The calendar has officially flipped to April, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to get ready for the NFL draft.
The first round begins April 27 in Kansas City, but until then, the Ravens have plenty to figure out. Most notably, their contract stalemate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has requested a trade while under the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. If he gets his wish, the Ravens’ draft could look a lot different.
Baltimore owns five picks: Nos. 22 (first round), 86 (third round), 124 (fourth round), 157 (fifth round) and 199 (sixth round). A blockbuster deal for Jackson would significantly increase the size of that haul, but the Ravens are guaranteed at least one additional first-rounder this year if Jackson signs an offer with another team before the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.
As we get closer to the draft, The Baltimore Sun will examine which players at each position of need (quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive line, edge rusher and offensive line) could be available in the early, middle and late rounds when the Ravens are on the clock.
With veteran leader Calais Campbell now in Atlanta and reliable contributors Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul still free agents, the defensive line is ready for a youth movement.
Early: Clemson’s Bryan Bresee
Terps cornerback Deonte Banks isn’t the only Maryland native who could tempt the Ravens in the first round.
Bresee (pronounced bruh-ZEE) became the No. 1 overall recruit in the country at Damascus High before committing to powerhouse Clemson, where he burst onto the scene as a freshman. He started 10 games in 2020, recording 23 tackles, 6 1/2 tackles for loss and four sacks to earn first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference and freshman All-American honors, but he played only four games the following season before suffering a torn ACL.
During the middle of last season, Bresee left the Tigers to be with his family after the death of his younger sister, Ella, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 15. He also battled a kidney infection and a shoulder injury that later required surgery but still earned second-team All-ACC honors, recording 15 tackles, 5 1/2 tackles for loss and 3 1/2 sacks in 10 games.
While the 21-year-old Bresee is no longer considered a top-10 prospect given his injury history and limited college production, he still offers tremendous potential. At 6 feet 5 and 298 pounds, Bresee ran the 40-yard dash in 4.86 seconds, recorded a 29-inch vertical jump and delivered 22 reps on the bench press to rank sixth among defensive tackles at the NFL scouting combine in athleticism score.
When he was on the field, Bresee put those physical tools to good use. While analysts say his technique lacks refinement, he’s been praised for his instincts and ability to both anchor against double teams while defending the run and push the pocket as a pass rusher. He’s also versatile, lining up at several spots along the Tigers’ loaded defensive line. His ability to pressure the quarterback is perhaps most intriguing, having delivered a career-best 82.0 pass-rushing grade this past fall, according to Pro Football Focus.
Given his pedigree and flashes of elite play, Bresee could prove to be a worthy investment for a Ravens team that needs to get younger on the defensive line.
Middle: Texas’ Moro Ojomo
While the tweener label can often be a detriment in the draft evaluation process, it could prove to be a strength for Ojomo.
At 6-3 and 292 pounds, Ojomo might be better suited lining up on the edge rather than the interior, but his strength defending the run speaks for itself. In his redshirt senior year at Texas, Ojomo earned an elite 91.4 run defense grade, according to PFF. Combined with a dominant 17.8% pass rush win rate — how often he beat a block within 2.5 seconds while pressuring the quarterback — he earned a 90.6 overall grade, eighth among all Division I interior defenders. In 376 snaps, he set career highs in defensive stops (19) and total pressures (26).
With 34 1/2-inch arms, a keen understanding of leverage and the tenacity to play until the whistle, Ojomo is a difficult assignment for offensive linemen. However, analysts say his stiff lower half and lack of explosiveness are a concern, with Ojomo perhaps relying too much on his upper-body strength to beat blockers at the line of scrimmage.
After starting three seasons in college, Ojomo, who was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States when he was 7 years old, is only 21. That combination of youth and experience could be particularly appealing for the Ravens when it comes to restocking their roster around what could be a lucrative extension for Jackson.
Late: Oklahoma’s Jalen Redmond
If the Ravens want to take a big swing at the end of the draft, a former edge rusher-turned-interior defensive lineman could be a worthy selection.
With a standout performance at the scouting combine, the 6-2, 291-pound Redmond ranked third among defensive tackles in athleticism score. He finished with the best results at his position in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle; only Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey, a projected first-round pick, beat him in the 40-yard dash, running the fastest time by a defensive tackle since 2003. That’s impressive for a player who switched positions and added nearly 60 pounds in college.
However, analysts say that athleticism doesn’t show up enough on tape. Although Redmond produced solid numbers during his college career, recording 71 tackles, 31 1/2 tackles for loss and 14 sacks over three seasons, he wasn’t dominant. Despite recording the second-fastest 10-yard split and the fourth-most bench press reps among defensive tackles at the combine, Redmond plays with heavy feet and inconsistent leverage, analysts say. For all his physical tools, there’s a question whether he can beat blocks consistently at the next level.
Still, those tools are appealing, especially late in the draft. Even if Redmond only becomes a rotational player for the Ravens, that’s a welcome result for a Day 3 pick.
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