2011 Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Needs

The Baltimore Ravens are on the clock with the 26th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at their biggest needs and how those needs might be addressed on draft day.

1. Cornerback: The Ravens didn’t pull the trigger on a single cornerback in last year’s draft, so they will be looking to add one early this time around. Chris Carr and Josh Wilson are solid performers but both are free agents. Plus, Domonique Foxworth is coming off a knee injury that kept him out the entire season. All three of these players are under six-foot and 200 pounds. The Ravens could stand to benefit from a bigger corner who can be physical with wideouts at the line of scrimmage. LSU’s Patrick Peterson and Nebraska’s Prince Amukamara will be long gone but I believe the Ravens will still come out big winners if they can land Colorado’s Jimmy Smith. At over 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds with top-end speed, Smith has the potential to be a shut-down corner in the NFL for years to come. He has some character issues, but a veteran like Ray Lewis should be able to whip him into shape. If Smith’s character issues throw up too many red flags for coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens could still come away with Miami’s Brandon Harris with this pick. He’s not the same physical specimen that Smith is but appears to be a safe pick.

2. Wide Receiver: The Ravens brought in Anquan Boldin last season and it paid off. He led them with 64 grabs and averaged 13.1 yards per catch. Not too shabby. Still, Boldin is more of an underneath, possession receiver who likes to run after the catch. With Derrick Mason nearing 40-years-old, it’s time for the Ravens to add some youth at this spot and preferably a home run threat. Baltimore only averaged 322.9 yards per game last season (22nd in the NFL) and its inability to stretch the field was a big reason why. Don’t be surprised if they target Maryland’s Torrey Smith or Boise State’s Titus Young in round two. Both players display big-play ability.

3. Offensive Line: An injury cost left tackle Jared Gaither the entire season and it forced right tackle Michael Oher to move to the left side. Marshal Yanda left his right guard post to fill Oher’s spot and was eventually replaced by Chris Chester. Gaither, Yanda and Chester are all free agents, so the Ravens need to think about adding a tackle. I believe Baltimore will look to fill this need in the third round with a player like Indiana’s James Brewer. If Brewer is off the board, they could take a guard like Lehigh’s Will Rackley instead of reaching for a lesser tackle prospect.

4. Defensive End: This isn’t Baltimore’s biggest need area but it may not be able to pass up an opportunity to get a player like Ohio State’s Cameron Heyward in the first round. His stock has fallen a little due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery but he is expected to make a full recovery. His Sugar Bowl performance against Arkansas really showed what he is capable of.

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