logo
Three offensive guard prospects the Baltimore Ravens should consider drafting

Three offensive guard prospects the Baltimore Ravens should consider drafting

USA Today03-04-2025
Three offensive guard prospects the Baltimore Ravens should consider drafting Three OG NFL Draft prospects the Ravens should scout.
We're just three weeks away from the NFL Draft, and as the big day approaches, offensive guard is a major need for the Baltimore Ravens. Last season's offensive line took some time to gel as a unit because Baltimore was introducing new starters at three of the five positions.
The unit improved as the season went on, mainly due to the increased familiarity and continuity, but once again, we have some turnover this offseason. Patrick Mekari has left for Jacksonville, and the NFL Draft, most likely the middle rounds, would be the appropriate place to find his replacement.
We're talking OGs here, but we mean draft prospect offensive guards, not original gangsters.
Marcus Mbow, Purdue
It doesn't seem likely that the Ravens will take an offensive guard in the first round on Thursday night. However, there is a good possibility that they'll select one on Friday night, in the second or third round. Mbow, who has shown some quickness and athleticism for a 300-pounder, should be the best available at this position at around that point in the draft.
While Purdue football was in a pretty bad place recently, during the Ryan Walters era, you can't blame Mbow, who showed great ability as a run blocker.
Willie Lampkin, North Carolina
It's always fun to analyze the NFL Draft prospects of a football Tar Heel because the school's athletic department has a reputation synonymous with men's basketball. In fact, according to RG.org, North Carolina is the only school with an active streak of reaching the national title game in nine straight decades (no one else has done it in more than six consecutive decades) and to have qualified for at least two Final Fours in six straight decades.
Most people will likely think basketball first and football second when it comes to Carolina, so individual players could sometimes be overlooked. That includes Lampkin, which is ironic considering he has one of the more interesting prospect profiles in the 2025 NFL Draft.
He's versatile and can play multiple positions with much energy. His tape showcases the dominance of a second or third-round prospect, but his measurables will leave NFL scouts wanting. Many draftniks describe his projection as "fascinating," meaning he's one of the more oversized wild cards in this draft class.
Garrett Dillinger, LSU
325 Dillinger has the size to play guard or tackle, and he's done both at LSU. He played on the left side at both positions, where he showcased a great affinity for run-blocking and pass protection. He seems like the kind of guy who would fit in well with the zone-read packages that the Ravens like to employ.
Of course, you can't discuss Dillinger without covering his teammate, Miles Frazier, who is on the other side. Louisiana State's other starting guard, Frazier, often appears right behind or close behind Dillinger on OG prospect lists. Walter Football actually has Dillinger fourth and Frazier fifth on their rankings for offensive guards in this class. That is around the range where the Ravens would likely be selecting an OG, and they can't go wrong with either of these Bayou Bengal prospects.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Matthew Stafford participates in full week of Rams practice, and his injured back feels much better
Matthew Stafford participates in full week of Rams practice, and his injured back feels much better

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Matthew Stafford participates in full week of Rams practice, and his injured back feels much better

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Stafford has completed his first full week of practice since the start of training camp, and the Los Angeles Rams ' starting quarterback says he is optimistic about the improvement in his injured back. Stafford went through a third full practice Thursday with no restrictions in his movements or throws. Although Stafford and coach Sean McVay didn't definitively state it, Stafford appears to be in position to play for the Rams in their regular-season opener against Houston on Sept. 7. 'Good thing is I feel pretty good the last couple of days out there practicing,' Stafford said at the Rams' training complex in Woodland Hills. 'Was able to do even a little bit more than I thought I was going to be able to do the first day, and then just been trying to stack days.' Stafford said he has done 'everything under the sun' to deal with an irritated disk in his back. The injury developed while he trained after the Rams' minicamp this summer, and it kept the Super Bowl winner sidelined for the first 3 1/2 weeks of training camp and the preseason. Stafford returned to practice Monday initially planning to do only individual drills, but he was pleasantly surprised by his ability to do everything with relative ease. He participated in another full practice Thursday, throwing to his teammates against a live pass rush while building the chemistry necessary to compete in the regular season, particularly with new receiver Davante Adams. 'I definitely felt more like myself out there today,' Stafford said. 'I'm going to do everything I can to be out there while still being smart and knowing, hey, we've got something that deserves a little attention.' McVay was clearly encouraged by Stafford's progress during the week. Stafford participated in every aspect of every practice, the coach said. 'He looks like the stud that we know,' McVay said. 'I think the first day was kind of getting comfortable, just getting his feet wet a little bit, and then I think each of the last couple of days, he's played really fast.' The 37-year-old Stafford's balky back has been one of the Rams' two major injury concerns — along with the blood clots sidelining left tackle Alaric Jackson — as the defending NFC West champions prepare to begin a season with Super Bowl aspirations. Stafford watched training camp from the sideline at Loyola Marymount when he wasn't going through rehab work and off-field treatment. He did individual workouts on the days of the Rams' first two preseason games, but he didn't get back into practice until Monday. 'From what I see, there's no restrictions and he's playing at a really high level," McVay said. 'I'm very excited and optimistic, but I'm not a doctor.' Even after initially stating that Stafford would only miss the first week of training camp, McVay repeatedly said he thought Stafford's injury wasn't serious enough to keep him out if the Rams had been playing games that counted. The coach finally seemed less certain of Stafford's sturdiness last week when the quarterback had to scrap his plan to rejoin practices because his back wasn't up to it — only for Stafford to exceed his own expectations in practice this week. 'Backs are sometimes interesting things,' Stafford said. 'It's not cut-and-dried what's what, and how you're going to feel.' Stafford is one of many Rams veterans who won't travel to Cleveland this weekend for their final preseason game. McVay said fourth-stringer Dresser Winn will start against the Browns after Stetson Bennett played well while taking nearly all of the snaps in Los Angeles' first two preseason games. ___ AP NFL:

Jerry Jones points to team aspect of Micah Parsons situation: Cowboys need 'some other people out there playing with Micah'
Jerry Jones points to team aspect of Micah Parsons situation: Cowboys need 'some other people out there playing with Micah'

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Jerry Jones points to team aspect of Micah Parsons situation: Cowboys need 'some other people out there playing with Micah'

Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Wednesday that he feels good about the chances of star edge rusher Micah Parsons playing in Week 1. But Parsons has yet to practice with the team in training camp, not in Oxnard, California, where they spent nearly a month this summer, and not back at The Star. Parsons, who made a trade request on Aug. 1 that owner and general manager Jerry Jones hasn't honored, is still holding in while searching for a contract extension. The saga has followed the Cowboys everywhere they've gone this preseason, and the same goes for Jones, who once again was asked how close he is to getting a deal done, this time on Fox News Thursday. "Micah's a great player, not a good player," Jones said. "He knows more than anyone that it's a team thing, and, so, I know everybody's tired of hearing this, but you've got to put this puzzle together so that you can have some other people out there playing with Micah. "That's the art of the deal. And that's why we're trying to get done, and we're trying to make this thing work." Jones added: "We have all the appreciation in the world for what he can mean to the years ahead. We're proud to have him." At the moment, the Cowboys are set to pay Parsons $24 million this season, the fifth and final on his rookie deal. Parsons, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, immediately made a name for himself in the league, winning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021. In each of his first four seasons, he's recorded at least 12 sacks — even last year when he played only 13 games while dealing with an ankle injury. The Penn State product has piled up 52.5 sacks, 256 total tackles, 112 quarterback hits and nine forced fumbles in 63 regular-season games. Parsons is only 26 years old, and he's seen as one of the league's best defenders. He wants to be valued as such. Even though Jones has signed linchpin players to delayed extensions before — most recently quarterback Dak Prescott and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb — the longtime Cowboys owner doesn't appear to be any closer to inking Parsons to a new contract. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that "it sounds like at this point it's personal" and that "it sounds like each side is dug in."

Lions' Aidan Hutchinson keeps focus on return to field during contract extension talks
Lions' Aidan Hutchinson keeps focus on return to field during contract extension talks

Yahoo

time10 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Lions' Aidan Hutchinson keeps focus on return to field during contract extension talks

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Aidan Hutchinson's value to the Detroit defense became painfully apparent when the top-seeded Lions were bounced by Washington in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs last season. The Lions failed to sack Jayden Daniels during the Commanders' 45-31 victory while Hutchinson watched as his broken tibia and fibula continued to heal. Putting an exact dollar figure on Hutchinson's worth could be the tricky part as Detroit's front office and the star defensive end's representatives try to work out a new contract. While the Lions have already exercised their $19,782,000 option on Hutchinson's contract for 2026, the 2023 Pro Bowler is eligible for an extension. Hutchinson has tried to concentrate on getting ready for the season and isn't sure how long the negotiations might last. 'I've kind of been pretty hands-off in the process,' he said after a joint practice between Detroit and Houston on Thursday. 'The business side can take away your love of the game a little bit. That's kind of the reality in the NFL.' T.J. Watt's three-year, $123 million extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers with $108 million guaranteed could provide a baseline for Hutchinson's next contract. 'I have a lot of people in my close circle that do deal with that,' said Hutchinson, the second pick of the 2022 draft. 'My main focus is out here playing football and playing the game I love.' That was taken away from him during the fifth game of last season, when fellow lineman Alim McNeill fell on his leg during a 47-9 win over Dallas. Hutchinson already had 7 1/2 sacks and was well on his way to another Pro Bowl season. He was cleared medically in May and hasn't suffered any setbacks during training camp. Any concerns about the strength of his surgically repaired leg were alleviated when he got leg-whipped by a linebacker during a goal-line play in practice three weeks ago. 'It was right smack dab where Alim hit me a few months ago,' Hutchinson said. 'I got up and shook it out. When you can get leg-whipped, you start to have that confidence where, 'I have a steel rod in my leg and that thing's not going anywhere.'' Hutchinson hasn't played this preseason and, as with the other Detroit starters, that isn't expected to change in the preseason finale against the Texans on Saturday. The first units for both teams faced each other during Thursday's practice, working on situations such as red zone and two-minute execution. Hutchinson was matched up against tackle Tytus Howard. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said Hutchinson looked as fierce as ever in the scrimmage. 'With as tough an injury as he had to go through, it's cool to see him back out working and he's still bringing it on the edge,' Ryans said. 'I thought Tytus did a really nice job today. Of course, Aidan got him a couple of times and Tytus got him a couple of times. But that's two pros working together.' Hutchinson's long wait to get back will end on Sept. 7, when the Lions open their season at Green Bay. 'I feel like I'm in a really good spot right now,' he said. 'I'm just trying to carry all this momentum into Week 1 and stay hot throughout the whole season.' ___ AP NFL:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store