16. BALTIMORE RAVENS (9-7)
LAST SEASON: Needing victory over Cincinnati in season finale to end two-year playoff drought, Ravens yielded last-minute, 44-yard touchdown and lost 31-27 to finish. Though defense was sound for much of year, late-game collapses against Pittsburgh and Bengals in December knocked Baltimore from postseason for unprecedented third straight year under coach John Harbaugh. Emergence of running back Alex Collins (973 yards rushing) was not enough to offset inconsistent passing game that ranked 29th in NFL. General manager Ozzie Newsome sought to provide QB Joe Flacco better targets by signing free agent receivers John Brown and Michael Crabtree in March. Newsome also signed Robert Griffin III as Flacco's backup, just in case 33-year-old starter gets hurt or falters.
THEY NEED: WR, TE, DE, RT, CB.
THEY DON'T NEED: RB, RG, S, ILB, LS, P, PK.
POSSIBLE FIRST PICK: WR Calvin Ridley, Alabama; T Mike McGlinchey, Notre Dame; DE Marcus Davenport, UTSA; TE Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State; T Kolton Miller, UCLA.
OUTLOOK: Newsome's final foray as leader in draft room comes when Ravens are desperate to add talent after enduring lengthy playoff drought. Obvious need is wide receiver, but Baltimore also could use pass rusher who can offer support to 35-year-old Terrell Suggs and perhaps serve as successor. By releasing RT Austin Howard, Ravens are thin on offensive line and are looking for bookend to LT Ronnie Stanley, sixth overall pick in 2016 draft. Pass-catching tight end is also priority; Benjamin Watson was not retained despite leading team with 61 catches in 2017. Also possible Newsome will snag QB in later rounds who can learn as third-stringer and perhaps serve as starter during next decade.
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