My 2021 NFL mock draft 1.0 for the Ravens. The Ravens have multiple team needs, but in this 1.0 draft, I focused on some of the biggest needs I feel must be addressed.
I only covered five rounds as I'm not sure if the players taken in the sixth and seventh round will make the team.
No. 27 Azeez Ojulari DE/OLB (Georgia) With Judon, Ngakoue, Bowser and Mcphee all pending FAs, the Ravens can not neglect their biggest defensive need. He should develop into a starter, but I think he can contribute off the bench as a situational pass rusher in the mean time.
Azeez Ojulari aligns as an EDGE defender for the Bulldogs defense. He will align either in a 2-point or 3-point stance and has played on all three downs for their defense. He plays with good reactive athleticism when out on the edge and demonstrates good quickness, effort, and body control. Although he appears to lack ideal length for a traditional 3-4 OLB, he demonstrates very good pop in his hips and hands at the point of attack to set the edge. In the passing game, he gets home with good effort and motor. He needs to improve and refine his overall technique as a pass rusher, but shows flashes of the athleticism that projects him to have success at the next level.
Ideal Role: Off the ball 4-3 OLB.
Scheme Fit: Any defense with hybrid even/odd front principles will have no problems using him as a valuable chess piece.
No. 58 Creed Humphrey Center (Oklahoma) Ravens need a center and Humphrey is the best in the draft. If there's a run on IOL early in the draft, he wont be there at 58, but if he is, the Ravens can't pass on him.
Humphrey is a wide-bodied interior blocker that has a wealth of experience along the interior. With 37 career starts (36 straight), he’s been a three-year starter that’s been a key cog of one of the most explosive offenses in the country. As a left-handed center, he’s one of the few in the country. While being a limited athlete, he has the smarts of knowing how to use his frame, strength, and football IQ to his advantage. Hardly ever asked to exit outside of his parameters in the A-gaps, he’s quick to mark his territory and isn’t one to waste time jostling back and forth with interior defenders. In the right scheme, he has the chance to go on to eventually become a long-term starter in a power-centric offense that keeps his demands in short areas. He graduated with a degree in Finance (Dec. 2020).
Ideal Role: Starting Center
Scheme Fit: Man/Gap/Power scheme
No. 98 (comp for David Culley) D'Wayne Eskridge WR (Western Michigan) He's got the attitude and nasty streak the Ravens need in the WR room. The Ravens need a WR with a mean streak and he fits the bill. Excellent run blocker, will go up and get 50/50 balls or punish the defenders for trying to intercept the pass. I still have to do a little more research, but he should be dynamic in this offense.
D'Wayne Eskridge is a former defensive back that transitioned back and forth between the two positions due to injuries on the roster and other players transferring from the program. He had high-end production despite not being able to settle into a position until his final season. Eskridge is a well-developed wideout that has the mentality of a defensive player. With strong hands and a seasoned route tree, he’s capable of playing on the inside or outside. Also a mainstay on special teams, he’s a prospect that will be on every special teams unit—not only as a returner, but as a hustle man on both kickoff and punt groups. A vicious and high effort run blocker, he has bone-crushing blocks on the perimeter and doesn’t take plays off if the ball isn’t in his hands.
Ideal Role: Developmental No. 3 wide receiver.
Scheme Fit: No. 3 wide receiver with the potential to turn into a consistent No. 2 or slot option. Eskridge can be a Day 1 starter as a returner on kickoffs or punts.
No. 125 Adetokumbo Ogundeji Defensive Lineman (Notre Dame) He's played as a defensive end mostly, but is projecting as an interior d lineman. He'll need to gain some weight unless he's going to be used to create pressure up the middle on passing downs.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji projects as a developmental starting defensive lineman at the NFL level. With prototypical length, heavy hands, and a pleasant amount of get-off, Ogundeji has the kinds of traits that will command the eyes of defensive coaches and have them ready to invest in a chance to work with a physically-gifted prospect. Ogundeji enjoyed a fruitful final season with the Irish, setting a career high in sacks (6.0) as a member of the Irish defense and showcasing plenty of appeal along the way. Any team looking to get the most out of Ogundeji will have multiple avenues to get there: They can implement him in a tight alignment off the edge or they could potentially explore adding mass to his frame; he carries 270 very well and could potentially add more to become more of an interior hybrid player as well. If he stacks weight, he has the potential to be a high-volume snap-taker. He quickly added 30-plus pounds of muscle upon his arrival in South Bend, so whether or not he’s still capable of adding without sacrificing athleticism does add some risk to a forecast on the interior—but any projection and forecast will likely require patience along the way.
Ideal Role: Developmental edge rusher or hybrid defensive lineman.
Scheme Fit: Multiple front defense, gap control philosophies up front.
No. 155 Richard LeCounte Safety (Georgia) It might take him a year or two, but hopefully he can replace Chuck Clark as the FS. If nothing else, maybe he can get in on some sub packages to get Chuck off the field in passing situations.
Richard LeCounte aligned at safety for the Bulldogs defense. He is a good communicator on the back end and displays leadership from the position. He plays with good agility and balance while in coverage. He has instances for aligning in man coverage while in the slot, ultimately demonstrating the versatility to align in multiple places. He does, however, play light and this is evident at the point of attack. He also projects with upside in the kicking game as a four-phase core special teamer.
Ideal Role: Rotational NFL safety in subpackages.
Scheme Fit: He has the skill set to play in multiple schemes and would excel in a scheme that utilizes his proficiency in the passing game.
I'll post scout videos once the draft is over. I'll also be doing a few more mock drafts before the event.
We good bruh.
