After trading back twice in the third round, the Ravens continued to build on the offensive side of the football by drafting two Oklahoma players – offensive tackle Orlando “Zeus” Brown (83’rd overall) and tight end Mark Andrews (86’th overall).
The Ravens were supposed to kick off the third round with the 65’th overall pick, but traded back to pick #75 from the Oakland Raiders. As a part of the trade, Baltimore received picks #152 (fifth round) and #212 (sixth round) from Oakland. Then, a few picks before pick #75 approached, the Ravens traded back yet again with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Ravens received Kansas City’s 86’th overall pick and the 122’nd pick (fourth round).
Brown’s father, Orlando “Zeus” Brown, also an offensive tackle, played for the Ravens from 1996-98 and passed away in 2011 due to diabetic ketoacidosis.
Brown, 6’8″, 345 pounds, is not the best athlete in the world, but he knows how to use his size to his advantage. His hands and his arms are perhaps his best attributes, as he is able to extend his arms to prevent pass rushers from advancing into the pocket. However, his feet are slow, he lacks strength, and he has a tendency to hold.
Brown’s NFL combine performance was especially concerning. He finished at the bottom of the list of NFL lineman in the 40-yard dash (5.85 seconds), vertical jump (19.5 inches), and posted the worst bench press total in the vertical jump for all offensive lineman (14 reps, 225 pounds). His stability and toughness are a major concern going forward.
Andrews, a former wideout, caught 62 passes for 1,765 yards and 22 touchdowns over three seasons at Oklahoma, averaging 15.8 yards-per-catch. He knows how to produce in the red zone, catching one touchdown for every five catches. He’s a big frame at 6’5″, 256 pounds, but he can still make defenders miss. His speed declined over his collegiate career, his blocking needs to improve, and he could be a liability in the run game.
The Ravens have now used their first four picks of the 2018 draft on offense, with two picks dedicated to the tight end position. Along with Andrews, the Ravens drafted South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst on Thursday. Andrews and Hurst will join a tight end room with Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle.
Brown’s case will be interesting. Ronnie Stanley will be the starting left tackle in 2018, but the right tackle spot will be Brown’s position to lose. The Ravens gave James Hurst a four-year, $17.5 million contract in the beginning of the offseason, but he has not proven to be reliable at either tackle position. He is better suited as a left guard. Marshal Yanda will return, along with Alex Lewis and Matt Skura. Skura and Lewis look to lock down starting jobs along the offensive line. Brown will certainly have an opportunity to lock down the right tackle job, but there are several concerns with his technique and work ethic.
Rounds 4-7 will take place tomorrow, Apr. 28, beginning at 12:00 p.m. EST. The Ravens will pick seven times on Saturday; three times in the fourth round (#118, #122, and #132), once in the fifth round (#152), twice in the sixth round (#190 and #212), and once in the seventh round (#238).
Image Credit: Dani Krempasky
