Should Baltimore Ravens draft wide receiver in first round?

It has been a typical offseason for the Baltimore Ravens up to this point. Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels were allowed to walk while Jacoby Jones was forced out the door. The Ravens will select at least one wide receiver in the 2015 NFL Draft — is the first round too early?

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A pass-catcher is arguably the biggest need for the Ravens, but the consensus belief is there will be talented options later on in the draft. The Ravens need to bring in a cornerback and a tight end, and they will want to add some more depth up front on defense.

Having said that, quarterback Joe Flacco must be sitting pretty anxiously looking at the depth chart: Steve Smith Sr. is the only pass-catcher on the roster who registered 300 receiving yards in 2014. Then again, the words ‘anxious’ and ‘Flacco’ don’t really fit well together.

While losing a few core players of the 2014 offense in free agency, there are positives to take from it. First, they will likely receive two compensatory picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, and you can probably add a third for the loss of Pernell McPhee. It’s also expected the Ravens will receive three extra picks this year, too.

This is familiar territory for general manager Ozzie Newsome, and he will have the opportunity to potentially take ten swings in this year’s draft — with Newsome’s record, he will likely hit more often than not.

With nine other picks to replenish the roster, the Ravens can be aggressive in their search for a wide receiver and go early. But who should they target?

By the time the Ravens hit the clock with the 26th-overall selection, it’s unlikely the trio of Amari Cooper, Kevin White and DeVante Parker will be available to them. The three will most likely be snapped up by other receiver-needy teams.

In comes Jaelen Strong.

The 6’2″, 217-pounder from Arizona State could be available for the Ravens in the first round. He is a big and strong receiver who can make contested throws. In two years with Arizona State, Strong caught 157 passes for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns, according to ESPN Stats.

Lance Zierlein of NFL.com likens him to Dwayne Bowe. Zierlein wrote that Strong’s ‘strength, size and ability to make contested throws will be coveted by some’.

There are some concerns with his ability to get open in space. Zierlein added that ‘his issues with separation quickness can only be solved if he becomes much better in his route-running’. This is a concern heard a lot with pass-catching prospects. Route-running can be improved with practice in the Ravens’ offense; the important point is Strong has the raw talent.

Walter Cherepinksy on WalterFootball.com ranks Strong fourth among wide receivers in this year’s class. He wrote:

"“Strong had an excellent Combine and ran much faster than expected. In 2014, he had 82 receptions for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns. Strong is a big, physical receiver who has some quickness. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he is fast enough to get separation. Strong is an excellent weapon in the red zone, but he needs to work on his route-running for the NFL.Strong put together a string of steady performances for the Sun Devils. He held his own going against Washington cornerback Marcus Peters. Strong beat Peters for a 16-yard touchdown on a slant and a 23-yard reception along the sideline.”"

Strong certainly has the physical tools and raw talent to be regarded as a first round prospect. With Cooper, White and Parker drawing a ton of hype above them, Newsome could find a future star fall onto his lap in Strong.

Short term, there would be a nice blend of youth and experience at receiver between Strong and 36-year-old Smith. With the re-signing of Justin Forsett, the Ravens’ offense will be in a strong position (no pun intended, I promise) to succeed in 2015 without overpaying for Torrey Smith and Daniels.

Newsome has drafted a defensive player with the Ravens’ first pick every year since 2009; maybe he will break the trend in 2015. If he does, Strong might be the guy, and he has the potential to become a key component of the Ravens’ offense long-term.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: Should they target Maxx Williams?

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