MY RAVENS DRAFT WISHLIST (ROUNDS 1-3)

MY RAVENS DRAFT WISHLIST (ROUNDS 1-3)

      Well, Ravens fans, we've reached the final week before the NFL draft.  If you're anything like me, you've been anxiously counting the days until the Ravens hopefully select the missing pieces to their roster puzzle.  The Ravens brass specifically stated that they are looking to add another quality wide receiver, a center, and pass-rusher during the 2012 off-season.  Since then, the Ravens have seen some solid players leave such as Cory Redding, Haruki Nakamura, Jarret Johnson, Tom Zbikowski, and Ben Grubbs.  Cory Redding and Jarret Johnson will be immediately and effectively replaced by young, talented players behind them on the depth chart in Pernell McPhee and Paul Kruger, but Grubbs, Nakamura, and Zbikowski all left the Ravens with serious depth issues in their respective positions.
       The Ravens set to work and acquired solid journeyman safety Sean Considine to replace one of the two spots vacated by Ruke and Zibby.  The Ravens also looked to kill two birds (not ravens of course) with one stone by signing special teams standout Corey Graham.  Graham had the 3rd most special teams tackles in the NFL during the last 5 years, and he has experience as a defensive back and could potentially add to safety depth.  As for replacing Ben Grubbs, the Ravens head coach John Harbaugh stated that the Ravens are going to give Jah Reid a chance to earn the starting left guard position.  Jah is enormous and more of a natural tackle, but he has the athleticism to play guard and will do so at far less money than the $36 million that the Saints are going to pay Ben Grubbs over the course of his newly signed contract.

PURPLE NIGHTMARE'S DRAFT WISHLIST

     It's impossible to accurately predict who the Ravens will draft with every single pick.  This, as many of you know, is due to the Ravens' draft philosophy of picking the best player available.  The Ravens make a ranking system of usually about 150 draftable players.  When it is their time to pick, they select the player still on the draft board who ranks highest on their list.  This does not mean, however, that the Ravens don't still pick players to address need and depth, but they try to adhere to the best player available strategy.  I cannot pretend to know who the Ravens will draft with their first pick as I do not know who will be available at #29, and I certainly won't know whether the Ravens will trade up to get a player they really covet or trade down to acquire more picks with confidence that the player they want to pick first in the draft will still be available later than pick #29.  I will, instead, give a list of the players I believe the Ravens realistically SHOULD pick in the first 3 rounds assuming that they're available.  Without further ado, here they are:

ROUND 1 (Pick #29)

Stephen Hill, WR Georgia Tech- Yes, yes I know every draft analyst has the Ravens picking the center from Wisconsin, Peter Konz, to address the Ravens' needs on the O line, but I simply can't get on board with that.  Matt Birk is returning and the Ravens could resign Andre Gurode for cheap if they want depth at center for another season or two.  Stephen Hill's height, blinding speed, hands, as well as his incredible average yards-per-catch (29.3) during college make him impossible to pass up if he's still on the board at pick #29.  Having Hill and Smith lined up wide would give every secondary in the league nightmares.  Who do you double team?  Torrey Smith with the insane second gear breakaway speed?  Or maybe you'd rather double team the speedy young receiver who's so tall with such a great vertical and hands that he can haul the ball with one hand when it's delivered to him 11 feet in the air: Stephen Hill Sick One-handed Catch.  And like Torrey Smith, Stephen Hill can beat you deep and make diving catches down-field:  Stephen Hill- DEEP CATCH!  Hill brings speed, height, athleticism, and reliable hands that would perfectly compliment Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin as well as take advantage of Joe Flacco's cannon of an arm.  If he's on the board at #29, the Ravens simply MUST PICK HIM!

ROUND 2 (Pick #60)

Kevin Zeitler, OG Wisconsin- The 2012 appears to be stacked with talent at offensive guard.  David DeCastro and Cordy Glenn appear to be total locks for the first round, but Kevin Zeitler would be a great value pick if he falls to the Ravens at #60.  That is a big IF, however, as Zeitler could easily go in the top 40-50 picks.  This is, you must remember, a wishlist and not a prediction.  Thus, the Ravens may not see Zeitler on the board, but I sure hope they do!  Zeitler comes from a program at Wisconsin that has produced some notable offensive linemen recently: Gabe Carimi of the 2011 draft and also Peter Konz who is projected by many to be first round pick in 2012.  Zeitler has prototypical guard size at 6'4" and 315 pounds.  He has a great weight room work ethic and strength as he put up 32 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the NFL combine.  He has respectable speed for his size with a 5.39 official combine 40 yard dash, but Zeitler isn't quite as fast and athletic as Cordy Glenn or David DeCastro, and that's what will keep him out of the first round.  Combine numbers, as many are always quick to point out, never tell the entire story, and one always has to watch game tape to truly evaluate a player.  Take a look: Kevin Zeitler Highlights.

ROUND 3 (Pick #91)

Mychal Kendricks, LB Cal- Kendricks would be an absolute steal in the 3rd round.  He recorded the fastest 40 yard dash time (4.47) of any linebacker in the 2012 NFL draft , and he possesses the vision, and hands to add to the long list of Ravens ball-hawks.  He also plays with the intensity and strength to bring down running backs, receivers, and quarterbacks with powerful hits--take a look: Mychal Kendricks Highlights- Cal Football.  Clearly, Kendricks is not Donta Hightower.  He's not first round material, but then again, it doesn't take a first round draft pick to become a great Ravens linebacker.  Bart Scott and Jameel McClain both became very good linebackers under the tutelage of Ray Lewis and neither of them was drafted at all!  Kendricks is obviously a talented player and has the potential to become a pro bowler after studying for a few semesters at Ball So Hard University.  C'mon Ozzie, PICK THIS GUY!