Ravens Will Target Wide Receivers, Edge Rushers In Draft
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Ravens started last season 5-1 before dropping four of the next five while battling injuries to several key players.
The team had nine starters — including QB Lamar Jackson and six other Pro Bowlers — miss the Week 12 game at Pittsburgh because of COVID-19. That game was rescheduled three times before finally being played on Wednesday, Dec. 2 with the Steelers winning 19-14.
The Ravens finished the regular season with five consecutive wins and earned the fifth seed in the AFC playoffs. Baltimore beat Tennessee 20-13 in the wild-card game before losing to No. 2 Buffalo 17-3 in the divisional round.
FREE AGENCY: Lost LS Morgan Cox, QB Robert Griffin III, RB Mark Ingram II, LB Matthew Judon, WR Chris Moore, DE Yannick Ngakoue, C Matt Skura, WR Willie Snead, WR De'Anthony Thomas, DE Jihad Ward, CB Tramon Williams Sr. Signed TE Josh Oliver, CB Geno Stone, WR Sammy Watkins, G Kevin Zeitler, LB Chris Board, LB Tyus Bowser, DT Justin Ellis, LB L.J. Fort, LB Pernell McPhee, DE Derek Wolfe.
THEY NEED: WR, OLB, DE, OL, S.
THEY DON'T NEED: QB, RB, DT, K.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: LSU WR Terrace Marshall, Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman, Penn State DE Jayson Oweh, Georgia OLB-EDGE Azeez Ojulari, Miami (Fla.) DE Jaelan Phillips, Tulsa OLB Zaven Collins, TCU FS Trevon Moehrig.
OUTLOOK: GM Eric DeCosta is looking to boost the Ravens' passing attack that ranked last in the NFL in yards per game and attempts. This year's draft is deep at wide receiver and Baltimore could find potential playmakers on all three days.
The main question is whether Baltimore uses a first-round pick to select a wideout for the second time in three years. The Ravens could use a pass rusher after Judon, Ngakoue and Ward left via free agency. DeCosta will also look to add depth in the secondary and on the offensive line.
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