BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JANUARY 11: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens walks on the field prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
A magical season ended in playoff heartbreak. How do the Baltimore Ravens make sure it doesn’t happen again through the 2020 NFL Draft?
As disappointing as the end of the 2019 season was for the Baltimore Ravens, you can’t deny what a truly special year it was. Lamar Jackson was a real-life video game cheat code as the team rolled through the AFC on their way to the top seed in the AFC.
While the rest of the league scrambles to find ways to stop Jackson, it’s up to the Baltimore front office to build around their superstar signal-caller in hopes of another Super Bowl run. With nine selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Ravens have plenty of draft capital to make that happen.
Will the team go heavy on defense as expected or improve the offensive line following the retirement of Ravens legend Marshal Yanda? It’s time to find out with this stunningly-correct seven-round mock draft.
AJ Epenesa
EDGE, Hawkeyes
Defense should be a focus for the Ravens early on and even after adding Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe, they likely will address the front seven with the majority of their picks in the first two rounds.
A player who I think could really fit their needs towards the end of the first round is Iowa EDGE AJ Epenesa. “Edge” is a bit of a loose term when it comes to describing the former Hawkeye, as his athletic limitations don’t give him the same bend and burst as some of the other prospects in the class. Where he makes his money, however, is his elite power and ability to push the pocket.
Epenesa is definitely best suited for a 3-4 defensive scheme and I think his skill set would be an excellent addition to the Baltimore defense. A linebacker like Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray is another option here, but I think he’ll be off the board by the time this pick rolls around.