Ravens in Round 2

When the first-round of the 2017 NFL Draft is finished, the newest member of the Ravens is likely to be either a wide receiver, edge rusher or cornerback. Then, with a new playmaker in the nest, Ozzie Newsome can widen his view a bit and consider other positions of need in Round 2. Wide receiver, edge and corner will remain on the radar screen but sights will expand and include offensive linemen and inside linebackers.

It’s time to focus on the 47th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and players who could be available to the Ravens…

Wide Receiver

Zay Jones, 6’2”, 201 pounds, East Carolina

Positives

• Not afraid of contact
• Snatches ball in flight with strong hands
• High points ball and wins majority of 50-50 catches
• High character player
• Good football IQ – comes from a family of football players (Jeff Blake, uncle)

Negatives

• Could struggle to get a clean release at NFL level
• Average speed
• Unenthused blocker

Compared To

• Jeremy Maclin
• Roddy White

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Juju Smith-Schuster, 6’1”, 215 pounds, USC

Positives

• Fearless
• Strong hands
• Great attitude with a love for the game
• Leadership qualities
• Smart player dialed into the finer nuances of the game
• Willing, reliable blocker
• Tracks ball well
• Powerful punch on stiff arm invites YAC

Negatives

• Struggles to separate
• Average speed

Compared To

• Anquan Boldin

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Edge Rusher

• Charles Harris, 6’3”, 253 pounds, Missouri

Positives

• Great spin move that helps to disengage from blockers
• Explosive off the snap
• High motor
• Can line up on either side with similar effectiveness

Negatives

• Can over pursue
• Weak in run support
• Not a 3-down player initially

Compared To

• Connor Barwin
• Ryan Kerrigan

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TJ Watt, 6’4”, 252 pounds, Wisconsin

Positives

• Versatility to play ILB/OLB
• Plus pass rusher, uses hands to win one-on-one battles
• Good edge setter
• 3-down player
• High motor, highly competitive
• Solid work ethic, loves the game, committed to improvement
• Plays with great awareness

Negatives

• Slender build
• Limited array of pass rush moves
• Inexperience, limited playing time

Compared To

• Kyle Van Noy, New England
• Paul Kruger, New Orleans
• Clay Matthews, Green Bay

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Cornerback

Adoree Jackson, 5’10”, 185 pounds, USC

Positives

• Fluid athlete who shifts his hips effortlessly
• Can mirror a receiver’s movement and minimize separation
• Great change of direction skills
• Willing tackler
• Excellent ball skills with good hands – 5 INT’s and 11 PD’s in 2016
• Good speed and leaping ability
• Dynamic special teams player – 2 TD punt returns and 2 TD kick returns in 2016

Negatives

• Size could make him a target when forced to cover big receivers
• Could be a red zone liability
• Has a reputation for freelancing

Compared To

• Adam Jones, Cincinnati
• Janoris Jenkins, NYG

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Fabian Moreau, 6’0”, 206 pounds, UCLA

Positives

• Strong frame with ability to jam, re-route receivers
• Fast, 4.35 40-yard time at Combine
• Quick twitch to challenge slants
• Smart player who reads routes well
• Solid tackler, willing to support run defense
• Fluid athlete

Negatives

• Torn pectoral muscle could push him down the draft board
• Technique needs refining
• Can get handsy, could lead to penalties at next level
• Limited ball skills

Compared To

• Darqueze Dennard, Cincinnati

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Offensive Line

Dion Dawkins, G, 6’4”, 314 pounds, Temple

Positives

• Has physicality to outmuscle and engulf defenders – a mauler in the run game
• Was a 3-year starter as a tackle but figures to play guard in the NFL
• Provides versatility and can be move along the line
• Fluid, quick out of his stance
• Experienced in zone and gap schemes

Negatives

• Off field issues – was arrested along with teammate Haasan Reddick stemming from a fight in a Philly nightclub
• Technique needs work

Compared To

• Kyle Long, Chicago
• Joe Barksdale, LA Chargers
• Donovan Smith, Tampa

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Dorian Johnson, G, 6’5”, 300 pounds, Pittsburgh

Positives

• Fundamentally sound blocker
• Maintains balance with minimal waist-bend
• Adept at pulling and squaring up
• Strong punch while keeping his hands inside
• Smart player

Negatives

• Will climb beyond target at second level
• Can struggle v. active defenders

Compared To

• Jack Mewhort, Indianapolis

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Inside Linebacker

Jarrad Davis, 6’1”, 238 pounds, Florida

Positives

• Great athletic build with long limbs
• Can torque to shed blocks and fill gaps
• Hard worker, great character – a leader
• Has a burst that translates to being an effective blitzer
• Physical tackler
• Runs well sideline-to-sideline

Negatives

• Must develop in pass coverage
• Can be reckless when tackling, looking to make the big hit

Compared To

• Shaq Thompson, Carolina
• Philip Wheeler, Atlanta

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Raekwon McMillan, 6’2”, 240 pounds, Ohio State

Positives

• Stout core enables him to anchor and take on blockers
• Powerful hands
• Lateral agility and balance
• Strong tackler when clean
• Reads and reacts well to keys
• Efficient in zone coverage

Negatives

• Slow to disengage from blockers
• Limited change of direction skills are exposed against shifty runners
• Lacks explosiveness to be an effective blitzer

Compared To

• Mason Foster, Washington

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Source: http://russellstreetreport.com/2017/03/30/nfl-draft/ravens-in-round-2/