|
|
|
2009
NFL Draft Needs - Baltimore Ravens
by Gregory Cox
Senior Writer
4/21/09
Picks (6): 26, 57, 88, 123, 162, 198
Wide Receiver – It was a great story. Joe Flacco led this team
into the playoffs as a rookie. No one seemed to notice he fell short of
3,000 passing yards or his pedestrian 14/12 touchdown to interception
ratio. Flacco is capable of more if the team can acquire a vertical
threat. Mark Clayton had a solid 17.0 average per reception, but caught
only 41 passes. Derrick Mason has been their rock. Now he is reluctant
to play out the final year without a longer term tacked on by the team.
This exasperates an already dire situation at the position. Demetrius
Williams is considered a factor on the depth chart. He has caught just
33 passes over the past two seasons and appeared in only half the
team’s games. Baltimore has to look at this problem early in the draft
and possibly even add more than one player before the weekend is over.
Another factor to consider is that along with Mason both Clayton and
Williams are in the final year of their contract.
Cornerback – Mainstay Chris McAlister was a cap casualty after
missing basically half the team’s games each of the past two seasons.
Corey Ivy signed with Cleveland so Domonique Foxworth was given a fat
free agent deal to stop the bleeding. Chris Carr (Titans) is another
depth chart addition although his presence will be felt much more
returning kickoffs. Injuries caught up to them in a big way last season
and now the challenge is to find starter talent worthy of filling the
shoes of McAlister. I am not buying Fabian Washington starting on one
side and Foxworth on the other. Samari Rolle is locked down for four
years after being cut. He’ll be 33 by the time this season begins so
this is really a move to insure some sense of continuity. Rolle will
never see the end of that deal and no longer has what it takes to
start.
Defensive End – This is just about it for Trevor Pryce. He has
83 ½ sacks in what has been a great career, the last three
seasons of which have been with the Ravens. At 34 this August he is
very likely done after the 2009 campaign. Marques Douglas returned to
the team in 2008 after three years with the 49ers. After a season
without a sack, he was released. There is a need to get a push up front
off the edge and no one in the fold to fit that role effectively.
Center / Right Tackle – When Jason Brown left and Matt Birk was
signed the Ravens got essentially 7 years older at the center position.
Did Birk learn about playing deep into his 30’s at Harvard? If not the
team has to be fishing for his successor. Having to retain Ray Lewis
and tag Terrell Suggs at linebacker certainly cost them a more
appealing future. Over at right tackle they might be interested in
upgrading Willie Anderson. Last year’s third round pick Oniel Cousins
has to be given a chance to develop unless they are already convinced
he is not a potential answer. Normally his presence and their lack of
current picks (6) would mean this is not a big issue in the draft.
However, if they are able to trade down at some point and add a
selection it is likely for them to dip into this deep tackle class.
Kicker – It is definitely the end of an era saying goodbye to
Matt Stover. He actually spent five seasons with the franchise before
their move to Baltimore. The stories he could tell. On the field,
however, he has made just one field goal from 50+ yards during the past
four seasons. Being accurate from inside of 40 yards, which Stover
absolutely was, can be a good thing. At some point it is just not
enough. Steven Hauschka is already on the roster as a long range option
and while the draft is not rich with talent at the position it makes
sense to find someone to compete with him.
Tight End – This is a strange one. Todd Heap had a great run
from 2002-2006. Then he suffered through an injury shortened season and
when Cam Cameron took over the offense failed to fit in. One indicator
of the team’s desire to pursue other options was giving a one year deal
to L.J. Smith (Philadelphia). Heap just turned 29 and has plenty of
life left in his career. It remains to be seen if he finishes up with
the Ravens or somewhere else. A blocking option is another part of the
equation given the team’s strong running game. Their best case scenario
would be a strong blocker capable of picking up around 20-30 receptions
per season.
Michael
Abromowitz's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 7 rounds
Gregory Cox's 2009 NFL Mock
Draft - 6 rounds
|
|
|
|
