As draft day looms ever closer I decided to compile a list of four likely and smart choices the Baltimore Ravens can make with the 16th overall pick.
Each week I will make another list of four likely and smart choices with their picks for each round with the final round candidates coming very close to draft day.
1. WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama
This the most obvious selection as many are calling Calvin Ridley the best all-around wide receiver in the draft. That combined with the Ravens need of wide receivers and him possibly being available at pick 16 makes him a potential first rounder for the Ravens.
This move would be a smart one but many can argue that there are more suitable wide receivers for the Ravens in the draft.
His career stats at Alabama are shown below.
| Year | Team | G | Receiving | Rushing | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | |||
| 2015 | Alabama | 15 | 89 | 1,045 | 11.7 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 2.0 | 0 |
| 2016 | Alabama | 15 | 72 | 769 | 10.7 | 7 | 5 | 21 | 4.2 | 1 |
| 2017 | Alabama | 14 | 63 | 967 | 15.3 | 5 | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 0 |
| Career | 44 | 224 | 2,781 | 12.5 | 19 | 8 | 40 | 5.0 | 1 | |
2. WR D.J Moore, Maryland
In my opinion, D.J Moore is the best wide receiver in this draft class and deserves to be taken in the first round. He helped cement his case of being taken in the first round by having a strong combine where he was a top performer in many events.
The Ravens did have an informal meeting with the Ravens at the combine and it is possible that if Moore is available at 16 the Ravens pull the trigger on him.
But if Ridley and Moore are available at pick 16 you better believe that the Raven’s war room is going to have a big decision to make that could shape the team’s future.
His career stats at Maryland are shown below.
| Rece | Rece | Rece | Rece | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2015 | Maryland | Big Ten | FR | WR | 11 | 25 | 357 | 14.3 | 3 |
| *2016 | Maryland | Big Ten | SO | WR | 13 | 41 | 637 | 15.5 | 6 |
| 2017 | Maryland | Big Ten | JR | WR | 12 | 80 | 1033 | 12.9 | 8 |
| Career | Maryland | 146 | 2027 | 13.9 | 17 |
3. QB Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah released a mock draft recently saying that the Ravens will take quarterback Baker Mayfield at 16. At first, I thought this was pure madness until I began to ponder and the more I thought about the more it made sense.
Mayfield could wait and learn from the team until Flacco’s time is up, making the transition between quarterbacks smooth and easy.
Now I am a firm believer that if Mayfield is there at 16 then the Ravens have to select him, although him falling that far is pretty doubtful.
Mayfield’s stats from college are shown below.
| Passing | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Cmp | Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | AY/A | TD | Int | Rate |
| *2013 | Texas Tech | Big 12 | QB | 8 | 218 | 340 | 64.1 | 2315 | 6.8 | 6.3 | 12 | 9 | 127.7 | |
| *2015 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | JR | QB | 13 | 269 | 395 | 68.1 | 3700 | 9.4 | 10.4 | 36 | 7 | 173.3 |
| *2016 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | JR | QB | 13 | 254 | 358 | 70.9 | 3965 | 11.1 | 12.3 | 40 | 8 | 196.4 |
| *2017 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | SR | QB | 14 | 285 | 404 | 70.5 | 4627 | 11.5 | 12.9 | 43 | 6 | 198.9 |
| Career | Overall | 1026 | 1497 | 68.5 | 14607 | 9.8 | 10.6 | 131 | 30 | 175.4 | ||||
4. DB Derwin James, FSU
Derwin James is an absolute beast on the football field! He plays with great enthusiasm and would help the Ravens hugely with their problems of covering tight ends and the middle of the field. James also would help the Ravens look to the future as one of the team’s safeties Eric Weddle is coming close to retirement.
Although there are pros with James there are also cons such as the Ravens need of wide receivers and the fact that James is projected to be drafted around the 10th overall pick. Whatever the case, if James is available at 16 he would be an intriguing selection.
His college stats are below.
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2015 | Florida State | ACC | FR | DB | 12 | 52 | 39 | 91 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |||
| *2016 | Florida State | ACC | SO | DB | 2 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| *2017 | Florida State | ACC | SO | DB | 12 | 49 | 35 | 84 | 5.5 | 1.0 | 2 | 41 | 20.5 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career | Florida State | 110 | 76 | 186 | 15.0 | 5.5 | 3 | 41 | 13.7 | 1 | 15 | 2 | |||||||
