Nick Boyle to Baltimore Ravens: Full Draft-Pick Breakdown

Coming into the 2015 NFL draft, tight end was one of the biggest areas of need for the Baltimore Ravens, and they addressed it twice.

Their first tight end pick came in Round 2, where Baltimore traded up to select Minnesota's Maxx Williams. He's arguably the best tight end in this draft, but even with him, Baltimore's depth at this position was still shaky.

That's why the team took Delaware's Nick Boyle in the fifth round with the 171st pick. That's the same school where Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco played. 

How Boyle Fits the Ravens

The Ravens had a lot of questions surrounding the tight end position coming into the draft. Much of the uncertainty stems from the health of Dennis Pitta. 

Pitta suffered a season-ending hip injury last year. That came after he injured the same hip in the 2013 training camp and missed the first 12 games that season.

In all, the Pro Bowl tight end has played in just seven games over the past two seasons, and his latest injury may have him contemplating retirement. 

When he was out last year, Owen Daniels stepped in and was a productive starter. However, he left this offseason to sign with the Denver Broncos. 

After Daniels, Crockett Gillmore was the only tight end on the roster who played significant snaps last year. Even though the Ravens took a tight end in Round 2, getting Boyle in Round 5 was a smart move for depth. 

A star in the FCS ranks, Boyle caught 101 passes for 984 yards and 12 scores during his college career. He was the team’s leading pass-catcher in 2014 with 37 catches for 304 yards and four scores. 

Boyle was a fine athlete who could hurdle defenders in space, as evidenced by this play he had during Senior Bowl practices: 

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had Boyle rated as a fifth-round prospect, and here is an except of his scouting report: 

"

Big body with long arms and big hands. Has size and athleticism to be an every-down tight end. Flashes ability to run feet and sustain blocks in space and has quickness off snap to make back-side zone blocks. Smooth, natural hands-catcher. … Will dive and extend to make the tough catch. After catch, drops shoulder and delivers a blow to defensive backs. … Good feel for open space and works back to scrambling quarterback. 

"

Initial Reaction to Boyle Selection 

Boyle looks like a nice prospect who can develop into a quality backup at the NFL level. He should be able to challenge Crockett Gillmore for the backup job behind Maxx Williams if Dennis Pitta doesn't play this year.

However, if Pitta does play, it will be tough for Boyle to make the roster. The Ravens spent a third-round pick on Gillmore last year, so they've got more invested in him than the fifth-rounder they used on Boyle.

In the end, I think Boyle will find a way to make the final 53-man roster, but he'll be inactive for most, if not all, games in 2015. 

That will give him a year to sit back and learn the NFL game from the sideline while also bulking up and getting acclimated to professional football.