The Baltimore Ravens have had a busy offseason without making any notable additions, however, the 2023 NFL Draft will offer the franchise a chance to address weaknesses and improve upon their 10-win effort from last season.
2022 was frustrating for the Ravens. Not only because they finished toward the bottom of the division and underperformed, but because a fairly productive year was essentially wasted. The team won 10 games and was in the running for the AFC North title for much of the season. However, a knee injury to QB Lamar Jackson severely hampered their offense and the unit lacked the sorts of impact skills players to pick up the slack in his absence.
That is why heading into this year’s draft, Baltimore needs to use their limited amount of picks on trying to land a game-changer talent on offense. It would be preferable to take much-needed weapons for Jackson, and if he isn’t under center in Week 1, the same holds true for his replacement.
While the Ravens have holes to fill on defense—especially if Marcus Peters leaves in free agency—expect the offense to be a priority early in the draft. With that in mind, let’s take a look at when Baltimore will be on the clock this month, and the players they'll likely select when their turn comes in the annual event.
While this year’s draft may not have can’t-miss talent at wide receiver, there might still be solid options available when the Ravens are on the clock for the first time at 22. Of the various prospects that could still be on the board at that point, TCU star Quentin Johnston would be a great choice.
The 6-foot-3 talent has the sort of size and athleticism any talent evaluator will be looking for in a future star at the position. He has the sort of speed to separate from defenders and his size gives him a large catch radius. He is far from perfect but he has legitimate WR1 potential and would be a strong addition to the receiver corps in year one.
With defensive great and locker room leader Calais Campbell no longer in Baltimore, the team could kill two birds with one stone by selecting Andre Carter II in the third round. The West Point cadet will surely bring character to the roster, but the former receiver and tight end is a gifted athlete and has shown his versatility on the defensive line.
Carter II’s high motor will be his calling card as he enters the league as Ravens coaches work on refining his pass rush fundamentals, however, he has upside and could easily turn into a steal in the third round.
The Ravens are likely to look at the available running backs in this year's draft class. When they are on the clock in Round 4 at pick 124, Oklahoma RB Eric Gray could be a fantastic option if he is still on the board by that point.
It took four seasons and transferring from Tennessee to Oklahoma before Gray finally had a breakout season, but when he did he left a lasting impression. In 2022, he averaged a career-best 6.4 yards per carry and rushed for over 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Sooners.
In an era where teams are looking for reliable starters on day three, Gray makes a lot of sense for the Ravens.
Virginia cornerback Anthony Johnson is large at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds. When it comes to cornerbacks in the NFL, size does matter. In his senior season, he showed some nice ball skills as he posted 12 passes broken up and two interceptions in 2022. That followed a 2021 campaign with five breakups, three interceptions, and 44 tackles.
Baltimore will have to add a corner in this year’s draft and Johnson would be a very sound choice if he is still available in Round 5.
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