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          NFL Nation

          Why Ravens' pick was Mike McGlinchey in NFL Nation mock draft

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterApr 25, 2018, 03:15 PM
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              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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          In ESPN's NFL Nation mock draft on Tuesday, my pick for the Baltimore Ravens at No. 16 overall was Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey.

          My prediction remains the Ravens will trade back in the first round, where they can get better value for a wide receiver such as Maryland's D.J. Moore or Alabama's Calvin Ridley. There's even a chance Baltimore could get a top-rated player at his position such as McGlinchey or Iowa center James Daniels after trading down in the 20s.

          There are no trades allowed in the NFL Nation mock draft, so the pick was McGlinchey, the consensus best offensive tackle in this draft who can immediately start at right tackle. Baltimore didn't pick up the option on Austin Howard, who started every game at right tackle last season, and would currently go with James Hurst at that spot.

          McGlinchey is one of the safest first-round picks because he checks all the boxes. He's a great athlete and technician. He's a strong character prospect who is a former team captain and interviewed extremely well at the combine.

          The Ravens made wide receiver less of a priority after adding Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead in free agency, although they are expected to draft another target for Joe Flacco in the first three rounds. The biggest need is a pass-catching tight end, but it would be a reach to take one in the top 20.

          By selecting McGlinchey, Baltimore would have two young, first-round bookends, pairing him with left tackle Ronnie Stanley (a top-10 pick two years ago). This would allow Hurst to be a top backup at both guard and tackle.

          Flacco is looking to have his first fully healthy season since 2014 after dealing with knee surgery and a lower back problem in recent years. By going with McGlinchey, the Ravens would take a big step in keeping Flacco injury-free.