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2015 Draft in Review: Baltimore Ravens

ravens-perrimanThe NFL draft is over and it suddenly seems like a long time to wait for the next meaningful event on the NFL calendar. But frankly we’re still excited trying to break down what it all means for each team and so we’re going to share some of that excitement.

That’s right every team is going to have each pick broken down as well as a look at their undrafted free agents. Next up we're looking at the Baltimore Ravens, known for drafting so well year in and year out, but how does this year look at first glance.

Round 1: Breshad Perriman, WR, UCF

Grade: B

The Ravens came into this draft looking for a deep threat at wide receiver and it took them just a few hours to find one. The concern with Perriman is that he had questionable hands in college, with eight drops from 58 catchable passes, but this was about the right spot for him. The deep threat they were looking for, he registered 525 yards and five touchdowns on passes traveling 20 or more yards in the air.

Depth Chart Fit: Direct replacement for Torrey Smith, who departed for San Francisco, as the Ravens' primary deep threat.

Round 2: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

Grade: A-

The consensus number one tight end in the draft, and a borderline first round draft pick in our eyes, Williams selection raises questions about the future of Dennis Pitta in Baltimore. A standout receiver at Minnesota, Williams averaged 2.71 Yards Per Route against Power 5 Opponents, the second highest mark in this class.

Depth Chart Fit: Could start right away if need be, but will likely be the team's No. 2 tight end at a minimum come September.

Round 3: Carl Davis, DI, Iowa

Grade: A             

Arguably the best pick made by Ozzie Newsome & Co. over the weekend, Davis is a player who many felt was worthy of a first-round draft pick. Davis didn't always live up to his potential at Iowa, but when he was good, he was very good. A productive pass rusher, he finished the year with a Pass Rushing Productivity Rating of 9.4 against Power 5 Opponents, tied for second in the class.

Depth Chart Fit: He'll be part of a rotation on a Ravens defensive line that is still quite crowded despite despite Haloti Ngata being traded to Detroit.

Round 4: Za'Darius Smith, ED, Kentucky

cff-value-badgeHe might be one-dimensional and purely a pass rusher, but Smith has the potential to be a very good player for the Ravens as a situational rusher. 47 total pressures in 2014, no Kentucky Wildcat had more, including first-round draft pick Bud Dupree.

Depth Chart Fit: After losing Pernell McPhee in free agency, the Ravens likely see Smith as part of their pass rush rotation.

Round 4: Javorius Allen, HB, USC

50 missed tackles on 317 offensive touches for Allen, he had the 15th highest Elusive Rating in this class at 41.0. A better fit on early downs, he had the 10th highest rushing grade of any running back in this draft class.

Depth Chart Fit: Justin Forsett is the top running back in Baltimore, so Allen joins the group of players fighting for carries behind him in 2015.

Round 4: Tray Walker, CB, Texas Southern

Coming out of Texas Southern, Walker didn't play against FBS competition in 2014.

Depth Chart Fit: A unit that struggled with injuries in 2014, Walker will compete for a reserve cornerback role this summer.

Round 5: Nick Boyle, TE, Delaware

Two tight ends drafted suggests that things don't look good for Dennis Pitta's medical situation. We only saw 41 snaps from Boyle in 2014, as he held his own in a one sided loss to Pittsburgh in Delaware's only game against FBS opposition.

Depth Chart Fit: Even if Pitta is finished, Boyle doesn't figure to have a big role in 2015. He'll likely compete with Phillip Supernaw and Crockett Gilmore for any playing time behind Williams.

Round 5: Robert Myers, G, Tennessee State

Another player who didn't see a single snap against FBS competition in 2014.

Depth Chart Fit: At the moment he’s at best a backup at left guard behind Kelechi Osemele, but he'll have to fight to win and keep that job.

Round 6: Darren Waller, WR, Georgia Tech

cff-value-badgeWhile Perriman was the deep threat they were looking for, Waller is a big target who can be a physical presence for the Ravens the way Anquan Boldin was. Limited by the opportunities afforded to him in the run heavy Georgia Tech offense, Waller still managed to produce a Yards Per Route Run Average of 2.69 against Power 5 Opposition, 10th in the class.

Depth Chart Fit: With Steve Smith, Perriman and Marlon Brown all likely ahead of him on the depth chart, he'll start by competing with Kamar Aitken for playing time as a reserve outside receiver.

The Undrafted

Darius Allen, ED, Colorado State-Pueblo: Out of Colorado State-Pueblo, Allen didn't play a snap against FBS opposition all year.

Brennan Beyer, ED, Michigan: A limited player who struggled more as a pass rusher than he did against the run, his Run Stop Percentage of 4.7% was 54th in the class.

Gerald Bowman, S, USC: A solid safety at USC, Bowman gave up 0.63 Yards Per Coverage Snap, tied for 51st in the class.

DeAndre Carter, WR, Sacramento State: Played just one game against FBS opposition, Carter averaged 1.64 Yards Per Route Run in the game against Cal.

Blaine Clausell, T, Mississippi State: Owner a very average grade at Mississippi State, Clausell allowed 26 total pressures in 2014.

Trey DePriest, LB, Alabama: 68th Run Stop Percentage at Inside Linebacker at 7.7%

Nick Easton, C, Harvard: No snaps against FBS opposition for the Harvard C.

Kaleb Johnson, G, Rutgers: Graded negatively as a run blocker and in pass protection, he gave up 14 total pressures in 2014.

Terrence Jones, T, Troy: Our 43rd-graded tackle in 2014, Jones didn't give up a single sack all season.

Jerry Lovelocke, QB, Prairie View A&M: No snaps against FBS opposition for the Prairie View A&M quarterback.

Terrence Magee, HB, LSU: 29 missed tackles from 129 touches of offense, Magee's Elusive Rating of 54.6 was the 23rd highest in the class.

Justin Manton, K, Louisiana-Monroe: Connected on 83.3% of his field goals in 2014, including going 2-for-2 on attempts of 50+.

Cory Morrissey, ED, Iowa State: 800 snaps in his final season as a Cyclone, but negative grades both against the run and as a pass rusher.

Nick Perry, S, Alabama: Two standout performances in an otherwise very average season give hope that Perry could be a diamond in the rough.

David Peterson, C, JSU: Our 18th-highest graded C in this class, Peterson surrendered just four total hurries all year.

Lexington Smith, DI, Northern Colorado: Just one game against FBS opposition, with Smith registering two sacks against UNLV.

De'Ondre Wesley, T, BYU: 872 snaps for the BYU tackle, but negative grades as a run blocker and in pass protection.

Julian Wilson, CB, Oklahoma: Gave up 1.74 Yards Per Coverage Snap, 127th in the class.

Aundrey Walker, T, USC: Played just 174 snaps, looking better as a run blocker than in pass protection, where he gave up a sack, two hits and a hurry.

Darryl Baldwin, T, Ohio State: 1,032 Snaps for the National Champion Buckeyes, but had the 14th lowest run blocking grade in the class.

 

Follow Gordon on Twitter: @PFF_Gordon

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