Four First Round Options For The Ravens In The 2018 NFL Draft

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
Year	Team	G	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

[