Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Big Board: Position-by-Position Rankings

The Baltimore Ravens have routinely been one of the better drafting teams in the NFL.

That's evident when you look at their current roster, which still has many players who helped Baltimore win the Super Bowl just three years ago. Jimmy Smith, Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda and C.J. Mosley are among the 10 best players on Baltimore's roster, and all of those guys were originally drafted by the Ravens.

General manager Ozzie Newsome is one of the best in the business when it comes to draft success. With another good draft, the Ravens will be Super Bowl contenders in 2015.

Here, I've put together a list of four prospects at three positions that the Ravens should have on their big board heading into the 2015 draft. 

I've ranked them based on how high they should be on Baltimore's big board while also projecting what round they should go in. 

Tight End

John Raoux/Associated Press

You could argue that tight end is Baltimore's biggest need heading into the draft.

A big reason why is the uncertainty surrounding projected starter Dennis Pitta. He went down with a season-ending hip injury that may ultimately end his career. 

According to the Baltimore Sun, Pitta is currently working out with the Ravens, but he hasn't decided if he'll play in 2015 or not. When he went down last year, Owen Daniels filled in in nicely as the starting tight end.

However, Daniels left to sign with Denver this offseason. If Pitta can recover, he'll be the No. 1 tight end in 2015, and this won't be as big of a need. 

However, it doesn't appear the Ravens will know the final decision on his status until the summer, which means Baltimore needs to approach the draft as if he won't play. He's missed nearly all of two seasons of football in the past three years after suffering another hip injury back in 2013, and it's time to find another tight end to rely on. 

Crockett Gillmore showed flashes of potential as a rookie last year, but can he be counted on to be the No. 1 tight end if Pitta can't play?

That's why Baltimore should grab one this year, and there are several good options throughout the draft.

1. Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

Most experts regard Minnesota's Maxx Williams as the best tight end in this year's NFL draft. 

The 6'4", 249-pound Williams caught 36 passes for 569 yards and eight scores in 2014. He was also a finalist for the 2014 John Mackey Award, which honors the nation's top tight end every season. 

CBS Sports projects him as a possible first-round pick, but ESPN Scouts Inc. ranks him as just the 49th overall prospect in this draft. 

If the Ravens want to grab him, they're in a tough spot. Taking him at No. 26 would be too high, but will he be there in the second round when Baltimore is back on the clock at No. 58 overall?

If the Ravens do grab Williams, they'll at least be getting a guy who should be able to contribute as a rookie. 

Draft projection: late first or early second round

2. Clive Walford, TE, Miami (FL)

After Williams, most regard Miami's Clive Walford as the second-best tight end in this year's draft class. 

Because Williams might go in the first round, going after Walford later in the draft could be a better plan for Baltimore. The 6'4", 251-pound Walford caught a team-high 44 passes for 676 yards and seven scores this past season.

If Baltimore passes on Williams in Round 1 and can't get him in Round 2, settling for Walford in Round 2 wouldn't be a bad consolation prize. 

Draft projection: second round

3. Jeff Heuerman, TE, Ohio State

After Williams and Walford go off the board, there's a big drop-off to the next-best tight ends. 

Ohio State's Jeff Heuerman once looked like he could be the top tight end in this class, but injuries plagued his senior season and now have him projected as a Day 3 pick. 

In 2013, Heuerman caught 26 passes for 466 yards (17.9 average) and four touchdowns. However, Heuerman suffered a broken foot during spring practice this past season, and he went on to catch just seven passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns in 2014.

Part of his dip in production was also due to Ohio State having multiple injuries to its starting quarterbacks, which caused it to be more run-heavy this past season. 

If Heuerman can reclaim his 2013 form, he'd be a solid pickup for Baltimore on Day 3.  

Draft projection: fourth round

4. Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers

Tyler Kroft hasn't gotten much attention heading into the draft, but the Scarlet Knights tight end put up some good numbers during his college career.

The 6'5", 247-pound Kroft caught 67 passes for 842 yards for four touchdowns over the past two seasons. He then put up some impressive numbers at his pro day, where he broad jumped 10 feet, leaped 34 inches in the vertical jump and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.67 seconds, according to NJ.com. 

Kroft is also a solid run-blocker, and should be a nice contributor at the NFL level. He's probably not someone you'd want starting as a rookie, but he could develop into that role with a year or two of NFL experience under his belt. 

Draft projection: fifth round

Cornerback

Another position you could argue is the Ravens' biggest weakness heading into next season is at cornerback.

That was certainly the position that prevented Baltimore from making a deeper run in the playoffs last year, possibly from even winning a Super Bowl as well.

They had the Patriots on the ropes in the divisional round of the playoffs, but like so many times before in 2014, their secondary could not hold up against an elite passing offense. 

The Ravens could very well spend a first-round pick on a cornerback this year, and they might even draft two corners. That's just how depleted the cornerback position was by season's end last year, and that can't be allowed to happen again. 

1. Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest

After not getting much attention early in the draft process, Wake Forest's Kevin Johnson has gotten a lot of buzz leading up to it.

There's even talk he's the top cornerback in this draft and may be drafted in the first round. A big reason why is Johnson was so good that he simply was not tested this past season.

Per NFL.com's Lance Zierlein, Johnson only surrendered 24 completed passes this past season in 12 games. Watching his tape, it's easy to see why he's so hard to throw at.

Johnson has great length (6'0" with 31" arms) and speed (4.52 40-yard dash) that allows him to keep himself between the ball and his receiver. He also has seven career interceptions, but six of them came from 2012-13. 

Quarterbacks did not want to test him in 2014, which is one reason why he's not gotten much attention heading into the draft. Johnson will likely be someone Baltimore takes a hard look at to upgrade its cornerback depth. 

Draft projection: late first or early second round

2. Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

At one point, LSU's Jalen Collins was regarded as the best cornerback in this year's draft. 

The 6'1", 203-pound corner has a nice combination of height, weight and speed (4.48 40-yard dash), which allows him to cover most receivers.

That's what helped him to be a productive corner in the SEC this past season while covering some of the best receivers in college football. 

However, Collins has seen his stock drop in recent months due to reported drug use and injury concerns. He recently underwent foot surgery to repair a Jones fracture, per NOLA.com. 

Then came reports of Collins failing multiple drug tests at LSU. Those kind of red flags can cause a first-round prospect to take a hard fall in the draft. 

Baltimore may consider him in Round 1, but they probably would be better off waiting to get Collins in Round 2. 

Draft projection: late first or early second round

3. P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State

Another talented tut troubled prospect is Florida State's P.J. Williams. 

The 6'0", 194-pound Williams was fifth on the team with 74 tackles this past season, including 6.5 for a loss. He finished his college career with 123 total tackles and four interceptions in three seasons.

Williams is a physical corner who isn't afraid to go against any wideout, something he'd have to do early and often as a rookie if a cornerback-needy team like Baltimore drafts him.

Williams was arrested for a DUI in March, but the case was later dismissed, per NFL.com. It's still going to raise flags with NFL teams that he was involved in that situation with the draft so close. 

The Ravens will do their homework on Williams, but they still could ultimately decide to take him at some point in the draft. 

Draft projection: second or third round

4. Kevin White, CB, TCU

If the Ravens wait until later in the draft to take a corner, or they want to grab two of them, TCU's Kevin White will be a name to watch for. 

This past season, White led the Horned Frogs with 24 pass defenses to go with 51 tackles and two interceptions. He was great in coverage and also a decent run defender.

What makes White a late-round prospect is his slender frame (5'9" tall, 183 pounds) that might not hold up in the NFL.

He probably needs a year or two in an NFL weight room to bulk up before he's ready for a big role, but he could be someone who develops into a starting-caliber corner in a few years. 

Draft projection: fourth round

Wide Receiver

While corner and tight end need to be addressed, wide receiver is the Ravens' biggest weakness heading into the draft. 

After losing Torrey Smith in free agency and cutting Jacoby Jones, Baltimore has little depth and no clear-cut No. 2 receiver heading into the 2015 season. 

Steve Smith is the current No. 1, but he turns 36 in May, and this could be his final season. Expect the Ravens to spend an early-round pick on a wideout, and they may add another one in the later rounds. 

1. DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville

Louisville's DeVante Parker is one of the best pass-catchers in this draft, and the Ravens would love to add a guy with his talent.

Through his four years in college, Parker caught 156 passes for 2,775 yards (17.7 average) and 33 scores. A foot injury caused him to miss the first six games of this past season, but he still went on to post big numbers in the ACC.

Parker caught 43 passes for 855 yards and five scores in just seven games, which would equate to 80 catches, 1,588 yards and nine scores over a 13-game season. 

Though it would probably take Baltimore trading up to get him, Parker would be the perfect player to add to its aging and depleted receiver unit.

Draft projection: first half of first round

2. Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State

After DeVante Parker, Arizona State's Jaelen Strong may be Baltimore's best first-round option for a receiver. 

Strong is an athletic freak who can beat his man in a variety of ways. In 2014, the 6'2", 217-pounder had 82 catches for 1,165 yards and 10 scores. 

He did so by consistently getting open deep and over the middle, and he won many contested jump balls thrown his way. Having those kind of traits could make him a No. 1 receiver in the NFL as early as his rookie season.

The Ravens' No. 1 priority in this draft should be getting a potential No. 1 wideout, and Strong could give them just that.  

Draft projection: mid- to late first round

3. Phillip Dorsett, WR, Miami (FL)

If the Ravens wait until Round 2 to add a receiver, Miami's Phillip Dorsett might be the best one on the board.

The 5'10", 185-pound Dorsett has the ability to blow by defenders with his blazing speed. His 4.33-second 40-yard time at the scouting combine was among the best at his position.

Dorsett finished his four-year college career with 108 receptions for 1,860 yards (17.2 average) and 15 scores. This past season, he hauled in 36 balls for 871 yards and 10 scores.

Dorsett's game is similar to that of Torrey Smith in that he's a great deep-ball receiver and makes a lot of his biggest plays down the field. 

Unlike Smith, however, Dorsett's incredible speed allows him to escape defenders with more ease. He's an explosive player who would fit perfectly into Baltimore's offense, which is lacking explosive players.  

Draft projection: second round

4. Vince Mayle, WR, Washington State

The Ravens would be wise to add multiple receivers in this year's draft, and Washington State's Vince Mayle could be a steal on Day 3.

Mayle exploded onto the scene this past season after grabbing a school-record 106 passes to go with a school single-season record 1,483 receiving yards.

He was even a Biletnikoff Award semifinalist for the nation's top wide receiver, but most experts project Mayle to go as late as the fifth or sixth round. 

Though his gaudy numbers came in a pass-happy offense, any wideout who puts those kinds of numbers up in a BCS conference is someone who could impact an NFL team.

Mayle also has just two years of college experience after spending two years in junior college before heading to ASU. He still has room to grow, and with some development, he could become a nice No. 3 or 4 receiver in the NFL.

Right now, Baltimore doesn't have enough depth to feel good about having even that on their roster. Grabbing Mayle in the latter rounds could be beneficial for both the short and long term. 

Draft projection: fifth or sixth round