Ravens Select RB Josh Jacobs in Mel Kiper’s Mock Draft 2.0

Cover Image
Photo credit Photo Credit: USA Today

By Joe Schiller

Mel Kiper had the Baltimore Ravens selecting Ole Miss wide receiver A.J. Brown in his Mock Draft 1.0 last month.

Mock Draft 2.0 dropped Monday morning and Kiper predicts the Ravens will prioritize adding offensive weapons around quarterback Lamar Jackson, but at a different position.

No. 22: Josh Jacobs, Running Back, Alabama
“Finally, a running back off the board. And new GM Eric DeCosta could go right back to Alabama, from where former GM Ozzie Newsome loved to mine prospects. Jacobs is a complete player and the most explosive back in this draft. He didn't get a ton of touches in a talented Crimson Tide rotation, which means he has little tread on his tires. How's this for a stat: Jacobs had 300 touches over three college seasons. Derrick Henry, who won the Heisman Trophy at Bama, had 406 touches in the 2015 season. There's a lot to like about Jacobs, who has also shown nice hands in the passing game."

Jacobs is the first running back selected in Kiper’s mock draft and the only one in the first round. And it’s only fitting that Eric DeCosta selects an Alabama player with his first pick as general manager.

Running back remains a top position of need for the Ravens. Under newly promoted offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the offense is expected to feature a run-first attack, as evident in the team’s final eight games of the 2018 season.

Jacobs rushed for 640 yards and 11 touchdowns with the Crimson Tide, adding 247 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. He would be only the second running back selected in the first round by the Ravens in franchise history.

The other, Jamal Lewis, put together an impressive 10-year career.

The ground game was extremely effective last season when Jackson took over under center. The Ravens finished second only behind the Seattle Seahawks averaging 152.6 yards per game.

Yet, they haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Justin Forsett in 2014.

If the Ravens truly want to be a team predicated on the run, they need to use their assets to acquire a top-tier running back.

Jacobs could be that missing piece.