The Baltimore Ravens are approaching the 2023 NFL Draft with a few needs across the roster. They addressed arguably their biggest one in free agency, adding Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor at wide receiver. That will help whoever is under center in Baltimore in 2023 immensely.
The Ravens have to figure out their quarterback situation sooner or later as Lamar Jackson remains in limbo. His backup, Tyler Huntley, is a restricted free agent so there is no guarantee that he will be back in the fold next season either.
While finding a starter for 2023 is the biggest need, the Ravens are highly unlikely to address that in the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, with the No. 22 overall pick, the team could be in a position to fill another major need; cornerback.
Many mock drafts have had the Ravens selecting a wide receiver in the first round, but with Beckham and Agholor joining Rashod Bateman, that isn’t as pressing of a need. Long-term, wide receiver needs to be addressed but right now, there is a huge hole at the cornerback position.
Marcus Peters is currently a free agent, leaving a void opposite of Marlon Humphrey. They are lacking depth, which has been on display given the injuries absorbed at the position. To address that, one player to keep an eye on is Emmanuel Forbes out of Texas A&M.
Forbes fits the mold of the kind of cornerback that the Ravens like to target as a rangy corner with long arms and excellent ball skills. He had 14 interceptions and 20 passes defended in 35 games with the Aggies, so his playmaking skills should translate to the next level. Forbes is the record holder in FBS history with six pick-sixes in his career.
That aggressive style does burn him at times, as he is susceptible to double moves. It is the same knock Peters had against him and he turned in some very impressive seasons throughout his career.
Adding Forbes to their secondary would bring a lot of the same qualities to their defense that Peters brought the last few years. He has a little bit of slight frame, but the skill set to overcome that at the next level.
