With two picks in the second round, the Ravens should be able to find some more immediate starters. However, with few needs really remaining, Baltimore doesn’t have to reach for a player that fits a need and can instead let their draft boards come to them.
With such a deep wide receiver class, Kiper has the Ravens dipping their toes into that water, selecting TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor at No. 55.
Reagor was a touchdown waiting to happen in the Big 12, but he was let down by poor quarterback play last season, and he had too many drops in 2018. Still, I have a second-round grade on him because of his athleticism and ability after the catch. The Ravens have one diminutive speedster in Marquise Brown, but Reagor could provide some pop in the passing and return game in 2020.
As Kiper alluded to in his explanation, Reagor showed off blazing speed in college. While he only ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, his game film shows a player who can outpace defenders downfield and who can make guys whiff with the ball in his hands.
Teamed up with Brown, it would give offensive coordinator Greg Roman a ton of speed to force defenses into defending deep while giving quarterback Lamar Jackson another guy who can catch a quick pass and make amazing things happen afterward.
To help round out Baltimore’s offensive needs, Kiper has the Ravens grabbing Temple offensive lineman Matt Hennessy.
With Marshal Yanda retiring, the Ravens will have an open competition for his vacant right guard spot, and Ben Powers, R.J. Prince and Patrick Mekari are expected to be involved. Hennessy, a three-year starter at center for the Owls, could win that job. The Ravens want to run the ball — they set the NFL single-season record with 3,296 rushing yards in 2019 — so they need to find a road grader to replace Yanda and keep their offense rolling.
While there is no direct replacement for a Hall of Famer like Yanda, Baltimore has a few guys already on the roster who can step up into the starting role. But as we saw last offseason, the Ravens love having a competition for these starting spots and another option in the form of Hennessy isn’t a bad idea.
Hennessy is more athletic than a bruising option inside. But as Jacob Infante from Draft Wire pointed out in his scouting report, Hennessy is smart and uses his hands and leverage to win consistently.