Now that the Super Bowl has finished the 23-24 NFL season, attention will shift to free agency and, eventually, the draft. For the Baltimore Ravens and their fans, it will be about assembling the perfect elements to advance past the AFC Championship game and into the Super Bowl.
On Monday, February 12, Bleacher Report’s scouting staff issued their newest mock draft for the 2024 draft. At pick No. 30, the Ravens were projected to select “EDGE Bralen Trice, Washington.”
According to BR, “Washington’s Bralen Trice has been one of college football’s most prolific pass rushers over the past decade.” According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked fourth on the list with 106 career pressures.
At selection 30, the Ravens will have to wait for top names to fall off the board before they can make their move. However, “They allowed good players to come to them.” “It’s remarkable how consistent and stable they are in that regard,” BR comments.
In the championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens’ elite defensive line could only sack quarterback Patrick Mahomes twice. The defense as a whole got off to a sluggish start, thus they may be looking to recruit another quality defender to strengthen the squad.
Bralen Trice Could Bring Relentless Energy
In 2023, Trice had 11.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks for the Huskies, who finished second in the College Football Playoff.
“Trice’s game is built on power and tenacity. He’ll go through, around, and pursue down ball carriers. “His motor always runs white hot,” BR wrote. Trice’s projected player equivalent is three-time Pro Bowler Frank Clark.
Trice’s size is seen as one of his primary talents, with BR stating, “Bralen Trice has a great build for an NFL edge. He uses it effectively against the run and as a pass rusher.”
The worry appears to be his athleticism to some extent. BR writes, “While Trice possesses outstanding athleticism for his size, he’s basically average overall. That limits his pass-rush repertoire because he isn’t quick-twitched and lacks the change of direction and athletic ability to execute delicate maneuvers.”
Another potential red flag is his ability to beat tackles off the corners, or his “bend,” as BR notes, “His bend is also subpar compared to his peers, hindering his ability to get sacks around the edge.”
However, BR believes that putting him on the line rather than linebacker will help with these difficulties. “His get-off is a little better out of a three-point stance, which will help his leverage at the point of attack,” the newspaper reported.
Ravens May Need to Reload on Front Lines
The Ravens may have bigger difficulties or needs to address. In the AFC Championship game, it was their offense that fell short, not their defense.
However, they risk losing important players from their dominating defense. Matt Holder, the team’s scout, stated, “The Ravens led the league in sacks during the regular season, but their top three pass-rushers—Justin Madubuike, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy—are all impending free agents.”
With Clowney and Van Noy, they may be able to re-sign veterans at a lower cost. However, Madubuike will be seeking to cash in big with a potential four-year, $81 million contract, according to Spotrac’s market value prediction.
As he said, “Baltimore spending a first-round pick at a premium position to try and maintain the amount of pressure the Ravens were able to generate last season makes a ton of sense.” The Ravens’ identity is heavily based on defense and the run game, thus Eric DeCosta will need to keep this position running smoothly.
He says, “Trice is the physical presence they seem to prefer among their front seven.”
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