The first round of the 2010 NFL draft begins today at 7:30 p.m. Rounds two and three occur tomorrow at six p.m., and rounds four-seven take place Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. The Baltimore Ravens hold the following five picks in the draft: round one (25th overall), round two (57th overall), round five (156th overall), round five (157th overall) and round six (194th overall). The Ravens traded their third and fourth round selections to the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin, in which they also acquired Arizona’s fifth round selection. The Ravens traded their 2010 seventh round pick for Marques Douglas.
Looking at the Ravens roster as currently constructed, there are some holes that can be addressed with these draft picks. This year a main need is not wide receiver; that position has been adequately filled in the trade for Boldin, the re-signing of Derrick Mason, and the signing of Donte Stallworth. Getting Boldin for a 3rd and 4th, and even getting back a 5th is a great job by the front office. On paper it’s the best receiving corps the Ravens have had since…ever. The Ravens could use more speed or depth here, especially since Mason won’t be playing much longer.
Then there’s the cornerback. The Ravens need to help a secondary that had the most pass interference penalties in the NFL last season. Added to that, both Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are both coming off major knee injuries.
The team lost defensive ends Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan to free agency. Cory Redding was signed, but he is nothing spectacular (20 tackles and two sacks in 15 games last year with the Seahawks). The Ravens could use a player along the defensive line as Trevor Pryce will be 35 in August and Kelly Gregg will be 34 in November.
The way I see it, the Ravens should go with a cornerback and a defensive lineman in rounds one and two. In rounds five and six the Ravens can go with depth picks, maybe picking up a wide receiver, tight end, safety, or both offensive and defensive linemen.
Barring somebody such as Dez Bryant falling to pick 25, the Ravens could have the following options: DT Jared Odrick, DE Brandon Graham, CB Devin McCourty, or CB Kyle Wilson. TE Jermaine Gresham and WR Demaryius Thomas may also be there, if the team choose to go that route. As to who will actually be there depends on the teams drafting ahead of the Ravens, obviously. Pittsburgh (18), Houston (20), or Philadelphia (24) may be thinking cornerback. Brandon Graham should be taken; maybe by somebody like Atlanta at pick 19. Odrick is my best bet to be available at pick 25. Round two has some solid cornerback prospects in Dominique Franks, Brandon Ghee, and Chris Cook.
If Wilson or McCourty are available, I select them. If they aren’t I would take Odrick, or maybe CB Kareem Jackson. The dream scenario may be Brandon Graham in round one, and then Dominique Franks in round two. I say the Ravens select Odrick, followed by Brandon Ghee in the second round.
