NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will head to the podium in Philadelphia shortly after 8 p.m. April 27, and finally, thankfully, all the mock drafts will be behind us and the real one will be at hand.
A lot can happen between when the Cleveland Browns are on the clock with the first overall pick and when the Ravens are scheduled to make pick No. 16, and this year's draft is considered one of the most unpredictable in a long time. The Ravens have been linked to no fewer than a dozen players in the various mock drafts, at positions including receiver, offensive line, linebacker and defensive line.
The Ravens central philosophy is to take the highest-rated player on their board regardless of need, and this year, it's likely the highest-rated player will conveniently fill one of the Ravens' host of needs. Given those needs, and a class that is considered deep in several areas, it would surprise no one to see the Ravens trade back from their No. 16 spot to acquire an additional draft pick.
