Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL Draft recap
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Zay Flowers was yet another weapon the Ravens added as they continue to expand the weaponry for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
The Baltimore Ravens started its draft weekend with the announcement of a five-year extension for quarterback Lamar Jackson. It doesn’t get much better than that. They proceeded to use their 22nd overall pick to select Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers. But in a surprise move to many, they went on to grab one a player who began to fall in the draft when they selected former Clemson linebacker Trenton Simpson in the third round.
Could that move spark more to come for the Ravens?
We grade every pick for the team in our draft recap.
| 2023 NFL Draft recap | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | |||||
| Selection | Player Selection | Position- School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | Nasty’ Take: | Value (1-5) based on DN Big Board Rank and our grade: |
| 1 (22) | Zay Flowers 5’9 182 | WR/Boston College | 39/2nd Round | Flowers’ run after the catch ability should add another dimension to a wide receiver room with a veteran, another first-round pick and a Pro Bowl kickoff return specialist. | 4 |
| 3 (86) | Trenton Simpson 6’2 235 | LB-Clemson | 26/2nd Round | Simpson’s eye control needs to improve, but he has outstanding potential as a pass rusher in the team’s blitz packages. In addition, he ranks as an outstanding special teams contributor. | 5 |
| 4 (124) | Tavius Robinson 6’6 257 | DE/OLB-Ole Miss | 253/4th Round | Robinson’s ability to turn the ball over went to a new level this past season with five forced fumbles. His length and upside is intriguing. | 3.5 |
| 5 (157) | Kyu Blu Kelly 6’0 193 | CB-Stanford | 104/3rd Round | One of the smoothest cornerbacks in the draft, his most impressive quality may be body control. He tackles well enough to fit in the team’s defensive system. His father, Brian, was one of the NFL's best technicians as a Super Bowl champion. | 5 |
| 6 (199) | Malesala Aumavae-Laulu 6’5 317 | OT-OG-Oregon | 247/4th Round | There was once a time when Aumavaei-Laulu weighed in the 400-pound range at the prep level, but he has developed into a relatively svelte tackle in the 320-pound range with guard and tackle experience. | 4.5 |
| 7 (229) | Andrew Vorhees 6’6 310 | OG-USC | 73/2nd Round | An ACL injury at the 2023 NFL Combine caused Vorhees’ draft stock to plummet, but he has started at the left tackle position and both guard spots in school. He wins the majority of his wrestling matches and relies on quick-sets to stymie pass rushers. | 5 |
| No. 1 UDFA signing: | Keaton Mitchell 5'9 180 | RB-ECU | 268/4th Round | Mitchell ran in the 4.3s but may have been faster in pads. He was clocked over 22 miles per hour on the GPS tracking system several times in school, and got up around the times in two games just last season (Appalachian State, Marshall). | 5 |
| Draft Grade: | 4.5 |
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