The heavy activity of free agency is over, and the Ravens spent the last months patching up nearly all of the holes on their roster.
General Manager Ozzie Newsome addressed needs at wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, inside linebacker and safety, and now he has options heading into the NFL Draft next month.
"I think we've put ourselves in a position that we can let Eric DeCosta] and Ozzie do what they do best, and that’s have a fair draft – a legitimately fair draft where they take the best player,” Owner Steve Bisciotti [said at the owners meetings last month.
The recent moves have changed the Ravens' needs for the draft, and the opinions from the experts vary on what they expect the Ravens to do at pick No. 17.
Here's a roundup of the most recent mock drafts.
ESPN, Mel KiperPosted April 3
OT/OG Zack Martin, Notre Dame
Senior; 6-foot-4, 308 pounds
"The addition of Steve Smith shifts my priority a little here. Initially, Brandin Cooks would have seemed like an ideal fit, but it's a deep draft at the skill positions on offense, and I'm going to address a pretty significant need at tackle, where Ricky Wagner would be starting on the right side if the season started tomorrow. Martin, who was solid at left tackle for the Irish, can play early."
ESPN, Todd McShayPosted April 10
Martin
"Tight end and linebacker are also need positions, but with TE Eric Ebron and LB C.J. Mosley off the board, I have the Ravens addressing their need at right tackle in this scenario. I actually like Morgan Moses' potential more than Martin's, but Martin should be a good starter at right tackle and in a worst-case scenario can be kicked inside to guard. The Ravens could also be looking to add size in the secondary (Lardarius Webb and Matt Elam are both shorter defensive backs), so free safety and cornerback are Day 2 possibilities for them."
Sports Illustrated, Chris BurkePosted March 25
OT Taylor Lewan, Michigan
*Senior; 6-7, 309
*"Lewan's lingering legal woes are worrisome, but you can bet that NFL teams ran the gamut with him on that topic during the combine and will do so again during individual meetings. Assuming all checks out adequately, there is top-10 talent here. It also may do Lewan some good to land somewhere with a strong locker room situation like Baltimore, and this is hardly a team that turns its back on players with a little edge."
Sports Illustrated, Doug FarrarPosted April 1
S Calvin Pryor, Louisville
*Junior; 6-2, 208; 75 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions, 4 passes defensed
*"The signing of Steve Smith reduces a need Baltimore has had for a long time, though Smith might be best at slot duty at this point in his career. What we do know is that the team wants to move 2013 first-rounder Matt Elam to strong safety, leaving it in the lurch when it comes to deep coverage. Pryor, who I actually like a bit better than Clinton-Dix, is physical in the run game and can handle everything from slot duty to center field. He's not quite as fast as Earl Thomas, but he plays with a similar disregard for his own body — and the bodies of his opponents."
CBSSports.com, Pete PriscoPosted April 2
WR Mike Evans, Texas A&M
Redshirt sophomore; 6-5, 225; 69 catches, 1,394 yards, 12 touchdowns
"He would be their next Anquan Boldin. Steve Smith is essentially on a one-year deal."
CBSSports.com, Rob RangPosted April 8
Lewan
"General manager Ozzie Newsome is a master on draft day in large part because he sticks to the Best Player Available strategy. Lewan is a top-10 talent, whose propensity for over-aggression on and off the field could result in a bit of a slide."
CBSSports.com, Pat KirwanPosted April 4
DT Ra'shede Hageman, Minnesota
Senior; 6-6, 310; 38 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception
"Arthur Jones left in free agency and the 6-6 Hageman has the ability to line up anywhere in the Raven front three. Haloti Ngata can't play forever and this guy is an insurance policy against the end of Ngata's career."
CBSSports.com, Dane BruglerPosted April 7
Pryor
"Could the Ravens go safety in back-to-back years? Why not, that's one possibility with James Ihedigbo not expected back and pairing Pryor with Matt Elam would give Baltimore options in the deep half."
NFL.com, Bryan FischerPosted April 1
TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina
Junior; 6-4, 231; 62 catches, 973 yards, 3 touchdowns
"Ebron gives Joe Flacco a new outlet and helps free up newly signed Steve Smith."
