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2017 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens Team Needs

By Jon Dove

Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Baltimore Ravens offseason thus far as featured a lot of losses which means the 2017 NFL Draft will be key to filling those team needs.

So far this offseason the Baltimore Ravens have lost former starters Zach Orr, Jeremy Zuttah, Elvis Dumervil, Ricky Wagner, Kyle Jusczcyk and Vlad Ducasse. This is a lot of turnover for a team that barely missed a playoff berth.

The loss of so many key contributors means that the Ravens have a lot of holes to plug. It also means that identifying the team’s top three needs is difficult. A quick glance shows that they could use help at as many as seven different positions.

Below is a list of the top three team needs for the Ravens.

No. 1- Right Tackle

Replacing Ricky Wagner is going to be a difficult task. The Ravens don’t have a clear answer currently on the roster which means they’ll need to use the 2017 NFL Draft to address this need. However, this year’s draft is thin at the offensive tackle position.

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Baltimore’s best bet might be to see if a veteran hits the open market after the draft or prior to training camp. Otherwise, they might have to reach for someone in the draft and hope he fits.

No. 2- Wide Receiver

Mike Wallace showed last year that he still has the talent to make plays down the field. However, the Ravens don’t have a proven option behind him. They are still waiting for the likes of Breshad Perriman, Mike Campanaro and Chris Moore to develop.

The issues at wide receiver are magnified by the fact the Ravens don’t have an effective ground game. This is an offense that lacks an elite playmaker and someone capable of producing in pressure situations.

It’s possible that the Ravens don’t see wide receiver as a need. They do have some younger players who have potential. However, Baltimore needs to find a difference maker not someone who just contributes.

No. 3- Running Back

Baltimore has several middling running back options but nobody capable of carrying the load. They are hoping that Kenneth Dixon can take a step forward in his development, but his rookie season was a bit of a disappointment.

The ground game is an important piece to the Ravens puzzle. Joe Flacco is at his best when he’s able to work off play action and take shots down field. At this point, opposing defenses just don’t fear the ground game enough for play action to be effective.

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