When it comes to projecting who the Ravens will take, all we know is that it won't be a QB. Because, as the universe and Joe Flacco have decreed, Joe Flacco is the best QB in the NFL. With that indisputable truth in mind, we turn our attention to MD.Texan and his pick on behalf of the Ravens.
Dont’a Hightower (MLB—Alabama).
Baltimore is preparing to mount a mammoth #52 jersey in the rafters, and they just lost their most underrated player in Jarret Johnson (OLB/DE), so the Ravens have a glaring need at LB.
At 6-2 and 265 lbs., Dont’a Hightower will be Ozzie Newsome’s selection come draft day. At Alabama, he played ILB, DE and rush-backer when needed. This NFL-ready linebacker will start on Sundays, playing in numerous roles on the Ravens' D. Some critics have cited Hightower as a possible replacement for Ray Lewis, but for now he is here to learn, fill holes, and make plays.
Personally, I would just have Flacco play LB, too. You know he's talented enough to play both offense and defense. If John Harbaugh doesn't take advantage of that incredible talent, it's on Harbaugh.
TexansDC, the only guy who truly believes you can love two teams equally (spoiler alert: YOU CAN'T), and the San Francisco 49ers are on the clock. His pick is due to MDC and I by 7 p.m. CDT tonight, or there will be grave consequences.
The damage:
1. Indianapolis Colts--Andrew Luck (QB--Stanford)
2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis)--Robert Griffin III (QB--Baylor)
3. Minnesota Vikings--Matt Kalil (OT--USC)
4. Cleveland Browns--Trent Richardson (RB--Alabama)
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers--Dontari Poe (DT--Memphis)
6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington)--Justin Blackmon (WR--Oklahoma State)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars--Morris Claiborne (CB--LSU)
8. Miami Dolphins--Ryan Tannehill (QB--Texas A&M)
9. Carolina Panthers--Quinton Coples (DE--North Carolina)
10. Buffalo Bills--Luke Kuechly (LB--Boston College)
11. Kansas City Chiefs--David DeCastro (OG--Stanford)
12. Seattle Seahawks--Courtney Upshaw (LB--Alabama)
13. Arizona Cardinals--Michael Floyd (WR--Notre Dame)
14. Dallas Cowboys--Fletcher Cox (DE/DT--Mississippi State)
15. Philadelphia Eagles--Riley Reiff (OT--Iowa)
16. New York Jets--Melvin Ingram (LB-South Carolina)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland)--Dre Kirkpatrick (CB-Alabama)
18. San Diego Chargers--Shea McClellin (LB-Boise State)
19. Chicago Bears--Cordy Glenn (OG/OT--Georgia)
20. Tennessee Titans--Stephen Hill (WR--Georgia Tech)
21. Cincinnati Bengals--Mark Barron (SS--Alabama)
22. Cleveland Browns (from Atlanta)--Mohamed Sanu (WR--Rutgers)
23. Detroit Lions--Stephon Gilmore (CB--South Carolina)
24. Pittsburgh Steelers--Jonathan Martin (OT--Stanford)
25. Denver Broncos--Peter Konz (C--Wisconsin)
26. Houston Texans--Nick Perry (OLB/DE--USC)
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans)--Coby Fleener (TE--Stanford)
28. Green Bay Packers--Whitney Mercilus (OLB--Illinois)
29. Baltimore Ravens--Dont'a Hightower (LB--Alabama)
30. San Francisco 49ers--TexansDC
31. New England Patriots--NoSafetiesNeeded
32. New York Giants--DaGoaT