2012 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens' 4 Biggest Needs

After coming just one play away from making the Super Bowl, the Baltimore Ravens should be one of the favorites to win it all in 2013.

Both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns are in a good position in the draft and are on a rise while the Pittsburgh Steelers will find a way to stay competitive no matter the circumstances.

This offseason is a big one for the Ravens and what they do in the draft could determine how far they make it this season.

The following slides will feature the biggest needs for the Baltimore Ravens going into draft day.

Wide Receiver

Baltimore saw a lot of both Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith last year and with Lee Evans now gone, they have Rodney Bradley, Tandon Doss, LaQuan Williams, Patrick Williams, David Reed and Phillip Livas.

Given that these players would be sixth and seventh receivers on some teams, the Ravens better be looking at a receiver on April 26th.

On top of that, Anquan Boldin is getting old fast. The 31-year-old is not the same person that he was five years ago. He is still a good receiver who can come up big when he needs to, but you are not going to get three more years of him as a No. 1 receiver.

Potential Draft Target(s): Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), Rueben Randle (LSU).

Free Safety

There is no denying that Ed Reed is one of the best, if not the best safety in the game. The problem is he has been that for 10 years.

With a first-round pick likely to be used on a receiver, there will not be many safeties available who can start right away.

The Ravens should look at spending a day-two pick on a safety so he can learn from Ed Reed and replace him when he gets injured or retires.

Potential Draft Target(s): Trumaine Johnson (Montana), Brandon Taylor (LSU).

Guard

The Baltimore Ravens had two Pro Bowl guards on their roster in 2011, with right guard Marshal Yanda making it as a reserve and left guard Ben Grubbs listed as an alternate.

With Grubbs departing to the New Orleans Saints in free agency, Baltimore now has a pretty big hole to fill.

There are several guards who can be had in the mid-late rounds of the draft who would fill that hole and it is a must that the Ravens take a look at them.

Potential Draft Target(s): Brandon Washington (Miami), Nate Potter (Boise State).

Inside Linebacker

Similar to the Ed Reed situation, Ray Lewis is not getting any younger. I would not be surprised if he retires next offseason or if he stays for a few more years.

Baltimore has Jameel McClain at inside linebacker. However, if they still want to run a mix of both the 3-4 and 4-3, then they will need someone to back up Lewis.

Learning from Ray Lewis would be a dream come true for most young defenders. That is why the Ravens should look to the draft for depth at inside linebacker.

Potential Draft Target(s): Audie Cole (N.C. State), Vontaze Burfict (Arizona State).