2019 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Super Bowl 53 edition
By Randy Gurzi
22. Baltimore Ravens: Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
In 2018, the Baltimore Ravens spent two first-round picks on offensive players. First, it was tight end Hayden Hurst out of South Carolina. Later, they traded back into the first to select Lamar Jackson, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback. While Hurst’s impact as a rookie was minimal, Jackson ended up taking the reins under center when Joe Flacco was hurt and he never relinquished the job.
With Jackson now entrenched as the franchise quarterback, Baltimore will look to build around him in order to stay competitive in the AFC North. However, they’re also a historically strong defensive team and will also continue to add to that side of the ball as well — which is what they do here by taking Delaware safety Nasir Adderley.
The Ravens don’t have to look far to find this kid as he was a star for the nearby college. While he did stand out there, questions remained due to the talent level he played against. Then in the Senior Bowl, he turned a lot of heads with his play and thus increased his draft stock. While a first-round pick may have seemed like a stretch not too long ago, the Ravens would likely have to jump on him now in order to keep some other teams — like the Raiders who coached him at the Senior Bowl — from snatching him up.