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Baltimore Ravens' 2017 draft picks: Analysis for every selection

Jamison Hensley breaks down the Baltimore Ravens' 2017 draft class.

Round 1, No. 16 overall: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama

My take: This was a surprise. Even Humphrey acknowledged that he was caught a little off-guard by going at No. 16. The Ravens had a chance to take another Alabama prospect -- either defensive end Jonathan Allen or inside linebacker Reuben Foster -- who would’ve filled a more pressing need. But Humphrey wasn’t a total reach. He was the No. 14 prospect in this draft, according to ESPN’s Todd McShay. He was the second-best cornerback on Mel Kiper Jr.’s board. Humphrey has the physical traits to be a lockdown corner. He is a 6-foot-2 defender with long arms, great speed and a tenacious attitude. The concern is how he’ll hold up against downfield passes. He allowed only 50 percent of targeted passes to be completed against him, according to Pro Football Focus. But the bad news is that the average pass completed against Humphrey went for 16.9 yards. Still, how badly did the Ravens want him? He is the Ravens’ highest drafted defensive back since they grabbed cornerback Chris McAlister with the 10th overall pick in 1999.

Family ties: For the second time in three seasons, the Ravens selected a player whose father played in the NFL. In 2015, Baltimore took wide receiver Breshad Perriman, whose father, Brett, was a wide receiver in the league. This time, the Ravens drafted Humphrey, whose father, Bobby, was a running back in the NFL from 1989 to 1993. A first-round pick in the 1989 supplemental draft, Bobby Humphrey ran for 2,857 yards and reached the Pro Bowl in 1990 with the Denver Broncos.

Sweet home Baltimore: Humphrey is the eighth Alabama player selected by the Ravens, which is two more than any other team since 1997, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. This might not be a coincidence, considering Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome starred for the Crimson Tide in the late 1970s. The Ravens’ track record with Alabama players has been solid. There have been four players who became starters for multiple seasons (linebackers Jarret Johnson, Courtney Upshaw and Mosley and fullback Le’Ron McClain) and another who was a reliable backup (tight end Terry Jones).


Round 2, No. 47: Tyus Bowser, LB, Houston

My take: The Ravens will take some criticism for not going wide receiver here and giving Joe Flacco a much-needed possession receiver in USC's JuJu Smith-Schuster. But it's tough to argue with the Ravens' addressing the pass rush, which was the biggest need on the team. The Ravens ranked 24th in the NFL last season with 31 sacks, and no one currently on the roster had more than four sacks last season, besides Terrell Suggs. The Ravens also have to feel that the lack of a pass rush cost them a playoff berth last season, after they totaled three sacks in their last four games. Plus, the second round couldn't have gone any better for the Ravens because no edge rushers were taken before their pick. How much did the Ravens like Bowser? Baltimore chose him over other highly rated pass-rushers in Kansas State’s Jordan Willis and Alabama’s Tim Williams. The Ravens got good value here. Bowser was the No. 32 prospect in Todd McShay’s rankings and No. 41 on Mel Kiper’s board.

How he fits: Bowser’s ability to get to the quarterback so frequently earned him the nickname "The Bulldozer." That’s all you really need to know. Bowser totaled 8.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss in just eight games last season. He should come in and immediately make an impact on passing downs, filling the role of Elvis Dumervil, who was cut this offseason. A basketball player in his first two years at Houston, Bowser is one of the most explosive and athletic outside linebackers in this draft. He has the burst to go after the quarterback and the experience to drop into coverage. Bowser’s stock spiked after the NFL combine, in which he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.65 seconds (fifth-fastest among linebackers). He registered a 37 1/2-inch vertical leap to lead all linebackers and a 10-foot-7 broad jump (third among LBs) and bench-pressed 225 pounds 21 times (tied for eighth among LBs). Bowser has tremendous upside.

Costly fight: Bowser’s 2016 senior season was marred by a fight with a teammate that sidelined him for more than a month. Bowser and fellow linebacker Matt Adams had a heated altercation that got out of hand. Bowser got the worst of the exchange, suffering a broken orbital bone near his right eye that required surgery and sidelined him for five games. "We get very competitive about these team-bonding things," Bowser said at the combine. "We always talk trash, the usual stuff 20-year-old guys do, very competitive. It just happens. I tend to be good at the game, so a lot of guys get mad about it. When I win, I just beat the guy. He took it a little personal. We were in each other's face, and coaches and players tried to get between us as far as breaking us up. He took a swing at me, and it landed. We talked about it. He apologized. We're both grown men. We're still best friends."


Round 3, No. 74: Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan

My take: The Ravens might have been hoping for Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp or Ohio State center Pat Elflein to fall to them in the third round. Baltimore had more pressing needs in the passing game and along the offensive line, but both were gone a few picks before Baltimore was on the clock. That led to the Ravens' selecting Wormley, who was projected to go as high as the second round. Baltimore once again stayed in its comfort zone by taking a player from Michigan, where John Harbaugh’s younger brother, Jim, coaches. This continued a trend for the Ravens. It was the sixth straight year that Baltimore took a defensive lineman in the draft. It also marked back-to-back drafts in which the Ravens took a Michigan defensive lineman. Last year, Baltimore selected defensive tackle Willie Henry in the fourth round.

How he fits: Wormley adds more competition to the Ravens’ 3-4 defensive end spot. Lawrence Guy, who started the past two seasons at defensive end, signed with the New England Patriots in free agency. That left Baltimore with two young but unproven players in Brent Urban and Bronson Kaufusi, both of whom have struggled to remain healthy. Wormley was named Michigan’s defensive lineman of the year the past two seasons, in which he combined for 12.5 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss. He spent five years at Michigan and will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie.


Round 3, No. 78: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama

My take: Why did the Ravens not draft Penn State wide receiver Chris Godwin or Toledo running back Kareem Hunt in this spot? Williams was just too high on Baltimore’s draft board to pass up. He has first-round talent, but multiple red flags caused him to slip to the middle of the third round. Williams was arrested for a misdemeanor gun charge in September, and he acknowledged that he failed multiple drug tests. Ravens officials said they were comfortable using the No. 78 overall pick on Williams after he was upfront about his issues in a pre-draft visit. If Williams can stay out of trouble, this could be the steal of the Ravens' draft this year. Williams is an elite talent when it comes to getting to quarterbacks, and he could turn out to be the best pure edge rusher in this draft outside of Myles Garrett.

How he fits: The Ravens added two of the most explosive pass-rushers in this draft in Williams and Bowser (second round), and there’s a good reason for it. Terrell Suggs turns 35 in October, and Elvis Dumervil was cut this offseason. Baltimore’s other young pass-rushers, Za'Darius Smith and Matthew Judon, combined for only five sacks last season. Williams is a pass-rushing specialist who had 19.5 sacks the past two seasons. He is a dangerous pass-rusher because of his explosive burst and powerful hands. Williams can dip his shoulders to cut past offensive tackles on the outside or use a spin move to elude them. Not being an every-down player probably further hurt his stock. He made only 48 tackles in his last two seasons at Alabama, though 28.5 of them were for loss.

What's next: The Ravens have plenty of needs on offense, and they have only three picks in the final four rounds. Baltimore has one each in the fourth (No. 122), fifth (No. 159) and sixth (No. 186) rounds. The Ravens could use a wide receiver, center, offensive tackle and running back. Newsome believes there will be chances to trade back and acquire more picks.


Round 4, No. 122: Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State

My take: The Ravens selected their first offensive player of the draft, and he happens to share the last name of one of the Ravens’ most popular defensive players. But no, Nico Siragusa is not related to Tony Siragusa. This represents another great value pick for Baltimore. Although some would've liked to see the Ravens take his teammate, running back Donnel Pumphrey, Siragusa played a big part in helping Pumphrey become the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher. He is considered one of the most athletic offensive linemen taken outside the first round.

How he fits: If Siragusa proves that he can play right away, he would start at left guard. That would move Alex Lewis, the starting left guard last season, to right tackle or center. Harbaugh previously said Lewis can play either spot. It wouldn’t be a stretch for Siragusa to get on the field immediately. Lewis was a rookie starter after being selected in the fourth round last season. Siragusa was a three-year starter at San Diego State. He’s known for being an imposing run-blocker, which fits the Ravens’ profile. Baltimore wants to get back to being physical up front and re-establish its ground game.


Round 5, No. 159: Jermaine Eluemunor, OL, Texas A&M

My take: The Ravens continue to address defense and offensive line in this draft. Baltimore is taking a flier on a developmental prospect who could eventually become a starting right tackle. Eluemunor has great size (6-foot-4, 330 pounds) and strength. He also has agility, which comes from the fact that he is a former rugby player. Eluemunor grew up in London and moved to the United States at the age of 14. He said it would be a “dream come true” if he could play in the Ravens’ Week 3 game in England this season. Here’s some food for thought: He won the individual Hot Chicken Eating Contest at the Music City Bowl welcome party.

How he fits: Eluemunor will get a chance to start at right tackle. The Ravens have a void there after three-year starter Rick Wagner signed with the Detroit Lions in free agency. Coincidentally, Wagner was also drafted in the fifth round by Baltimore. The more likely scenario is that Eluemunor gets a season to develop before making a run at a starting job. He made only 12 starts in college.


Round 6, No. 186 overall: Chuck Clark, S, Virginia Tech

My take: It was fitting that the Ravens ended the draft in this fashion. This was a defense-heavy draft, with five of Baltimore’s seven picks coming from that side of the ball. Clark is known as a smart player who is strong in run support, but opinions on him vary. Todd McShay had Clark as the 25th-best safety in this draft. Mel Kiper Jr. had him at No. 57.

How he fits: Clark has to produce on special teams if he wants to make the final cut. He’ll also provide much-needed depth at safety. This offseason, the Ravens parted ways with three backup safeties, cutting Kendrick Lewis, not re-signing Matt Elam and rescinding the restricted free-agent tender to Marqueston Huff. Clark could be the No. 4 safety on the team behind starters Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson and top backup Anthony Levine.