Ravens 2020 Draft Review
In what was the first relevant live sporting event in what felt like a millennium, the NFL draft drew a historic amount of views. The draft was live-streamed from home due to COVID 19. The Ravens had another phenomenal draft. Many media members said that the Ravens had the best draft of any team in the NFL.
The Ravens started their draft by taking LSU inside linebacker Patrick Queen with the 28th pick of the draft. Queen was the third linebacker the Ravens have drafted in the first round in franchise history. Queen talked to Ravens quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and was promptly nicknamed "Ray Lewis Junior." Queen will take over for Josh Bynes, who signed with the Bengals in the offseason.
The Ravens then selected JK Dobbins in the second round with the 55th pick. Dobbins is particularly potent out of the shotgun formation and could be the future replacement for Mark Ingram. In 2019, Dobbins ran for 2,003 yards and he became the first running back in Ohio State history to get more than 2,000 yards.
The Ravens made their first trade of the night with the Patriots. The Ravens gave the 60th and 129th pick to the Patriots in exchange for the 71st and 98th pick.
With the 71st pick, the Ravens took DL Justin Madubuike from Texas A&M. Madubuike ran a fast 4.83 40 yard dash and his speed showed on the field as led the Aggies with 11 tackles for loss. He gives the Ravens a possible replacement for an aging Ravens defensive line.
The Ravens waited a bit to take a wide receiver in a draft class loaded with wide receivers. With the 92nd pick, they took Devin Duvernay from Texas. Duvernay flashed his 4.39 speed totaling 106 receptions for 1,386 receiving yards-good for second-most all-time for Texas. The 1,386 yards were also the fifth most in the country. Duverney only had one drop throughout his college career and he will play primarily out of the slot for the Ravens. He will play behind Willie Snead who is a free agent after the 2020 season.
The Ravens took their second linebacker of the draft with the 98th pick-Malik Harrison from Ohio State. Harrison is 6 foot 3 and his size is viewed as more of a prototypical inside linebacker's body than first-round draft pick-Patrick Queen. Harrison led Ohio State in tackles as junior and a senior.
With their last pick of the third round and the 106th pick in the draft, the Ravens took guard Tyre Phillips from Mississipi State. Phillips was phenomenal in pass protection allowing two sacks and one quarterback hit over 398 snaps in pass protection. He is 6 foot 5 and 330 lbs. He has great power upfront. Phillips will compete for the opportunity to fill the role of Marshall Yanda along with free agent D.J. Fluker and the Ravens next draft pick-Ben Bredeson
The Ravens selected Ben Bredeson with 143 picks from Michigan. Bredeson, who plays guard, played for Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh's younger brother. Bredeson was the 13th player in Michigan history to be selected captain twice. He is 6 foot 5, 315 lbs, a hard worker, and consistent.
With their sole fifth-round draft pick, at 170, the Ravens chose defensive linemen Broderick Washington from Texas Tech. Much like Madubuike, Washington is coming in with the hopes of taking over in a couple of years for an aging Ravens defensive line. Washington has started in every game over the last three years for Texas Tech and he is known for his toughness and instincts.
The Raven than traded a 2020 pick 225 and a 2021 5th round pick that was acquired from Pittsburgh to the Vikings for 2020 draft picks 201 and 219.
With the 201st pick, the Ravens took wide receiver James Proche from SMU. Proche led the FBS in receptions with 111 last year and he was the active career leader in receptions, yards, and receiving touchdowns. Proche is known for his incredible hands and his ability to win contested catches. Proche will have an opportunity to win the punt return job for the Ravens.
With their last pick in the draft at 219, the Ravens selected safety Geno Stone from Iowa. Stone had six interceptions including one that he returned for a touchdown in his three seasons at Iowa. Stone has great instincts and is a great ball hawk.
