UPDATE: The Ravens are dealing Orlando Brown, a 2021 second round pick (#58), and a 2022 sixth round pick to the Chiefs for 2021 first (#31), third (#94), and fourth round picks (#136), and a 2022 fifth round pick.
The Baltimore Ravens saw their season end in the AFC Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills after defeating the AFC South champion Tennessee Titans the previous week.
The Ravens had a legit shot to beat the Bills in the playoffs, but saw former MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson exit the game with a concussion. Before Jackson exiting the game, Baltimore could not get anything going in the passing game. The Ravens’ best wide receiver this past season was Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, but they will need to get a legit No. 1 wideout to take that next step in 2021.
The Ravens could also use some help on the defensive line as they lost Yannick Ngauoke in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders. Baltimore sits at the bottom of the draft with the No. 27 overall pick, but could end up finding another impact player like they did last season in Patrick Queen.
Ravens 2021 Draft Picks
Round 1: No. 27, WR Rashod Bateman; No. 31, DE Jayson Oweh
Round 3: No. 94, G Ben Cleveland; No. 104, S Brandon Stephens
Round 4: No. 131, WR Tylan Wallace
Round 5: No. 160, CB Shaun Wade; No. 171, DE Daelin Hayes; No. 184, FB Ben Mason
Team needs
Offense: Wide Receiver
The Baltimore Ravens did not sign any of the big-named free agent wide receivers, instead they opted for Sammy Watkins on a one-year deal. When healthy, Watkins is an upgrade over Willie Snead, who was the Ravens’ No. 2 wide receiver. But he isn’t a true No. 1 option, which is what the Ravens need to help out Jackson and Brown.
At No. 27 overall, the top wide receivers in this year’s draft class such as Jaylen Waddle, Ja’Marr Chase, and DeVonta Smith will all be off the board. That being said, the best remaining options could be Rashod Bateman or Kadarius Toney late in the first round.
Bateman had a down 2020 season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers, after a stellar 2019 campaign, where he had 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 13 touchdowns. Toney had a breakout 2020 season, where he had 70 receptions for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Florida Gators.
Between the two wideouts, Toney might be the better option for the Ravens. Emory Hunt of Football Gameplan compares Toney’s game to Antonio Brown and third-best flanker behind Chase and Waddle in his 2021 Draft Prospect Guide. Hunt also thinks that the dynamic wide receiver could be a potential Pro Bowl wideout.
Defense
Aforementioned, the Ravens could use another edge rusher with them losing Ngauoke in free agency. They could also use another linebacker to pair with Patrick Queen, who was drafted in the first round last season. Two players that could be available at No. 27 overall is edge rusher Joe Tryon and linebacker Zaven Collins. Tryon is Hunt’s top-ranked edge rusher and someone who he had mocked as high as 11th to the Giants.
Dream first pick
The obvious dream pick for the Ravens would be either Waddle, Smith, or Chase. However, they do not have those choices at No. 27 overall. Therefore, I’d go with Toney giving them a dynamic 1-2 combination of speed and playmaking at wide receiver.