tackle Siaki Ika. Of course, Quentin Johnston also would work, with or without Lamar.

The first order of business is getting Lamar Jackson back in purple and black.

The second order of business is giving him a threat on the outside.

I was skeptical when I turned on Rice to study him, but within minutes I was sold. He is confident and fearless when working over the middle, he trusts his hands at the catch point – consistently attacking the ball in flight rather than letting it get into his chest – and he is a weapon in the vertical passing game.

Rice also has the ability to play both on the boundary, and in the slot, which you can see on his 75-yard touchdown reception against Tulsa to open the game this season. In fact, that play might be a prime example of what he offers. Rice erases a huge pre-snap cushion on a post route, makes a tough adjustment to the throw, and then finishes after the catch by making the first defender miss and breaking two tackle attempts en route to the end zone.

Bijan Robinson is special, and while he is probably one of the best players in this class, he could still be around late in Round 1 because he's a running back. And while the Ravens and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have parted ways, it's fair to assume the team will still revolve around Lamar Jackson and the run game. J.K. Dobbins showed flashes after returning from ACL surgery, but there isn't a lot of depth behind him. A backfield of Jackson, Dobbins and Robinson is a problem for the rest of the AFC, even if Baltimore has more pressing needs here.

With Marcus Peters set to become a free agent, cornerback could be an area of need for Baltimore. Thankfully for them, it seems like they're in a sweet spot to get in on a strong first-round cornerback class. Banks might not bring ideal ball production, with just two interceptions in four seasons, but he knows how to cover. He earned an 81.4 coverage grade this past season with just 258 passing yards allowed on 360 coverage snaps.

Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is out, and quarterback Lamar Jackson's future with the Ravens is uncertain after he and the team haven't been able to agree to a new contract. Coach John Harbaugh isn't used to this sort of chaos. Still, I think Jackson will be back -- potentially on the franchise tag -- in which case he needs someone to catch passes. Baltimore still hasn't gotten its receiving corps right; it ranked last in the league in receiving yards by wideouts (1,517). Rashod Bateman, a first-rounder in 2021 who has struggled with injuries, has just three touchdowns in 18 career games.

Johnston could help the Ravens stretch the field. He averaged 17.8 yards per catch for the Horned Frogs this season. At 6-4, he's still developing as a route runner, and he's a physical mismatch once he gets his body into defensive backs and leaps for the ball. Jackson could use Johnston's length in the red zone.

Head coach John Harbaugh said last week that the Ravens are committed to keeping Lamar Jackson in Baltimore. But if the two sides can't reach a long-term deal and the Ravens decide to start preparing for an alternate future at the position, the Florida standout could be an option despite his shortcomings as a passer.

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