The Baltimore Ravens got a haul of draft picks in the Orlando Brown Jr. trade, so what will they do with them once the 2021 NFL Draft begins?
Early in the offseason, Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. expressed his desire to be traded so that he could be a left tackle full time, an opportunity not available to him when Ronnie Stanely is healthy in Baltimore. However, a deal never materialized — at least it didn’t until six days before the 2021 NFL Draft when the Kansas City Chiefs came calling.
On Friday, the Ravens traded Brown to the Chiefs in exchange for the No. 31, 94 and 136 picks in the 2021 draft in addition to a 2022 fifth-round pick, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Baltimore also sent the No. 58 pick in the 2021 draft and a 2022 sixth-round pick to Kansas City.
Regardless of which team you believe won the trade, Baltimore now has two first-round picks to move forward with. Moreover, they’re ready to bring in a veteran to replace Brown as ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported that the franchise will sign Alejandro Villanueva, likely after the draft.
That frees up the team as it pertains to the 2021 NFL Draft. But what will they do with their abundance of newfound draft capital? Let’s dive into some options with a 7-round mock draft in the wake of the trade.
7-round mock draft for the Ravens after trading OT Orlando Brown Jr.
Despite what an electric talent Lamar Jackson is, fans have consistently been disappointed in the Baltimore offense over the past couple of seasons, particularly in the passing game. Marquise Brown has been better than many give him credit for but he’s also not a No. 1 target in an NFL offense. Outside of that, the options have been extremely limited in terms of pass-catchers.
The Ravens did sign veteran Sammy Watkins in free agency this offseason to a one-year deal, a match that could be fruitful. His combination of size and speed could be an ideal fit in this offense, but that does assume that the former top-five pick can stay on the field, which has been anything but a given throughout his career.
Subsequently, Baltimore needs to work to shore up the pass-catching group moving forward. Terrace Marshall Jr. is the exact type of wide receiver they need to accomplish that. The LSU product managed to still make a name for himself behind Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, and it’s not hard to see why.
Blessed with great size and athleticism at 6-3, 200 pounds, Marshall proved to be an effective option lining up outside and in the slot. He’s versatile and above-average in every facet of his game, meaning he could be the piece that helps the Ravens fully unlock Jackson in their passing offense by offering a No. 1 target and giving better opportunities to his cohorts.