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How Ravens Could Get Top-Rated Laremy Tunsil

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Once considered the draft's top prospect, Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil is all but guaranteed not to be the first-overall pick.

With the St. Louis Rams trading up to No. 1 overall and Philadelphia Eagles following suit with a trade up to No. 2, quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz are penciled into the top two spots.

So, could Tunsil slide all the way to Baltimore at No. 6?

"Yeah, there's a chance that Tunsil could be there," ESPN draftnik Mel Kiper said Tuesday. "I think it hinges on San Diego. That's the spot where they could obviously take the left tackle and help out Philip Rivers. If they don't, then he could be there [at six]."

After two quarterbacks are taken, San Diego will be on the clock. Many mockniks have Tunsil going there, but it's not a certainty.

The San Diego Union-Tribune's Michael Gehlken wrote that Tunsil would be a "messy fit."

Left tackle King Dunlap signed a four-year, $28 million contract in 2015. Right tackle Joe Barksdale signed a four-year, $23.5 million contract last month.

However, Dunlap has struggled with durability – similar to the issues Eugene Monroe has had with the Ravens. Dunlap had a concussion, then high ankle sprain that sidelined him for nearly all of the final nine games.

Once free agency began, the Chargers opted to keep Dunlap on the roster, guaranteeing his salary, which was later restructured. They also re-signed swing reserve tackle Chris Hairston to a two-year deal.

So if the Chargers draft Tunsil, either he or Dunlap will begin the season on the bench, which would be tough to swallow for the No. 3 overall pick.

If the Chargers don't take Tunsil, it doesn't appear likely that the Cowboys (No. 4) or Jaguars (No. 5) would. The Cowboys have young three-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith at left tackle. The Jaguars have former second-overall pick Luke Joeckel and signed tackle Kelvin Beachum in free agency.

"If San Diego did take a defensive player and Dallas took Bosa or Elliot … Jacksonville, we'll have to see what they do, whether it's Myles Jack or not. It seems like that's who they locked into," Kiper said. "Then Baltimore is looking at [running back Ezekiel] Elliott or Tunsil."

After all the talk about the Ravens taking a defensive player at No. 6, Kiper can envision a very possible scenario with Baltimore picking between two talented offensive players at positions where there isn't as much immediate need.

Baltimore has Eugene Monroe penciled in as the starting left tackle. He's had trouble staying healthy, however, leading to questions about his future in Baltimore.

And by now Ravens fans should know that General Manager Ozzie Newsome operates by the best-player-available mantra. If Tunsil is ranked before other defensive standouts, Newsome could pull the trigger on a franchise left tackle.

"So yeah, [Tunsil] could be there," Kiper said. "And if he is, it would be hard to pass him up."

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