Could Ravens make history in NFL Draft? originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens' biggest need as they enter the NFL Draft, for most, is clear to see, and that's the offensive line.
With Tyler Linderbaum moving on in free agency, the Ravens have a gaping hole in the middle of the offensive line, and for most, that is where the franchise has to reinforce this offseason.
As it stands, Corey Bullock is the starting center, which likely won't be ideal for Week 1, so time will tell if the Ravens will take an offensive lineman early in the draft.
And as NFL.com's Kevin Patra writes, if they do, it'll be the first time ever they've done so.
"The loss of Tyler Linderbaum stings Baltimore, which now has a significant need in the middle of the offensive line," Patra wrote. "Both guard and center are question marks at this stage. The Ravens have never selected a player at either position in the first half of the first round. Will they snag a lineman at No. 14?"
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It feels that way, and if Jackson is to play to the level we know he can, he'll have to be protected, and with no Linderbaum to anchor the interior of the offensive line, that's problematic.
Could the Ravens draft, say Spencer Fano or Olaivavega Ioane at pick No. 14? Absolutely, they could, and while Patra says the franchise has never taken a position like that, this high in a draft before, now seems as good a time as any to buck that trend.
The Ravens have a big hole at center now that Linderbaum is with the Las Vegas Raiders, and how the franchise addresses that position in the coming weeks will be interesting to watch.
The need is there, but will the Ravens do something they've never done in a draft before? I think they do.
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