Baltimore Ravens: Grading every 2020 NFL Draft pick
The Baltimore Ravens had the best regular-season record in 2019 but used the 2020 NFL Draft to get faster and even more dangerous.
The 2020 NFL Draft was a chance for the Baltimore Ravens to load up on more talent and continue their dominance over the AFC North. When you have the reigning NFL MVP at quarterback, things aren’t so bad. Meanwhile, head coach Jim Harbaugh proved how great he is and why he’s arguably the most underrated coach in the NFL and general manager Eric DeCosta is proving why he’s the guy for the job.
Despite their 2019 success, the Ravens came into the draft with needs. Marshal Yanda bidding the NFL goodbye left a massive hole on their offensive line. Lamar Jackson made use of the weapons he had, but there was a need at wide receiver as well. Marquise Brown was great but he got hurt and can only do so much.
On defense, they needed some help in the front seven despite them scoring big with the Calais Campbell trade. Plus, they needed to get tougher after what Derrick Henry did to them in the playoffs.
The Ravens went into the draft with the same mindset they’ve had for years: Grab the best player available. This time, some of the players also filled an immediate need and they brought speed, speed, and more speed to their already fast team. But were they the right picks? Let’s grade each of them.
Round 1, Pick 28: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
Grade: A
No one predicted the fall of Patrick Queen. Even if he did fall outside the top 15, no one thought he’d be available at No. 28 for the Baltimore Ravens. They needed help at linebacker after losing C.J. Mosely and what better prospect to replace him than Queen?
He’s a Ravens type of linebacker, a leader who plays with excellent speed and versatility in terms of coverage ability. This was a gift for DeCosta and his defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale, who needed a leader in the middle of his defense.
Aside from his raw athleticism and sideline-to-sideline speed, what jumps out about Queen is his instincts, though he isn’t perfect. While he’s solid at shedding guards, he’s at his best when his linemen keep him clean. The freedom allows him to roam around in the second level and make the eye-popping plays that made him a first-round pick.
The Ravens have the guys to help keep him clean with Brandon Williams as the starting nose and the squatty powerful Daylon Mack, who they drafted last year. Queen is a plug-and-play inside linebacker ready to make an impact. This was a no-brainer pick with Defensive Rookie of the Year implications.