RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin
Running backs just aren’t worth what they were even 10 years ago. In today’s pass-happy NFL, offenses typically want to go with a stable of running backs instead of relying on just one player to carry the load. In the few recent instances where NFL teams have handed a running back a big deal, almost all of them have instantly regretted it.
That mixed with the Ravens already having three running backs they like on the roster make the idea of grabbing Taylor in the first round a stretch.
While the case can be made that Mark Ingram going down with a calf injury killed Baltimore’s playoff aspirations last season, he’s coming off a career year and teams don’t plan for poorly-timed injuries. The Ravens also have Gus Edwards as a backup option they feel good about, and as an ERFA, he’s effectively guaranteed to be back for at least 2020 on a cheap deal. We also can’t forget about Justice Hill, who Baltimore took in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
But the Ravens have been fine shuffling around their backfield over the last few years. While it would be shocking, Baltimore might think highly of Taylor and view him as a new bell-cow back that could start with Ingram being the primary backup to keep everyone fresh for a deep postseason run.
Still, with good running backs likely being available on Day 2 or Day 3 of the 2020 NFL draft, taking one in the first round doesn’t seem very wise given the Ravens’ much bigger needs.