Last Mock Draft - This isn't going to be popular with some people, but it's no secret the Ravens need pass rush help. In this Mock, they get it for multiple years to come. Also, the reason I took a WR so late is because I believe the Ravens brought Tee and Keith in to develop the WRs they already have on the roster.That means, the Ravens won't be making WR an early round priority. Boykin already has the outside size they want and Hollywood already has the speed they want. Watkins will bring it all together. Duvernay will fill the slot and should be more of a threat Snead ever was. Proche might not have a job if Daerden is any type of return threat.
No. 27 Zaven Collins LB (He can play any LB spot and is a dynamic playmaker.) I can see the Browns taking him or Christian Barmore at 27. They're in need of front 7 help after cutting Richardson and losing Ogunjobi to the Bungals.
After a high school career in which Zaven Collins was a four-year starter at quarterback and linebacker/safety, Tulsa was the only Division I program to offer him a scholarship. He ended his college career by claiming the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is awarded to the nation’s best defensive player. Collins offers an exciting blend of size, length, power, football intelligence, and versatility that makes him a dynamic prospect for the NFL. Whether it’s defending the run, dropping into coverage, or rushing the passer, Collins has the requisite skill set required to execute and was arguably the most dynamic defensive playmaker in college football for the 2020 season. He demonstrated notable growth in 2020, becoming a complete defender and making high-impact, clutch plays seemingly every week. The Belichick disciples and teams that deploy that style of defense are likely salivating over Collins’ skill set and he projects as an impact defender in the NFL that can make plays in a variety of ways.
Ideal Role: Starting linebacker given opportunities to rush the passer, drop in coverage, play downhill, and in space.
Scheme Fit: Collins projects favorably to a defense that is multiple with its alignments that presents the opportunity for him to unleash the full breadth of his skill set.
No. 58 Joseph Ossai (DE/OLB) Yes, they will need to double dip early if they want to be considered a threat to any good QB.
While suiting up for the Longhorns, Ossai started in 24 of the 36 games that he participated in. Possessing a long frame that still has room to grow, he’s an edge rusher that’s still figuring out how to utilize his present tools. Because of his natural athleticism, he spent time seesawing back and forth between off-ball linebacker and defensive end. As a result, he was unable to find his comfort zone while experimenting with both positions. It wasn't until his final season at Texas where he settled in as a true edge rusher. Showing more comfort from the stand-up position, Ossai is an explosive mover and contains lots of enthusiasm throughout multiple parts of his game. A motor that stays flaming hot, he’s able to positively impact plays even if they’re not intended in his direction. As a natural playmaker, he has a knack for being a turnover creator that can get the offense the ball back at crucial moments in games. Having powerful hands, he’s a reactionary rusher that still has room to grow as an initiator with his pass rush moves. Still figuring out how to diagnose and attack run game concepts, he’s continued to improve with the more reps that he’s experienced at a single position. Ossai is raw in pass coverage when asked to drop to certain spots and it’s an area that proves to be one of his biggest deficiencies.
Ideal Role: Ossai can align as a 3-4 outside linebacker that is used as a spot dropper in coverage. He’s also capable of putting his hand in the dirt as a 5-technique in a four-man defensive front.
Scheme Fit: 3-4 Outside Linebacker
No. 104 Ar'Darius Washington FS Ravens need a legitimate FS.
Although a smaller safety prospect, Ar'Darius Washington is a very physical player in all departments of his game. Possessing a fluid backpedal in zone coverage, he has a great eye for passing concepts and the exact plan of attack from offenses. His change of direction/hips are clean when transitioning in and out of his breaks. Washington can turn and run when asked to, even though the Horned Frogs incorporate lots of two-high and three-safety looks on the back end. Physicality as a run supporter shows up often and he’s often been able to save the day as the last line of defense. While not afforded opportunities to play it often except in the red zone, he’s shown to be adequate in man coverage, as he has the smoothness and athleticism to cover slot options. He's got ball skills galore and he attacks the ball out of the air. He's highly competitive at the catch point and many of his turnover opportunities have come from coverage awareness or following the eyes of throwers to take him to intended throwing locations. Washington’s eyes can get caught in the backfield often and he remains glued to play-action fakes for too long. He waits too long to see and diagnose plays, particularly deeper passes. This has resulted in routes getting by him and has left him playing catch up on recovery attempts. His lack of length shows up when attempting to get off blocks and fighting through the trash in order to get to the ball. His lack of height may make some teams hesitant as his measurements are below many previous thresholds for players at the position.
Ideal Role: Developmental free safety.
Scheme Fit: Free safety in zone-heavy scheme.
No. 131 Kendrick Green OG/C
Illinois interior offensive lineman Kendrick Green projects favorably as a Day 3 target in the 2021 NFL Draft. Green, who came to the Illini program as a defensive tackle and transitioned to the offense ahead of the 2017 college season, finished his career with 33 consecutive starts at either guard or center for Illinois. Green has the lateral mobility and functional athleticism to develop and continue to work with at the pro level—his potential as a recent position swap should not be ignored. That said, Green is understandably rough around the edges with the finer points of strike placement, feel for scraping defenders, angles when climbing to the second level, and his footwork and base; there are too many reps in which Green finds himself on the ground. But viewing him through the scope of a player who is still new to the position, the flashes of leverage at the point of attack and mobility, particularly at center, make him a worthwhile flier later in the draft.
Ideal Role: Developmental center.
Scheme Fit: Wide/Outside-zone-heavy rushing offense.
No. 171 Josh Imatorbhebhe WR
Illinois wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe is one of the most impressive pure athletes at the wide receiver position to enter this year’s draft class. A USC transfer and a former 4-star prospect, Imatorbhebhe offers size, ball skills, and explosiveness on the perimeter. There’s plenty of room for added development with his route-running, but the raw athletic profile and skill set of Imatorbhebhe will make him an enticing investment opportunity in this year’s draft. Production and playing experience will temper his status as a prospect, but nevertheless, this is exactly the kind of player you’ll gladly take an early Day 3 flyer on in the hopes that you can develop him into what his potential indicates he could be. Imatorbhebhe has above-average vertical speed, but the high point skills to be an absolute terror at the catch point in a vertical passing offense. There’s no certainty he’ll reach that ceiling if he’s unable to further flesh out his game, but he’s got a trump card that should carry him into some level of contribution regardless of how much growth he shows from here.
Ideal Role: Developmental starting X-receiver.
Scheme Fit: Vertical passing offense.
No. 184 Shakur Brown CB (Can't go another season with these make a wish Nickel corners. If Tavon is there, great, but Averett needs to go and who knows what Iman Marshall can do. I'm thinking he's an outside only corner anyway.)
Shakur Brown enters the 2021 NFL Draft as an early entry after enjoying a successful campaign in 2020 as a breakout defender for the Spartans defense. Brown, who was implemented in much more of a variety of roles in 2020 than he was in years prior, logged five interceptions on the season for 2020 and showcased the needed versatility to appeal to just about every defensive system in the league, regardless of what the primary coverage shell is. Brown is feisty and showed much better stickiness in coverage this past season, but he’s also entering into the NFL with a troublesome sample size; he has just 12 starts at the college level and is only now coming into his own as a defensive back—his 2019 tape was littered with false steps and errant challenges on vertical throws down the field. Brown has a fairly high ceiling and is probably most appealing as a nickel cornerback in a press-man style secondary, but teams who invest in him early are taking a major leap of faith based on his seven starts and quality play in 2020.
Ideal Role: Press corner at either perimeter or slot.
Scheme Fit: High occurrence of man-to-man coverage.
No. 210 Jaelon Darden WR
North Texas wide receiver Jaelon Darden is a dynamic, explosive threat with the football in his hands. Darden’s stature is likely to limit him to more of a complementary role in an offense, but his vertical receiving skills and ability to generate yards after contact with his slipperiness is difficult to overlook. Darden would benefit from playing in a spread offense that spaces the field and minimizes the congestion he’ll have to run through at the NFL level—and teams would be wise to implement him most often on quick “now” screens, bubbles, out breaking patterns, and targets vertically down the field. Darden, as an added bonus, has two years of primary punt return duties on his resume (2017 and 2019) and can contribute on the special teams units as an added boost to his 53-man roster outlook. Darden is a natural in making the first arriving defender miss and teams who need depth and help creating explosive plays would be wise to look his way in the middle rounds of this year’s 2021 NFL Draft.
Ideal Role: Featured slot receiver and kick returner.
Scheme Fit: Spread offense.
