Baltimore Ravens: 2018 NFL Draft grades for Day 2 and 3 picks

The Baltimore Ravens added to the offense big time with two first-round picks in the 2018 NFL Draft, but did Ozzie Newsome hit on his Day 2 and 3 picks?

The Baltimore Ravens were dealing on Day 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft. They traded back twice in the first round and ultimately selected Hayden Hurst. Ozzie Newsome wasn’t done, however, as he traded back into the end of the first round to take the explosive quarterback, Lamar Jackson.

After that, the Ravens still had work to do to address their roster as a team that missed out on the playoffs last season. Subsequently, what they did on Days 2 and 3 of the draft were important for the outlook of this team.

With that, we look at what Newsome did and how it grades out.

Round 3: Orlando Brown, OT, Oklahoma

The Ravens drafted the future of their franchise in Round 1, so building an offensive line is essential to protecting any young quarterback. While Jackson wouldn’t be starting anytime soon, it’s still a smart move to get guys to protect the quarterback that once carried them to a Super Bowl in Joe Flacco.

Orlando Brown is that guy. His size is unbelievable at 6-8, 345 pounds and has been overwhelming for defenders trying to rush the passer. He’s not a left tackle because he lacks the athleticism and feet to play on the blindside. However, with the Ravens’ power running game, the use of tight ends, and the downfield style of offense, Brown would be an excellent addition on the right side.

He’s going to come in and compete with Alexis Lewis for the starting right tackle position. With this chip on his shoulder due to the negativity that followed his draft process, I wouldn’t bet against this guy.

Round 3: Mark Andrews, TE, Oklahoma

The Ravens took one of the draft’s premiere tight ends in Round 1 with Hayden Hurst, and Andrews is just a poor man’s version of their first-rounder. They are equal in height at 6-5 and ran the same 40-yard dash (4.67 second), though Andrews weighs in six pounds heavier at 256 pounds. Andrews isn’t a blocker and won’t be used that way. He’s a receiving tight end who excels at underneath routes and has a great understanding of where to sit in zone coverages. Still, this was a bit of a luxury pick considering the need at corner, edge rusher and receiver.

Round 4: Anthony Averett, CB, Alabama

There’s no way Ozzie Newsome was going to let his final draft slide without taking a player from the Crimson Tide. Anthony Averett is a 5-11, 183 pounds corner who can come in right away and compete for a starting job, despite his draft position. Averett does a lot of things well, but nothing spectacular as he wasn’t a stat sheet guy. What he’ll bring to the Ravens is some elite quickness that allows him to mirror receivers and be dependable as a tackler. His added value will come on special teams.

Round 4: Kenny Young, LB, UCLA

Kenny Young’s best assets is his ability to play all three downs. The 6-1, 236-pound backer is solidly built and does a great job when asked to drop into coverage. He’s a chase linebacker with speed who has added value as a special teams contributor.

Round 4: Jaleel Scott, WR, New Mexico State

The Ravens finally opted to draft a receiver. Scott is a long at 6-5 with great stride length and uses it to help create separation downfield. He’s played in the slot and on the boundary and excelled at both. Should he catch on with the Ravens, he could be a potential steal considering his size and fantastic ball skills.

Round 5: Jordan Lasley, WR, UCLA

The Ravens went wide receiver back-to-back and may have gotten a huge steal considering Jordan Lasley’s ability to stretch the field as well as any receiver in the class. He’s well built at 6-1, 205 pounds and is a threat to take it the distance when he has the ball in his hands. His speed and quickness are dangerously good assets to have and is just the type of player the Ravens have missed. The reason he lasted so long was because of off the field issues.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2018: Post-draft edition

Round 6: DeShon Elliott, S, Texas

The 6-1, 210-pound safety will be a special teams addition. His skills as a safety are more of an in-the-box guy or someone who may benefit from a position switch to hybrid linebacker. Elliott has the intellect and strong play style to make it possible.

Round 6: Greg Senat, OT, Wagner

Senat is a converted basketball player who has nice size and length at 6-6, 302 pounds with almost 35-inch arms. However, his skill-level at this point is minimal as he’s just a raw ball of clay on the edge. He’ll be a developmental player on the line for Baltimore.

Round 6: Bradley Bozeman, OL, Alabama

This is great value for the Ravens as they take a lineman that has experience against a high level of competition, both in SEC play and even in practice in Tuscaloosa. While Bozeman is a sub-par athlete, he has the ability to plug into the interior of the line and give them a boost in terms of depth right away.

Round 7: Zach Sieler, DE, Ferris State

When you talk about dominating small-school competition, Zach Sieler did that at Ferris State with 26.5 sacks to go with 50.5 tackles for loss over his last two seasons. He bet on himself by entering the draft after his junior year from a D-II school, but he has the physical makeup and strength of a player who the Ravens could turn into a productive piece on the defense.

Overall Grade: B+

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