2014 NFL Mock Draft: Baltimore Ravens steal Mike Evans
Texas A&M Aggies star wideout Mike Evans.
The Baltimore Ravens could definitely use another wide receiver on the roster, even with Marlon Brown emerging into a legit option. To me, he’s still more of a No. 3 wideout, and the Ravens could definitely use a better No. 2 WR to pair with star Torrey Smith. Dennis Pitta gives Joe Flacco an excellent, versatile safety valve at tight end and Ray Rice is an excellent pass-catcher, but Flacco and the Ravens could take their offense to the next level by taking a wide receiver in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
With The First Pick’s Peter Smith has the Ravens doing exactly that in his latest 2014 NFL Mock Draft, as they are able to steal Texas A&M Aggies stud wide receiver Mike Evans with the 19th pick in the draft. All I can say is that it would be crazy to see Evans fall that far, and the Ravens would be crazy to not take advantage of that snafu by the other teams.
Selecting Evans would be the absolute dream pick for the Ravens, because his ability to get open, make big plays, move the chains, and catch big passes in traffic would give Torrey Smith the perfect compliment. It would severely deter other teams from keying in too much on the Ravens uber-talented deep threat, and it would also give Flacco a nice, big target to throw to in various situations. Evans is a slightly better prospect than Clemson’s Sammy Watkins (though the Ravens definitely would be wise to snag him if he’s somehow still on the board), because he has better awareness and route-running than the ultra-athletic, speedy WR from the ACC.
If neither Evans nor Watkins are on the board, then drafting Marqise Lee would still make sense for the Ravens. Although Lee has some injury concerns now and isn’t as good as those two receivers, he is very talented in his own right and has phenomenal physical tools. Lee is a playmaker in every sense of the word, and that more than makes up for a few weaknesses like drops.