OTL: Going Defense Early on This Mock Draft Friday

Since there’s clearly nothing else going on with the Ravens (sighhh), let’s jump right into another Mock Draft Friday, shall we?

I had a chance to trade up in this scenario, and I couldn’t resist. Stewart is an absolute freak of nature at Edge. While he might be more suited to play on the interior in the Ravens’ scheme, this guy has complete game-wrecker ability:

.@AggieFootball DL Shemar Stewart: One-man game wrecker

Made that strip sack look way too easy pic.twitter.com/PQfhQfuEuE

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 29, 2025

Watching his game tape, you can come away less impressed with his athletic ability. To me, this guy is the type of prospect you have to take a chance on. The Ravens have been able to coast by with a solid, but not elite, pass rush for a while now, and that needs to change.

For my second pick, I went with Azareye’h Thomas, CB from Florida State. With Brandon Stephens very likely on the move, the Ravens could use someone else to pair with Nate Wiggins on the outside, letting Marlon Humphrey do his thing in the slot. I predict that Thomas is going to be a fast riser in this draft. He is young at only 20 years old, athletic, and a PBU machine:

FSU CB Azareye’h Thomas with the One-Handed Interception to start day 3 of #SeniorBowl Practice. Only had 2 career picks, but he made plays like this constantly at FSU practices. pic.twitter.com/k6L1QcZGL4

— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) January 30, 2025

While he doesn’t have many interceptions, he had a ton of ball production through his numerous PBUs and would be an absolute upgrade over Stephens. His name is already starting to pop up in some first round mocks I’ve seen fans of other teams putting together, so if he makes it out of the first and into the late second, this is a steal of a pick.

Ajani Cornelius, T from Oregon, is as athletic and should develop nicely. Dylan Fairchild of Georgia (though we’re probably gun shy about Bulldog guards after the Ben Cleveland experience) could step in for Patrick Mekari, and Terp Jordan Phillips has been a big riser thanks to his Shrine Bowl performance.

Going back to Georgia, Nazir Stackhouse could be the next Micheal Pierce.

Let me know what you think of this edition of Mock Draft Friday!

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