2024 NFL draft: 7 most realistic options for the Ravens in the first round

We’re looking at the seven most realistic 2024 NFL Draft options for the Baltimore Ravens in the first round

With the first wave of NFL free agency over, all eyes around the league will turn toward pro days and one final month-long push toward April’s NFL draft.

Baltimore has needs, but after a solid start to the free agency process, the first-round pick (No. 30) could be about nagging the best player available or a potential building block in the trenches.

Mock draft season is in full swing, and most draft experts and pundits will likely simulate 100s scenarios for all seven rounds, with realistic options starting to take shape.

With Top 30 visits increasing, we’re looking at the seven most realistic options for Baltimore at pick No. 30.

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo named AP First Team All-American

What a season she’s had.

[autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] has had a special freshman season at Notre Dame, and now, we know exactly how special. She has joined USC’s JuJu Watkins as the fourth and fifth freshmen to be named to the AP All-American First Team since it began during the 1994-95 season. They join Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, South Carolina’s MiLaysia Fulwiley and Texas’ Madison Booker.

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Trojans coach Lindsay Gottlieb obviously has seen Watkins up close and personal throughout this season, but she reserved praise for Hidalgo, too:

“We’ve had a front row seat to JuJu, but what Hannah’s done is unbelievable Coach Niele (Ivey) has done an incredible job.”

Ivey also was quoted in the AP story and said this about Hidalgo, the nation’s steals leader at 4.6 a game and its third-leading scorer at 23.3 points a game:

“She deserves to be listed amongst the best in women’s basketball. Hannah is a fierce competitor and an elite performer who rises to the occasion and has been extremely consistent and dominant this season.”

What has to be scary to opponents is that Hidalgo only is getting started. She likely will hold many Irish records by the time she’s done with the program. Irish fans will be anxious to find out how many of those records she holds in the end.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo named Wooden Award finalist

The freshman is part of an elite class of players this season.

While far from the most prolific women’s basketball player this season, Notre Dame’s [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] still has been incredible. From the moment she stepped on the court in the season opener against South Carolina in Paris, there have been few games in which she hasn’t had a real impact. Now, she’s been rewarded by being named one of 15 finalists for the Wooden Award, which is given to the national player of the year.

Hidalgo entered Sunday’s ACC Tournament championship game averaging with the nation’s third-best scoring average at 23.4 points a game and as the nations steals leader at 4.7 a game. She has reached double figures scoring in every game, and the only time she didn’t record at least one steal was in the Irish’s win over UConn, the highlight of their NCAA Tournament resume.

While it will be tough to make a case for anyone other than Iowa’s Caitlin Clark to win this award, Hidalgo becoming a finalist as a freshman in an achievement on its own. Hopefully, this is only the first time she has this honor.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

This wild Caitlin Clark stat proves just how unbelievable her 3-point shooting range is

Caitlin Clark is simply unbelievable.

Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark broke the all-time Division I college basketball scoring record and she is rewriting history books in the process.

Clark, who recently announced that she will declare for the 2024 WNBA Draft, is one of the most impressive sharpshooters that the sport has seen. She is known for hitting 3-pointers from incredibly long distances and she even broke the women’s college basketball scoring record with a 3-pointer from the logo.

Iowa has even honored Clark’s scoring record by permanently marking the spot on the court where the record was broken, which has since become her signature shot.

While anyone who has watched her play know she is capable of shooting from incredibly far away, the numbers back this up as well. In fact, per CBB Analytics, Clark has made 84 field goals considered “long” 3-pointers beyond 25 feet.

That is considerably farther than the international 3-point distance (22 feet and 1.75 inches) for men’s and women’s college basketball, the WNBA, and FIBA. It is also beyond the NBA distance, which is 23 feet and 9 inches at the top of the key.

CBB Analytics

As you can see in her shot chart, Clark has made more “long” 3-pointers (84) than short 3-pointers (71) this season. Nearly one-third (31.5 percent) of her total shots are taken from this zone. To put that in perspective, the Division I average is 8.9 percent this season.

Meanwhile, her field goal percentage on shots between 25 and 30 feet is 39.3 percent. That is also significantly above the Division I average (29.5 percent) in 2023-24.

For comparison, no other women’s Division I college basketball has even come close to approaching as many long 3-pointers as Clark this season. In fact, she has more than the players with the second-most (Syracuse’s Dyaisha Fair has 47) and third-most (Marquette’s Mackenzie Hare has 34) combined.

Name Long 3’s Team Year
Caitlin Clark 84 Iowa (Women’s) 2024
Caitlin Clark 76 Iowa (Women’s) 2023
Max Abmas 72 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2023
Darius McGhee 65 Liberty (Men’s) 2023
Max Abmas 56 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2021
Antoine Davis 56 Detroit Mercy (Men’s) 2023
Jelly Walker 55 UAB (Men’s) 2022
Jelly Walker 55 UAB (Men’s) 2023
Max Abmas 54 Oral Roberts (Men’s) 2022

With more games still left to play this season, Clark has already made more long 3-pointers than any other Division I player in men’s or women’s college basketball since CBB Analytics began tracking this data in 2018-19.

We know that Clark is capable of shooting from deep but let’s give it even more context. Clark has made exactly as many 3-pointers from at least 25 feet in her 30 games this season as NBA stars Devin Booker (50 games) and Kawhi Leonard (54 games) this season, per Stathead.

That is simply remarkable range from the future WNBA superstar.

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Women’s basketball national scoring leaders as of March 3 (and steals)

History was made again this past weekend.

Caitlin Clark has reached the scoring mountaintop in college basketball. She passed Pete Maravich’s college scoring total and now is the all-time leader for either men or women. Here’s how far she ranks ahead of the other top 10 scorers in women’s basketball as well as their steals numbers in comparison to national leader [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag]:

Steelers met with Iowa DB Cooper DeJean at NFL Scouting Combine

Cooper DeJean is one of the most versatile defensive players in the 2024 NFL draft.

There was a time during the 2023 college football season when Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean was the biggest name in the country in terms of DBs. A freakish blend of athletics and football acumen, DeJean has all the tools to be an All-Pro at either cornerback or safety and was also the best return man in college football. This made his a fascinating prospect for the 2024 NFL draft.

But a broken leg in November ended his season and took his name out of the mouths of pundits. Now the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is going strong and while DeJean is in Indianapolis, his recovery from the broken leg continues, delaying any workouts until April.

It was refreshing to see the Pittsburgh Steelers had a formal meeting with Dejean at the combine and see him as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. The Steelers have a significant need at both cornerback and safety so getting a player like DeJean might be a perfect fit, assuming he’s healthy.

DeJean is one of several top cornerbacks the Steelers met with at the combine, indicating they definitely view getting a player to start opposite Joey Porter Jr. as a top priority.

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10 defensive backs for the Ravens to watch at the 2024 NFL combine

We’re looking at ten defensive backs for the Baltimore Ravens to watch during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

The Ravens are in Indianapolis for the NFL combine, and GM Eric DeCosta will be front and center to watch the defensive backs and tight ends work out.

Cornerback depth will be a massive priority for Baltimore, and there will be changes this offseason with Ronald Darby, Arthur Maulet, and Rock-Ya-Sin all pending free agents.

With Day 2 of on-field workouts set to begin, we’re looking at ten defensive backs for the Ravens to watch.

10 defensive backs for the Eagles to watch at the 2024 NFL combine

We’re looking at ten defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles to watch during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine

Defensive back depth is a massive priority for the Eagles, and that’ll be the position to watch on Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Howie Roseman is looking to retool the roster following Philadelphia’s historic collapse, finishing the season 1-6 after a 10-1 start.

There could be decisions on cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry in the coming days, while the Eagles only have two safeties on the roster after releasing Kevin Byard.

With Day 2 of on-field workouts set to begin, we’re looking at ten defensive backs for Philadelphia to watch.

Maddy Westbeld makes watch list for Women’s College All-Star Game

Way to go, Maddy!

[autotag]Maddy Westbeld[/autotag] still will have college eligibility left after this season, but will she use it? That question has to be burning even more after the 6-foot-3 Notre Dame forward was named to the watch list for the Women’s College All-Star Game, a hotbed for future WNBA players.

Westbeld was one of about 60 players selected, but only 20 will get to participate in the April 6 event in Cleveland. Among the most prominent names on the list are Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, LSU’s Angel Reese and Virginia Tech’s Elizabeth Kitley. Westbeld and Kitley are two of 10 ACC players who made the list.

Westbeld is having a great season, averaging career highs in scoring (23.2) and rebounds (15.4). She might often be overlooked because of the phenomenal season [autotag]Hannah Hidalgo[/autotag] has had. But make no mistake about the fact that Westbeld is just as important, giving the Irish an imposing presence down low more than anyone else. She will be key in however this season turns out.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Quotes: Tom Izzo reviews Michigan State basketball’s home loss to Iowa

Quotes: Tom Izzo reviews Michigan State basketball’s home loss to Iowa

It was a frustrating night for the Spartans, as Michigan State basketball yet again suffers a tough loss this year after going on a nice run.

Two steps forward, one step back seems to be the theme of this year, and that was very much the case on Tuesday night, when MSU lost to Iowa 78-71 after they just won two straight road games and beat a good Illinois team at home.

After the game, MSU head coach Tom Izzo spoke to the media about the loss and his thoughts on the game, and you can find the notable quotes from that session below.