Ravens draft preview: Adding juice at edge rusher might be worth the squeeze
The first round begins April 27 in Kansas City, but until then, the Ravens have plenty to figure out. As we get closer to the draft, The Baltimore Sun will examine which players at each position of need could be available in the early, middle and late rounds when the Ravens are on the clock. While the Ravens have two promising pass rushers in former high school teammates...
The calendar has officially flipped to April, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to get ready for the NFL draft.
The first round begins April 27 in Kansas City, but until then, the Ravens have plenty to figure out. Most notably, their contract stalemate with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has requested a trade while under the $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag. If he gets his wish, the Ravens’ draft could look a lot different.
Baltimore owns five picks: Nos. 22 (first round), 86 (third round), 124 (fourth round), 157 (fifth round) and 199 (sixth round). A blockbuster deal for Jackson would significantly increase the size of that haul, but the Ravens are guaranteed at least one additional first-rounder this year if Jackson signs an offer with another team before the draft and Baltimore declines to match it.
As we get closer to the draft, The Baltimore Sun will examine which players at each position of need (quarterback, wide receiver, cornerback, defensive line, edge rusher and offensive line) could be available in the early, middle and late rounds when the Ravens are on the clock.
While the Ravens have two promising pass rushers in former high school teammates Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo and a reliable veteran in the versatile Tyus Bowser, there is always room for another talented player along the defensive front. Here are a few edge defenders who might be worth the investment.
Early: Clemson’s Myles Murphy
The Ravens have bigger needs to fill in the first round, but sticking to their “best player available” philosophy might lead to a surprise selection.
The 6-foot-5, 268-pound Murphy checks all the boxes when it comes to physical tools. The former five-star recruit out of Georgia entered the 2022 season No. 3 on Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List” for his jaw-dropping athletic testing numbers, and he backed that up with a strong pro day performance. He’s drawn comparisons to former Georgia edge defender Travon Walker, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 draft, for his rare combination of size and athleticism.
Unlike Walker, however, Murphy has been consistently productive throughout his college career.
The three-year starter recorded 20 sacks and 96 total quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, including 76 pressures over the past two seasons. He was the only player in the country to produce at least 10 tackles for loss and at least one forced fumble in each of the past three seasons and one of only two Power Five players to record at least 35 tackles for loss and six forced fumbles during that span.
With 33 3/4-inch arms, impressive power and a quick first step, Murphy has the potential to develop into a premier pass rusher at the next level. He’s also shown versatility, lining up anywhere from three-technique (outside shoulder of the guard) to wide-nine technique (outside of the tight end) in the Tigers’ multiple defensive front. However, analysts say he relies too much on his athleticism and lacks an array of moves and counters to defeat blocks. He’s also shown little improvement since his freshman season, providing only flashes of dominance.
While Murphy’s game needs more refinement, the 21-year-old has the tools to grow into an impact player. His traits alone are worth betting on in the first round.
Middle: Louisville’s YaYa Diaby
The middle rounds are where the Ravens shine when it comes to picking defensive linemen. In 2015, they added Za’Darius Smith in the fourth round. The following year, they picked Matthew Judon in the fifth. Justin Madubuike (2020), Broderick Washington Jr. (2020), Zach Sieler (2018), Chris Wormley (2017) and Brent Urban (2014) are middle-to-late-round picks who became reliable contributors in Baltimore and elsewhere.
Diaby (pronounced dee-AH-bee) could be the next in line. The 6-3, 263-pound Atlanta native stood out at the NFL scouting combine, running the 40-yard dash in 4.51 seconds, recording a 37-inch vertical jump and posting a 10-foot broad jump to rank second among defensive ends in athleticism score. He’s transformed his body since high school, reportedly adding 50 pounds (from 210 to 260) over his two seasons at Georgia Military College before arriving at Louisville in 2020. That added muscle helped him put together a breakout 2022 season in which he recorded 14 tackles for loss and nine sacks to earn third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors. That included an elite pass-rush win rate, with Diaby beating his blocker in 2.5 seconds or less on 16.1% of his 279 pass-rushing snaps, according to PFF.
Like Murphy, Diaby has also been criticized by analysts for his lack of pass-rushing moves and an overreliance on athleticism. There are also questions about his ability to react to the ball, with The Athletic’s Dane Brugler noting that Diaby is “often late to read screens or misdirection and needs to be more of an instinctive hunter versus the run.” He’ll turn 24 before the NFL season, making him one of the oldest prospects in the draft.
Despite his limitations, Diaby’s physical profile and standout 2022 season make him an intriguing possibility on Day 2.
Late: Liberty’s Durrell Johnson
Johnson’s rise from playing safety at Overlea High to spending three seasons at ASA Junior College in New York to becoming one of the most productive edge rushers in the country at Liberty is an inspiring story that could catch the Ravens’ attention.
The 6-3, 251-pound Baltimore native is undersized and 24 years old, but his college stats are undeniable. Johnson recorded 8 1/2 sacks and a team-leading 11 1/2 tackles for loss in his first season at Liberty in 2020, and though his production fell off the following year as he missed four games with a meniscus injury, he bounced back in 2022 with nine sacks and a nation-leading 27 1/2 tackles for loss. He became the program’s first Football Bowl Subdivision player to be named to the Walter Camp All-America second team and was invited to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
Rated as just a two-star recruit coming out of junior college, Johnson quickly found a home at Liberty, which helped him blossom into a standout defender. While he could have opted out of the team’s Boca Raton Bowl matchup after coach Hugh Freeze left for Auburn, Johnson decided to play, recording seven tackles and a sack in a 21-19 loss to Toledo.
“It shows true character and who you are when the house is crumbling down or when everything is going right,” Johnson said, according to The News & Advance in Lynchburg, Virginia. “Me personally, the personality I am, I’m not the type of person that the house is crumbling down, it’s on fire and I’m running out to save myself. I’d rather be down with all my family in the fire than run out and be the one to save myself. That’s just how I look at it. I’m big on loyalty.”
While Johnson lacks the size and strength to be a starting outside linebacker in the NFL, his quick first step and closing speed make him an intriguing rotational pass rusher. The Ravens could use that kind of juice off the edge.
NFL draft
Thursday, April 27, to Saturday, April 29
TV: ESPN, NFL Network
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