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The Baltimore Ravens added 10 new players through the 2020 NFL Draft. For ESPN draft expert Todd McShay, Baltimore’s haul was one of the best in the league for both filling needs and finding great value.
McShay looked over the entire 2020 NFL Draft to find the teams that made the biggest improvements. Though the Ravens held the best record last season and are already Super Bowl LV favorites, McShay believes Baltimore had one of the best drafts in the NFL and improved.
“There’s just no denying that Baltimore, a 14-win team in 2019, got even better in April.”
The Ravens entered the draft with inside linebacker clearly being their biggest need. Following the departure of C.J. Mosley last year and both Josh Bynes and Patrick Onwuasor this offseason, Baltimore didn’t even have enough depth at the position, much less a starting lineup. In true Ravens fashion, they saw one of the top-rated linebackers fall into their laps with the 28th overall pick, selecting LSU’s Patrick Queen. McShay considers Queen to be a “plug-and-play starter who can be the quarterback” of Baltimore’s defense.
McShay specifically noted the selection of Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins in the second round. Though he noted it wasn’t one of the Ravens’ immediate needs, McShay pointed to Mark Ingram’s contract having a potential out after this season and called Dobbins “one of the better pass-protection backs in this class.”
McShay was especially excited about the selections of defensive tackle Justin Madubuike and wide receiver Devin Duvernay, calling them both “pure steals” since Baltimore grabbed them in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. McShay figures both will contribute immediately, with Madubuike potentially getting “15-20 snaps per game” as a rookie.
Sixth and seventh-round selections, wide receiver James Proche and safety Geno Stone respectively, were picks McShay also called out for their value. Though both players are a little undersized, McShay loved Proche’s hands and Stone’s instincts, making both long-term factors for the Ravens.
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