Who will be lucky No. 13 for the Baltimore Ravens?
While National Football League teams are notoriously guarded up through draft day, that hasn?t stopped various experts from speculating about who the Ravens will pick in the upcoming draft. The team?s first pick is slated for No. 13 overall.
There are several needs the team could address with the pick, including shoring up the offensive and defensive lines. One name that has been mentioned is University of Oregon defensive lineman Haloti Ngata.
ESPN analyst and Baltimore-area resident Mel Kiper, Jr. speculated last week that University of Minnesota running back Laurence Maroney could be that pick. The Ravens are already crowded at the running back spot after re-signing Jamal Lewis and acquiring Denver?s Mike Anderson during the offseason.
Maroney?s agent, Mel Bratton, confirmed that his client visited the Ravens earlier this month.
“I know they have a great interest,” Bratton said. “Will they pull the trigger at 13? I don?t know.”
Maroney is a5-feet-11, 205-pounder from St. Louis, according to Gophersports.com, a University of Minnesota website. Maroney turned 21 in February, and one of his nicknames is “Kool Aid.”
Kiper, earlier this week, had Maroney at No. 23 and Santonio Holmes, an Ohio State receiver, in the 13th spot.
Bratton also represents former University of Maryland tight end Vernon Davis, who many project as a top pick. Bratton is confident about Davis? prospects. So the Ravens may not have a chance at the ex-Terrapin, who is called “Cyborg” by fans.
The Ravens have been playing the waiting game when it comes to quarterback. Incumbent starter Kyle Boller remains with the team, but the team has said it would like to bring in competition for the four-year veteran.
University of Texas quarterback Vince Young seems unlikely to drop down to the Ravens, but some experts have said Baltimore might look at Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler. Scout Inc. has Cutler as the 13th-best player avaialble.
THE NFL DRAFT
When: April 29-30
Ravens? first pick: No. 13
Did you know? Last year, the Ravens took Mark Clayton as their first pick. Clayton, a wide receiver from the University of Oklahoma, was taken in the first round as the 22nd player overall … The first two players ever taken by the Ravens, in 1996, were offensive lineman Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Ray Lewis … Since 1996, the Ravens have drafted five players from the University of Oklahoma, four from Miami (Fla.), and three each from Alabama, Florida, Louisville and Tennessee … The Ravens have drafted one player from the University of Maryland.
Source: Ravens? media guide
