There's uncertainty at the Ravens offensive tackle position with starter Eugene Monroe's recent injury history and Kelechi Osemele scheduled to hit the open market. The Ravens may look to the draft to bolster the position.
Here's how some of the nation's top senior offensive tackles fared at the Senior Bowl this week:
Jason Spriggs, Indiana
*6-foot-6, 305 pounds; Draft projection = round two
*The Ravens don't want to mess around with quarterback Joe Flacco's blindside as he returns from an ACL/MCL injury, and Spriggs' history suggests he could take very good care of him. The 2015 Outland Trophy semifinalist allowed just two sacks in 431 called pass attempts. He continued his strong play in Senior Bowl practices, where NFL scouts voted him the top offensive lineman of the all-star week. Playing mainly at left tackle, Spriggs was fun to watch as he routinely used his quickness and agility to ward off oncoming pass rushers and knocked them to the ground on occasion. A former tight end, Spriggs is extremely athletic and ideally suited for the zone blocking scheme the Ravens offense employs. It's the same system he played in with the Hoosiers. Spriggs wants to put on a few more pounds to get ready for the power that comes with defenders at the NFL level.
Spencer Drango, Baylor*6-foot-6, 320 pounds; Draft projection = rounds two or three
*While Drango was a four-year starter at left tackle for the Bears, some scouts believe he projects better to guard at the NFL level. Of all the tackles at the Senior Bowl, Drango ranked No. 1 by allowing pressure on just 1.7 percent of pass plays during the 2015 season (FBS average was 5.4 percent), according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). He was named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year two years in a row, paving the way for an offense that led the country in points (48.1) and yards (616) per game. Drango had his ups and downs in Mobile – especially with top pass rusher Noah Spence – as he was transitioning from Baylor's spread offense to a pro-style on the fly.
Kyle Murphy, Stanford
*6-foot-6, 301 pounds; Draft projection = round three
*Murphy showed off his positional versatility in Mobile, moving between left and right tackle. While North defenders had a good week, Murphy won his share of battles. He exclusively played left tackle last season for the Cardinal, who have a long history of pumping out stud offensive linemen, including first-rounders like the Steelers' David DeCastro and New Orleans' Andrus Peat. Murphy helped pave the way for the nation's second-leading rusher in Christian McCaffrey (2,019 yards). The Cardinal also allowed the fewest sacks (18) in the Pac-12. Like Spriggs, Murphy is a converted tight end and showcases rare athletic ability for a man his size.
John Theus, Georgia
*6-foot-6, 317 pounds; Draft projection = rounds two or three
*Theus has plenty of experience as he's faced elite SEC talent since becoming a starter for the Bulldogs in his freshman year. That includes facing 2014 top overall pick and pass-rushing stud Jadeveon Clowney of the Houston Texans. But all that experience didn't necessarily translate to the Senior Bowl, where Theus was exposed and pushed back by bull rushers and struggled with containing speed rushers. His future in the NFL may be better on the right side.
Le'Raven Clark, Texas Tech*6-foot-6, 312 pounds; Draft projection = round four
*Clark is considered a prospect that will take some time to develop, transitioning from Texas Tech to a pro-style offense that will require some technique changes. Ravens Offensive Line Coach Juan Castillo has a reputation for developing young linemen, and there's plenty to work with in Clark. He has a ton of upside with a big frame, strong footwork and flexibility. Clark strung together strong Senior Bowl practices, and highlights of an impressive crack block and pancake block are already making the rounds on Twitter. The Outland and Rotary Lombardi Award candidate made 51 straight starts for the Red Raiders, and allowed just two sacks in 2015, according to PFF.
