As the Ravens await clarity on Nnamdi Madubuike's future, they could go big-game fishing for another high-impact defensive tackle.
At the NFL Scouting Combine this week, General Manager Eric DeCosta and Head Coach Jesse Minter made it clear that they want to bulk up their defensive front.
"I think if we have the chance to draft a great defensive tackle, of course we will," DeCosta said. "It is one of the most important positions in football."
Minter pointed to the past two Super Bowl winners as proof of the impact that a dominant defensive line can have.
The Philadelphia Eagles took home the Lombardi Trophy behind a suffocating defensive line featuring two first-round picks, Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, and Milton Williams, who was soon given a mega contract by the Patriots.
Williams helped vault New England into the Super Bowl, but Seattle's "Dark Side" defense won the day, led by former first-round defensive tackles Leonard Williams and Byron Murphy II, as well as Jarran Reed and Derick Hall.
"It's an O-line [and] D-line driven league," Minter said.
The Ravens have some pieces on their defensive line already. Travis Jones emerged down the stretch last season, carrying the load after Madubuike's early-season neck injury, and was rewarded with a contract extension. He's a building block.
Baltimore also re-signed veteran nose tackle John Jenkins late last season, and Broderick Washington Jr. is expected to return from a reported season-ending Achilles surgery. The Ravens also got solid contributions from C.J. Okoye in his first year of gameday experience and have an intriguing prospect and pass rusher in Aeneas Peebles, who they drafted in the sixth round last year.
But there's no doubt that if the Ravens want to elevate the defensive line, especially if Madubuike does not return, they'll need some more investments.
Here's who could be in play in the first or second round at defensive tackle:
Kayden McDonald, Ohio State
McDonald is an elite run defender, standing at 6-foot-2, 326 pounds. He plays with violence, but his only three sacks came in his final season.
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Hunter is a 6-foot-3, 318-pound run-stuffing monster. He prides himself on standing up to double teams and being a brick wall up front. His pass rush (7.5 sacks in four seasons) is a work in progress.
Peter Woods, Clemson
Woods is lighter than his peers at 298 pounds, but it shows in his quickness. He makes plays across the line of scrimmage and collected five sacks over his three seasons.
Caleb Banks, Florida
Banks is a rare physical freak, standing at 6-foot-6, 327 pounds and with the longest wingspan of any defensive tackle at the Combine since 1999. He missed much of last season because of a broken foot, but the talent and tools are intriguing.
