2013 NFL Draft: Ravens Interested in OT Lane Johnson?

Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl south squad offensive lineman Lane Johnson of Oklahoma (69) prior to kickoff of a game against the Senior Bowl north squad at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL rumor mill is swirling, and one of the top rumors right now is that the Baltimore Ravens are interested in trading up potentially for Oklahoma offensive tackle Lane Johnson. Johnson is considered a lock to go in the first seven selections, so who would the Ravens look to deal with?

I think the top two picks right now could be Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher, so the highest we could see Lane Johnson go is third overall. We know pretty much everyone in the top 10 is willing to trade their pick, but are they willing to move down to the 32nd overall pick? That’s a steep fall for a bad team.

In all likelihood, the Ravens would have to part with their 2nd round pick this year, and likely their 1st round pick next year to move up to get Johnson and probably more than that. Even in a draft with no top playmakers like Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, I think the Ravens would have to pay a steep price to get the athletic Oklahoma OT.

It may be worth it. Baltimore invested a ton of money in Joe Flacco this offseason, and they need to make protecting him a priority. Johnson could fill one of the team’s biggest holes, as well as help them get rid of Bryant McKinnie, who has been a bit of a headache for them even though he played well in the playoffs last year.

If the Ravens are interested in Johnson, they are going to have to make a big splash in a trade and maybe get a little creative with it.