OTL: Off-the-Beaten-Path Mock Drafts

The NFL Draft week is here. The Ravens have the 30th overall selection on Thursday evening, the cost of having the number one seed in the AFC postseason and making it to the AFC Championship game. This draft season has seemed dry and predictable. While mock drafts vary in results there is a stale consensus that the Ravens will take an offensive lineman or a cornerback. I took it as my job to send some of the spicier draft takes your way. This is what’s happening from the mock draft side of the internet that isn’t taking a tackle for the Ravens in round one.

A pass rusher could be in the cards for the Ravens according to Destin Adams from A To Z Sports. Adams has the Ravens taking Chop Robinson, an edge rusher from Penn State.

Because NFL-caliber tackles aren’t going to let you spam the speed rush on them all game long. I think the Ravens would be the perfect spot to help Robinson develop as a pass rusher. And who knows, if he’s able to reach his ceiling, he might end up being one of the top defenders in this entire class.

This sounds eerily similar to when the Ravens spent similar draft positioning to take Odafe Oweh from Penn State. Oweh has been solid for the Ravens though his raw athleticism hasn’t resulted in the Ravens having a top pass rusher – at least not yet. While this comparison isn’t entirely fair seeing as they are different players, it feels similar. It’s also important to note that Oweh is just one example of a PSU pass prospect; Micah Parsons rules the roost for the Dallas Cowboys. Penn State having elite athletes is nothing new. Robinson, who transferred from Maryland to Penn State in 2022, had 19.5 sacks in his collegiate career. High sack totals are something Oweh infamously didn’t have.

Prospect Profile: Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State

Okay, this is an interesting start. Where do we go next? How about a mock draft from Last Word on Sports by David Latham. Latham has Eric DeCosta drafting another Texas wide receiver in Adonai Mitchell. This isn’t an off-the-beaten-path pick yet it’s not an offensive tackle so it fits in our spicy mocks-only tour guide. Latham writes, “Adonai Mitchell is one of the biggest love/hate prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Based purely on physical traits, Adonai Mitchell has the potential to be the best wide receiver in this class, and he flashed that ability throughout his time at Texas. While his production profile leaves something to be desired, Baltimore shoots for the moon and lands a player with the potential to completely reshape an offense.”

I love the way that Latham phrases this because Mitchell is the classic boom-or-bust prospect. If the Ravens take Mitchell, they are taking a big swing. More specifically they are looking for big chunks in the passing game. Lamar Jackson hasn’t had a big speed-demon receiver to take shots too to this point in his career. Mitchell is explosive and has a huge frame. If he’s a boom it could bring a whole new element to this offense.

Prospect Profile: Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Alright, let’s keep this spicy take tour going. We head next to Dan Parr’s latest NFL Mock Draft.

Parr made my favorite pick for the Ravens thus far. He went with a cornerback from Michigan, Mike Sainristil.

Surprise! Yes, I know this is higher than most expect Sainristil to go. Do the Ravens care? Heck no. They’ve picked a Michigan player in three of the last four drafts, and you know Jim Harbaugh has already given a glowing review to his brother when it comes to the nickel corner’s abilities.

Parr makes an excellent point that there is most certainly a Michigan-to-Baltimore pipeline. What I love about this pick is what the Ravens could get out of it. Having a good nickel cornerback could free Kyle Hamilton up to roam around more as a strong safety. Hamilton is often the Ravens’ answer to a tough matchup inside. Having a nickel corner that can take that burden could make Hamilton the ultimate X-Factor. Of all the picks we’ve touched on today, this pick has my full backing.

Sticking with NFL.com Peter Schrager has the Ravens taking another cornerback. Schrager has the Ravens taking Kool-Aid McKinstry out of Alabama.

The Alabama-to-Baltimore pipeline remains strong, even with Ozzie Newsome in an advisory role and Eric DeCosta steering the ship. McKinstry is smooth and fluid, and though he didn’t run the fastest 40 in Indy, his play speed wasn’t a problem in Tuscaloosa.

First of all, that’s the coolest name in the draft. Bravo! Secondly, I love that these analysts are taking the Ravens’ draft history to heart. This would be a very Ravens pick. He’s that nearly six-foot, 200-pound cornerback who fits the mold that Marlon Humphrey and Jimmy Smith established with the Ravens.

Prospect Profile: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

23 years ago today, the Ravens selected Todd Heap with the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft

He went on to catch 499 passes for 5,869 yards and 42 touchdowns in 12 NFL seasons while becoming one of the top tight ends in Baltimore history pic.twitter.com/KOBOwgHG9l

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 21, 2024

Over on the app we kind of call X, Kevin Oestreicher reminds us that Sunday was the anniversary of the Ravens taking Todd Heap in the 2021 NFL Draft. I’d be remiss if I didn’t shout (or in this case type) a good: HEEEEEEAAP! What a time it was going into the summer of 2001. The Ravens Flock was still basking in the glow of a Super Bowl XXXV victory and they got one of the most memorable tight ends in NFL history.

If you are a Ravens fan and want to know my sleeper for the draft just remember this name Ole Miss #99 Isaac Ukwu Edge Rusher – he reminds me of Matt Judon! Transferred from JMU and is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland – HOMIE!pic.twitter.com/cRTR6fM0tB

— Bobby DePaul (@bobby_depaul) April 21, 2024

Also on the app, we kind of call X, Bobby DePaul from 105.7 The Fan shouts out a local prospect. Isaac Ukwu is a prospect that DePaul sees a little Matt Judon in. He’s 6-3 260 pounds and had 3.5 sacks last year at Ole Miss. The player comp may be ambitious, but I see what DePaul is pointing out.

Happy Draft Week! Remember to take a nap Thursday afternoon so you’re fresh for the Ravens’ late night pick.

The post OTL: Off-the-Beaten-Path Mock Drafts appeared first on Russell Street Report.