After a surprise playoff run behind an old-school offense, the Ravens are ready to keep building into the 2019 NFL Draft.
The Baltimore Ravens had as interesting of a 2018 season of any NFL team. They went from a team that was throwing the ball at an absurd rate to a mid-season switch to a 1970’s style smashmouth brand of football. Being able to change approaches at the drop of a dime like that had head coach John Harbaugh praised by the media. They finished the season winning the AFC North. Despite a loss in the playoffs, the team looks poised to succeed again in 2019.
There are big decisions to be made. The first is what to make of Joe Flacco. Baltimore’s former starting quarterback is due a $26.5 million dollar cap hit this season. In total the deal runs through 2021 but the Ravens will likely cut ties this summer. It would hurt, to the tune of $16 million in dead money but save the Ravens over $10 million. Flacco is expendable after the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson in the first round last year and he led the team to the playoffs as a starter. Look for a trade, but a more likely option of being released.
Baltimore will also have to decide what to do with some prominent defensive pieces. Face of the defense, Terrell Suggs, is a 36 year old unrestricted free agent. If he comes back for another season, it’s hard to imaging him playing anywhere else. He’s still productive and coming off a seven sack season, after an 11 sack effort in 2017. Suggs wants to play, it’ll come down to at what price for Baltimore.
C.J. Mosley joins Suggs as an unrestricted free agent. There is zero chance he does not return. Mosley is the leader of the defense and a stud at linebacker. Baltimore will do everything they need to in order to keep him in town.
Other notable free agent decisions for the team are wide receiver John Brown, outside linebacker Zadarius Smith, and running backs Ty Montgomery, Javorious Allen, Alex Collins and Gus Edwards. Baltimore will need to whittle down it’s running back depth chart based on their free agents alone. The other two will likely be given the option of walking, with other pieces in place and draft capital available to spend on those positions.
Here is how the team could use the 2019 NFL Draft to keep the momentum of 2018 going and fill the holes they have on the roster. This mock draft was done using Fanspeak’s On the Clock tool.