Here are the full letter grades for each pick made by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Going into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens were armed with nine picks, four picks coming on day two that they turned into six with a trade back with the New England Patriots at the end of round two. As for needs, the Baltimore Ravens were pegged to address primary holes such as inside linebacker, pass rusher, wide receiver, and interior offensive line. Secondary needs that were rumored to be on the table were running back, safety, and back up tight end.
Despite the needs mentioned above, the Baltimore Ravens took a “best player available” that surprised quite a few fans on social media. With that let’s break down every Baltimore Ravens pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.
With their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens made franchise history by drafting its first LSU player in the linebacker Patrick Queen. After losing C.J. Mosley in 2019, the Baltimore Ravens got by with Patrick Onwuasor and Josh Bynes playing in the middle. Now, they get a true number one linebacker to command the defense.
Queen is an extremely athletic linebacker who shows good range and tackles well in space. Queen is also an aggressive player against the run. Considered to be the second-best linebacker in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens got a steal at No. 28 overall.
Final Grade: A
As mentioned before, running back was considered to be a secondary need for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft. On their roster, they currently have veteran Mark Ingram, 2018 UDFA Gus Edwards, and 2019 fourth-round pick Justice Hill. Ingram rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2019, Edwards has been a consistent number two who has averaged over 700 yards in his first two seasons and Hill flashed at times as a rookie.
However, once J.K. Dobbins fell to them at No. 55, the Baltimore Ravens quickly decided to go the best player available and select the former Ohio State Buckeye. Dobbins was considered a top-five running back in the 2020 NFL Draft, and it’s easy to see why. On film, he displays great burst through the line of scrimmage, as well as home running hitting type of speed.
Ingram was brought in on a short, three-year deal in 2019 but could be cut after the 2020 NFL season should the Ravens staff feel comfortable with Dobbins moving forward. Additionally, this pick could leave either Edwards or Hill on the chopping block in the preseason.
Dobbins could see significant touches, given how frequently the Baltimore Ravens run the ball. For context, this is a similar situation to when the Baltimore Ravens selected Ray Rice in 2008 when they already had Willis McGahee on their roster.
Final Grade: A-
Similar to the situation at running back, the Baltimore Ravens did not need to address the interior defensive line this early in the 2020 NFL Draft, however, they once again went “BPA” and select Texas A&M defensive tackle Justin Madubuike.
A disruptive player in college, Madubuike brings power and high energy motor to a defensive line that includes Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams and Derek Wolfe. Likely a rotational guy in year one, Madubuike has the upside to be a future starter for the Baltimore Ravens.
Final Grade: B+
One area that the Baltimore Ravens were expected to address fairly early on was at the wide receiver position. Willie Snead is on the books for one more year and has played inconsistently over the past season. As such, the Ravens selected Texas slot receiver Devin Duvernay here in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. While not the most nuanced route-runner, Duvernay has solid hands and brings another speed element to the offense.
Final Grade: B+
In the first round the Baltimore Ravens, the Ravens addressed inside linebacker with Queen in the hopes that he’d play next to LJ Fort and Jake Ryan. However, it seems as though the Ravens had other plans, as with their 98th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft they selected Ohio State linebacker, Malik Harrison.
While more of a pure run-stuffer rather than a cover guy, Harrison gives the Ravens a yang to Queen’s yin. Harrison fell in the draft and is an excellent value pick for Baltimore.
Final Grade: A+
With Marshal Yanda‘s retirement and the release of swing lineman James Hurst, the interior offensive line was a fairly big need for the Ravens. Enter Tyre Phillips, who will most likely switch to guard in the NFL despite playing tackle in college. Phillips shows good power in his game, an ideal run blocker for the Baltimore Ravens scheme.
Final Grade: B
Double-dipping again at a position of need, the Baltimore Ravens take Michigan guard Ben Bredeson at the back end of the fourth round. Bredeson is another player who fell to the Ravens in the 2020 NFL Draft, projected by some to be a third-round pick.
While not incredibly athletic, Bredeson is a strong, technically sound guard who could potentially play center for the Ravens. But should also get his chance to compete for the starting right guard spot with Phillips, and Ben Powers.
Final Grade: A
Noticing a trend yet? The Baltimore Ravens once again went back to a position they already addressed earlier with defensive tackle Broderick Washington. While a good bit of Ravens fans were scratching their heads at this pick on Twitter, Washington is a solid depth piece who shows a good motor and anchor. Not the sexiest pick, given that there were better players on the board at the time, and I wouldn’t expect to see many starting reps coming from Washington.
Final Grade: C+
After trading up with the Minnesota Vikings, the Baltimore Ravens took their second wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft in SMU’s James Proche. An older prospect, Proche projects well as a slot option moving forward. He continues the trend of the Ravens targeting sure-handed receivers, as Proche had one of the lowest drop percentages in 2019. Proche will be in the mix for targets along with Duvernay, Snead, and Moore in 2020, particularly in the return game.
Final Grade: B
Using the pick they received in the trade with the Vikings, the Baltimore Ravens selected safety Geno Stone with their final pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite signing Chuck Clark to a three-year extension, the Ravens needed more depth on the back end of their defense as well as a special contributor.
A little undersized, Stone shows some good short-area quickness as well as a willingness to come up and hit people. For an early-round seven selection, Stone is a good pick here for the Ravens.
Final Grade: B