Ravens draft picture

NFL draft

Total draft picks: Six

Breakdown: First round, 10th overall; second round, 11th pick, 42nd choice overall; fourth round, 10th pick, 105th choice overall; fourth round, compensatory pick, 129th choice overall; fifth round, 12th pick, 145th choice overall; seventh round, 10th pick, 216th choice overall.

1998 record: 6-10, fourth place in the AFC Central

Major needs: Wide receiver, quarterback, running back, cornerback, defensive tackle, offensive line, safety.

First-round scenarios: The Ravens have cooled on the idea of trading up. That would cost them additional picks, and they have too many needs to address throughout the draft. They especially like cornerback Chris McAlister, wide receivers Torry Holt and David Boston and quarterback Daunte Culpepper, at least two of whom should be available at No. 10. Unless they are floored by a trade offer from a team slightly below them, the Ravens will stand pat with the 10th choice.

Other trade possibilities: Since the Ravens are determined to recover the third-round choice they gave up in last month's trade for QB Scott Mitchell, look for them to trade down in the second round to make that happen. That would allow them to select five players in the first four rounds.

Possible selections in the later rounds: If they bypass a quarterback in the first round, the Ravens will look to fill that need in the middle rounds, possibly by taking Washington's Brock Huard or Ohio State's Joe Germaine. If they fail to land Holt or Boston in the first round, they could take a receiver like North Carolina's Na Brown or Nebraska-Omaha's Martay Jenkins in the later rounds. They want another running back, and could take a chance on Mississippi State's James Johnson or Boston College's Mike Cloud in third- or fourth-round territory. Watch out for Virginia safety Anthony Poindexter. A knee injury has dropped his stock into the middle rounds, where the Ravens would not mind taking a chance on a guy they have come to like a lot. The draft also is stacked with good guard prospects, and the Ravens could add needed depth on the offensive line by grabbing a late-rounder like San Jose's David Laverne or Eric King from Richmond.

Outlook: The Ravens think they can add two potential starters in 1999 in the first two rounds, probably at the cornerback and wide-out positions. They also are determined to draft a quarterback of the future. If those three things happen, the Ravens' fourth draft will be judged a success.

Pub Date: 4/16/99