Drafting a Standout Wide Receiver Is No Easy Feat
Even though the Ravens have several needs heading into the draft, wide receiver is the one that's mentioned most often. It's not just because the Ravens are thin at the position; it's also because the team has had little success at drafting and developing wide receivers.
As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley pointed out, drafting a standout wide receiver actually is difficult for any organization.
"Baltimore has to use multiple picks on wide receivers because the odds are stacked against landing standout ones," Hensley wrote. "Over the past 10 drafts, 19 of the 125 wide receivers taken in the first three rounds have reached a Pro Bowl. That's just a 15 percent success rate."
"Historically, [the tough transition for wide receivers] has been true," Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "Then there's always a rookie or two every year that proves it wrong. Hopefully, we'll get that rookie. But it's tough."
Hensley noted that NFL Network analyst and former NFL General Manager Charley Casserly once did a study on why so many wide receivers struggle to make the transition from college to the NFL.
"The biggest reason why receivers fail of the higher-round picks was the inability to separate," Casserly said. "A lot of times in college, you don't have to separate from anybody. You face a lot of zone coverages and soft coverages and the corners who cover man aren't good. In college, you don't face a lot of tight coverage. Especially with bigger receivers, but they couldn't separate."
Casserly, by the way, said on Glenn Clark Radio that he believes the Ravens will trade back in the first round and select Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown.
In Cris Collinsworth’s mock draft for Pro Football Focus, he has the Ravens picking Georgia wide receiver Ryan Ridley.
"Ridley is the most complete and polished receiver in this draft," Collinsworth wrote. "Very clever routes, tremendous fundamentals at the break point and has tremendous hands. He will get a lot of single coverage with Lamar Jackson's running skills and he always seems to find a way to get open. Not great speed, but you will never be sorry you have Ridley on your team."
Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf was, by far, the most popular projection to the Ravens at No. 22 in our latest edition of Mock Draft Monitor.
The Ravens likely need an immediate impact from whatever rookie wide receiver(s) they draft. Can they find the needle in the haystack? We'll see.
Here are the comps and scouting reports for this year's top wide receivers from NFL.com's Lance Zierlein.
D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss – Josh Gordon
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Big, explosive talent with projectable upside to become a home-run threat as a WR1. Teams seek out pass-catchers with rare height, weight and speed dimensions and Metcalf has those for days. While he has the talent to become a full-field threat, Metcalf is still an unpolished gem who was the second-best receiver on his college team. Until his skill-set is more developed, he could begin his career as a hit-or-miss long-ball threat. However, once it clicks, defenses could struggle to find solutions for him.
Marquise Brown, Oklahoma – DeSean Jackson
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: "Hollywood" is a skinny, but speedy receiver with game-breaking potential on every snap. His ability to race past cornerbacks and separate deep will require specific coverage and safeties ready to help. His thin frame is a liability when faced with contested catches both short and deep, and long-term durability is a legitimate concern. However, his ability to threaten deep with long speed and short as an elite run-after-catch talent gives him a chance to become the most impactful wideout in this draft
Parris Campbell, Ohio State – Percy Harvin
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Blue-chip athlete with elite package of size, speed and fluidity as a big slot receiver. Campbell's athletic attributes could create a coverage conundrum if his offensive coordinator puts him in a diversified role that allows him to attack vertically more often. Teams know he's a gifted athlete, but he needs to add more polish as a route-runner to become a well-rounded target instead of a gadget slot. His upside is bolstered by his traits while his special teams ability and talent with the ball in his hands should level out any bust concerns.
A.J. Brown, Ole Miss – JuJu Smith-Schuster
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Slot bully with rare combination of brawn and quickness that allows him to separate with both power and foot quickness. Brown has the size and demeanor to take on a relatively heavy workload as a safety blanket for a young quarterback in a ball-control passing attack. He'll see an upgrade in athlete across from him, but he has the feet and body control to uncover and create windows as a premium route-runner.
Deebo Samuel, South Carolina – Pharoh Cooper
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Tyshun "Deebo" Samuel lives up to his nickname (it comes from a tough guy in the movie "Friday") and plays each game like he's stepping into an alley fight. While Samuel is tough and competitive, he lacks suddenness and might need scheme help with motion and bunch formations to help free him against NFL man coverage. He is a gamer who thrives once the ball is in his hands, and he might be able to help a team from the slot if he can stay healthy.
N'Keal Harry, Arizona State – Allen Robinson
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Back-shoulder boss who thrives with contested catch opportunities outside the numbers but lacks explosive traits. Harry's ability to body-up opponents and win with ball skills is undeniable, but his inability to find a threatening top gear or shake loose from tight man coverage must be accounted for within his new employer's scheme. His experience playing inside should help and teams will love his impact as a run-blocker. His competitiveness and ability to come down with the ball could make him a productive member of wide receiver trio in short order.
Riley Ridley, Georgia – James Jones
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Physical possession receiver who wins with attention to detail in his routes, plus body control and sure hands. Ridley isn't the fastest receiver on the block, but there is enough under the engine to race cornerbacks down the field if he's challenged on an island. His separation windows may always be a little tighter, but his timing and ability to turn contested catches in his favor should make him a better pro than college player with an upside of WR2.
Emmanuel Hall, Missouri – Mike Wallace
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: One-trick pony at Missouri with impressive turbo boost to rocket past cornerbacks and take the top off of defenses. Hall's transition into the NFL could be slowed by the challenge of physical press corners with good top-end speed, but his athleticism and short-area quickness should allow him to counter as a three-level route-runner with more exposure to an NFL route tree. It could take time, but he has the size and speed to become a low-volume, high-impact WR2/WR3.
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Stanford – Eric Decker
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Big, strong target who plays like he's big and strong and gets more and more dangerous the closer he gets to the red zone. Arcega-Whiteside plays with functional quickness in spurts, but not enough to get away from tight coverage and he won't run by many NFL cornerbacks on go routes. However, his basketball bloodlines are on full display every time the ball is in the air, using his body control and ball skills to excel at combat catches and back-shoulder throws. Arcega-Whiteside may not be explosive, but his competitive nature should help make him a future NFL starter.
Mecole Hardman, Georgia – Tyler Lockett
Zierlein’s Scouting Report: Raw but explosive with burst to uncover underneath and a second gear to threaten over the top. Hardman is a relative newcomer to the position and it shows up at times in routes and his struggles competing for the ball in traffic. Hardman could develop into a lesser version of Tyreek Hill with his playmaking potential after the catch, on deep balls and as a returner. Speed kills in today's game and Hardman's could be coveted on Day 2 (Rounds 2-3).
Jalen Hurd, Baylor – Terrelle Pryor
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Hurd was used as big slot but he might need to transition into a role outside to take advantage of his potential to stretch the field as a downfield ball-winner. He's still learning the nuances of the position, but he has outstanding traits, a great work ethic and an ability to get much better very quickly. While Hurd will be an NFL receiver, he offers a unique option of becoming a short-yardage banger near the goal line. His best days are in front of him.
Hakeem Butler, Iowa State – Danario Alexander
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Big long-strider with exceptional length and good build-up speed to challenge cover corners and safeties down the field. Butler's unique play strength after the catch allows him to win contested deep balls and then plow through tackle attempts to create chunk plays and long touchdowns. His routes are basic and clunky and will limit how teams can use him. A greater concern will be those inconsistent hands that could turn quarterbacks against him unless he improves them. He's a work in progress, but the traits and potential are worth taking a shot.
Miles Boykin, Notre Dame – Kenny Golladay
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Lingering on his tape can cause excessive focus on his inconsistencies and areas of improvement, but projecting his traits with additional coaching makes more sense. Boykin's size, length and athleticism offers exciting potential as an outside receiver with mismatch potential, but he will have to learn how to counter press, improve his routes and become more competitive when the ball is in the air. His size won't matter if he doesn't learn to impose it on others. If that happens, he'll become an eventual starter with a high ceiling.
Terry McLaurin, Ohio State – Justin Hardy
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Wide receiver with good size, average tape, a strong showing at the Senior Bowl and a special teams pedigree. McLaurin is faster than quick, but he's a detailed route runner who leans on physicality at the top of his route to beat handsy cornerbacks across their face. He will need to improve his ball skills and body positioning if he wants to win contested catches on the NFL level. He has the talent to be an NFL backup and his talent as a gunner could help him see the field quickly on special teams.
Andy Isabella, Massachusetts – Phillip Dorsett
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Competitive, well-rounded receiver possessing both elite quickness and long speed to go with solid play strength. Isabella has the feet and fakes to uncover in a hallway closet, and the former high school sprint champion proved to Georgia that his ability to win deep should not be underestimated. Isabella could become a menace on option routes with the ability to add vertical routes from the slot, but he must improve his pass-catching consistency and smoothness into his breaks in order to transition all that speed to the NFL.
Kelvin Harmon, N.C. State – Mohamed Sanu
**Zierlein’s Scouting Report**: Harmon might show up as average in the speed and quickness departments, but he knows how to play and he plays to his strengths. He has issues separating against tight man coverage so he uses his frame, play strength and ball skills to own a bigger piece of a smaller catch space. He has a big-dog swagger.
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah Learned From Working Under Ozzie Newsome
Daniel Jeremiah will work his first NFL Draft since taking over as NFL Network's lead draft analyst after Mike Mayock left the position to become Oakland Raiders General Manager several months ago. Thus, Jeremiah reflected on his humble beginnings as a personnel assistant with the Ravens in an interview with The Athletic's Sheil Kapadia.
Jeremiah, who joined the Ravens in 2003, was a member of the organization's 20/20 club – as in 20-something years old with a salary around $20K. Other former members of the club include Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta and Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz.
"On some days, 20 also came close to representing the number of hours in the office," Kapadia wrote of Jeremiah's two years as a personnel assistant before he was promoted to West Coast scout. "Jeremiah remembers getting to the facility at 6:30 a.m. on Mondays and staying until 1 or 2 the next morning. Tuesdays weren't so bad. He'd be out of there by 11 p.m. or midnight. And by the end of the week, he could ease up with a 12- or 13-hour day.
"The payoff for the long hours was an opportunity to learn the ropes and break into scouting for a successful franchise. General manager Ozzie Newsome welcomed input from everyone, regardless of title. It didn't matter that Jeremiah's role put him at the bottom of the organizational totem pole. On Mondays after games, the entire personnel staff would watch the film together. Jeremiah was assigned a position to watch and asked to explain his evaluations."
"That was my scouting education was for two years sitting in those meetings and watching tape with those guys, listening to what they saw," Jeremiah told Kapadia.
One of Jeremiah's duties with the Ravens was being on headset during the draft and calling in the picks.
Jeremiah got his foot in the door with the Ravens by volunteering to do a series of odd jobs for the team at the 2003 Combine – such as saving seats at player weigh-ins and making sure the Ravens' interview room was filled with everyone's favorite drinks and snacks – as a sort of an informal interview, he told Kapadia.
Jeremiah ended up taking over the personnel assistant job from current Philadelphia Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Joe Douglas after Douglas was promoted to an area scout position. After four years with Baltimore, Jeremiah left to become the national scout for the Cleveland Browns in 2007 and later worked as a West Coast scout for the Eagles before joining NFL Network as an analyst in 2012.
Clelin Ferrell a Popular Pick for Ravens at No. 22
Some mock drafts that came out yesterday have Clemson edge rusher Clelin Ferrell going to the Ravens at No. 22, including one by NBC Sports’ Peter King.
"New England hopes Ferrell falls 10 more spots, but he won't," King wrote. "Ferrell is an ideal building block on a defensive front that needs a new star."
In The Los Angeles Times' beat writers mock draft, The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec goes with Ferrell for the Ravens.
"The Ravens lost Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith this offseason and their defense is predicated on being aggressive and getting pressure on the quarterback. Matthew Judon is their only established pass rusher, so this is a case where one of the best players available matches up with their biggest need," Zrebiec wrote. "Ferrell had 21 sacks and 38 tackles for loss over his final two college seasons, so he should step in and contribute immediately."
Penn Live’s Aaron Kasinitz also selected Ferrell for The Ravens at No. 22
"Ferrell was easily the best outside linebacker option remaining in our simulation when the Ravens got on the clock," Kasinitz wrote.
Ebony Bird’s Chris Schisler ranked the Ravens' top 10 options at No. 22 and went with Ferrell at No. 1.
"Ferrell is the most common sense replacement of Terrell Suggs," Schisler wrote. "He's a big, thick-framed outside linebacker who will be dominant off the edge. He's solid against the run and he's good at getting to the quarterback. He's got the production, he passes the eye test and the measurables match the eye test. Ferrell could be one of the best players in the entire NFL in a few years."
A couple weeks ago, ESPN draft expert Todd McShay put together a best-case scenario three-round mock draft and had the Ravens selecting Ferrell at No. 22.
"Clelin is just a really good football player," McShay told BaltimoreRavens.com. "You look at his [Combine testing] numbers and he doesn't have the elite explosiveness, but he got better every year, his production was outstanding. Did he benefit from having two other potential first-rounders on the defensive line at Clemson? Sure. But he still had to produce and he did, week in and week out."
Mark Ingram, Lamar Jackson Will Need Time to Develop Chemistry
Running back Mark Ingram, who played with a classic drop-back passer in Drew Brees for eight seasons in New Orleans, acknowledged in an article written by Kasinitz that playing in a read-option offense with Lamar Jackson will be a learning process.
"The read-option plays aren't entirely unfamiliar to Ingram," Kasinitz wrote. "Nearly every NFL team, including the Saints, incorporated some sort of run-pass-option plays into their base offense last season and New Orleans would occasionally put Taysom Hill behind center to throw a curveball to defenses.
"But that was just a wrinkle in New Orleans' playbook, Ingram said, that gave him 'a small taste' of that type of offense. The Ravens are planning to construct their entire attack around Jackson's speed and a dynamic running game that includes a steady dose of read-option plays."
Kasinitz quoted Ingram as saying that he'll "have to develop timing, patience and chemistry with Jackson to help the offense click."
"It's just repetition," Ingram said, "just developing a camaraderie and a relationship where we trust each other."
By the way, MMQB's Albert Breer thinks the Ravens could still add a first-round running back to the mix. Even though he has Baltimore picking Oklahoma guard/tackle Cody Ford in his latest mock draft, Breer thinks Baltimore could draft Alabama’s Josh Jacobs.
"There's been some buzz on Metcalf here. And the Ravens have needs on defense," Breer wrote. "But more than anything, I've heard they're going to continue to build up the run game around Lamar Jackson, even after spending on Mark Ingram. So I wouldn't rule out Josh Jacobs here. Or a big, nasty offensive lineman."
Quick Hits
- It appears that Joe Flacco will not have a rookie looking over his shoulder in Denver. like he did last year in Baltimore. "I'm hearing that the Broncos will not be taking a quarterback in the first round. Instead, they are more likely to roll the dice with Joe Flacco and attend to other needs. If Denver doesn't go defense here, which is a possibility, it could go with tight end T.J.] Hockenson. But I'm also told Michigan ILB Devin Bush is in play,” [McShay wrote when delivering the latest draft buzz.
- Pawject Runway, featuring Ronnie Stanley, Nick Boyle, Chris Moore, Patrick Onwuasor, several former Ravens and their pets, is coming to Royal Farms Arena on April 27 and tickets are on sale now.
