Baltimore Ravens Targeting Two Positions in Upcoming NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens have a host of needs as the NFL draft approaches, and ESPN says there are two positions that are high on the franchise's priority list.

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on the / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens draft needs for some are glaringly obvious, but to address those needs in the rounds you want to is a tough task.

For general manager Eric DeCosta, he is tasked with trying to fill roster holes for the Ravens after seeing multiple positions get gutted in free agency.

But which positions are of the highest need for Baltimore? ESPN's Jamison Hensley knows the two positions the Ravens simply have to fortify in the draft.

"Wide receiver and offensive tackle are the two positions that dominate conversations when speaking with sources close to the Ravens," Hensley writes. "Baltimore hasn't been shy about helping quarterback Lamar Jackson with first-round receivers, and that trend could continue. And after trading Morgan Moses to the Jets, Baltimore could also target someone like Jordan Morgan (Arizona) or Tyler Guyton to join Patrick Mekari, Daniel Faalele and Josh Jones in the OL mix."

Offensive line looms as the clear choice in the first round for the Ravens. With plenty of talent available, getting Lamar Jackson better protection is surely high on the wish list. Having been sacked 37 times last season (second-most of his career), Jackson, particularly in Todd Monken's more vertical-orientated offense needs to be kept upright.

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on the / Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Then there's the receiver position. Odell Beckham Jr. isn't likely to return, which leaves a hole for the Ravens to fill. Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, and Isaiah Likely are the top pass-catchers for Jackson, but Beckham Jr. finished second among his fellow Ravens for yards (565). That production has to be replaced.

So it does seem relatively easy to see what positions Baltimore "should" target in the draft. Jackson needs better protection and weapons to utilize when he gets it.

In a draft class that is littered with talented linemen and receivers, the Ravens have a chance to plug the gaps in their roster and once again be one of the AFC powerhouses fighting for that Super Bowl trophy.