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          NFL Nation

          Ravens' fifth-round NFL draft pick saga ends in defensive line help

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterApr 25, 2020, 08:58 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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          The weird saga of a Day 3 NFL draft pick is over.

          The Baltimore Ravens used the fifth-round pick acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings for a backup kicker to bolster their defensive front with Texas Tech tackle Broderick Washington Jr.

          Baltimore landed the No. 170 overall pick from the Vikings last summer in exchange for kicker Kaare Vedvik, who struggled in Minnesota’s preseason games and was cut three weeks later. This remains one of the most masterful moves by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.

          With the bonus pick, the Ravens continued to address the defensive line. Washington, a three-year starter, is the fourth defensive lineman added by Baltimore this offseason (Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe in free agency and Justin Madubuike in the third round).

          The Ravens made revamping the front seven a priority after allowing a franchise-worst 4.4 yards per carry last season. Baltimore was also upset in the playoffs by the Tennessee Titans because it couldn't stop running back Derrick Henry, who ran for 195 yards against the Ravens.

          Washington is known for his toughness and technique and can become a rotational player at defensive tackle with Brandon Williams.

          "The Ravens love size," NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. "They love getting guys who can bang inside and are very strong and stout. He's a point-of-attack player. And no one values stopping the run quite like the Baltimore Ravens."

          The Ravens were able to draft Washington because of their history of being a special-teams pipeline. Three current kickers -- New Orleans' Wil Lutz, Carolina's Graham Gano and Buffalo's Stephen Hauschka -- all got their starts in Baltimore.

          Vedvik was expected to join them after making 12 of 13 field goals during the past two preseason in Baltimore. But, following the trade to Minnesota, the Norwegian-born kicker missed 3 of 4 field-goal tries.

          After getting cut by Minnesota, Vedvik bounced around to the New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals last season before getting signed to the Buffalo Bills' 90-man roster in January.