It has been a whirlwind month in the NFL since our Mock Draft Monitor 2.0.
The Ravens acquired three significant players during free agency – safety Earl Thomas, running back Mark Ingram, and special teams ace/cornerback Justin Bethel. Meanwhile, a host of key players from last season have departed, including quarterback Joe Flacco, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, safety Eric Weddle, outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Za'Darius Smith, and wide receivers John Brown and Michael Crabtree.
In addition, the first-round draft order has changed. The Cleveland Browns no longer have a first-round pick after trading for star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The New York Giants now have two first-round picks – No. 6, plus the 17th pick, which they acquired in the Beckham deal.
One thing hasn't changed. The overwhelming consensus among pundits is that the Ravens will draft a wide receiver at No. 22. Plenty of wideouts impressed at the NFL combine. But if the Ravens take a wide receiver, which one will it be?
Opinions vary. Here's the latest list of who "the experts" believe the Ravens will take at No. 22:
WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
Senior; 6-foot-0, 205 pounds; 90 catches, 1,063 yards, 12 touchdowns
"Extremely fast and elusive. A perfect match for the run-first Ravens, who now have a true deep threat to throw it to over the heads of safeties creeping to the line of scrimmage to help slow down Ingram and Jackson."
WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa State
Junior; 6-foot-5, 227 pounds; 60 catches, 1,318 yards, nine touchdowns
"Jackson already has a solid stable of tight ends and a new running back in Ingram, but he desperately needs a true No. 1 receiver. With his rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism, Butler is exactly what Jackson needs to take his game to the next level."
WR D.K. Metcalf, Ole Miss
Sophomore; 6-foot-3, 228 pounds; 26 catches, 569 yards, five touchdowns
"Despite missing on the last two receivers they drafted in Round 1 (Breshad Perriman and Mark Clayton), the Ravens could take a flier on Metcalf, who would provide big-play potential in a run-heavy offense that creates plenty of one-on-one opportunities."
WR Parris Campbell, Ohio State
"The Ravens lost Brown and Crabtree in free agency. They have a huge void at receiver, which they could fill with Campbell. I imagine that Baltimore will be looking for a receiver with electrifying speed to pair with Lamar Jackson's arm."
WR N'Keal Harry, Arizona State
Junior; 6-foot-2, 228 pounds; 73 catches, 1,088 yards, nine touchdowns
"It's possible the Ravens don't think they need to improve their wide receiver corps from what they have right now – Willie Snead IV, Jordan Lasley and Chris Moore – but it sure feels likely they could spend an early pick on one of these wideouts."
WR A.J. Brown, Ole Miss
Junior; 6-foot-1, 226 pounds; 85 catches, 1,320 yards, six touchdowns
"The Ravens want to run the football and play stingy defense. But they have to get Jackson legit receiver talent. Brown is very NFL-ready."
RB Josh Jacobs, Alabama
Junior; 5-foot-10, 220 pounds; 120 carries, 640 yards, 11 touchdowns
"It's hard not to love the idea of Baltimore loading up at the position and hammering teams with a consistent running game. A three-headed monster of Jacobs, Mark Ingram, and Gus Edwards would wear down defenses Naval Academy style. Here's a ratio John Harbaugh would love especially: one fumble and 38 broken tackles per 100 touches. Inside the tackles, 6.9 yards per carry."
WR Hakeem Butler, Iowa St.
"One of the great mysteries here in mid-March concerns wide receiver No. 2, as we (I believe rightfully) assume that D.K. Metcalf will be the first off the board. I posed a poll in the immediate wake of the Combine, and Butler took the close win over N'Keal Harry – I have to agree."
WR Marquise Brown, Oklahoma
Junior; 5-foot-9, 166 pounds; 75 catches, 1,318 yards, 10 touchdowns
"After releasing Crabtree and letting John Brown walk, the Ravens can start to think about wideout more with Jackson in mind. Aptly nicknamed "Hollywood" for his Florida hometown, Brown has plenty of flash as a field-stretcher. At 5-foot-9, 166 pounds, he has elite vertical speed and great quickness coming in and out of routes. Brown missed the Combine and the Sooners Pro Day coming off Lisfranc surgery, but he should be good to go for the heat of the offseason program."
