Position-by-position preview: Linebackers
Weak-side spot could be filled if top prospects fall
Already a record number of MLB games are forecast to develop during the Hopefully you got your fill of the sunshine Monday. A low pressure system is entering region from
have been postponed this April with latter part of the week with both Southeast U.S., bringing with it slightly cooler temperatures and some April showers that will last into
a few more likely to be added this Thursday and Friday featuring at least Wednesday. Total rainfall amounts are expected to be1or 2 inches, and there could be some risk flooding in some
week, including games at Baltimore, several hours of sunshine. There is the areas. It hasn’t rained in a while, though, so conditions shouldn’t be too bad. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York potential for a few days of warm and City. Enough rain may fall from Tuesday perhaps humid weather to develop to Wednesday to cause minor urban next week. Follow the weather blog online at baltimoresun.com/weather
flooding. Drier and milder conditions Current linebackers under contract: Outside: Terrell Suggs, Matthew Judon, Za’Darius Smith, Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams; Inside: C.J. Mosley, Patrick Onwuasor, Kamalei Correa, Albert McClellan, Bam Bradley Chances that the Ravens will draft a linebacker in first three rounds: Possible. The Ravens are unlikely to target another edge rusher after selecting Bowser and Williams in the second and third rounds last year. They could, however, add an inside linebacker to the mix to play alongside C.J. Mosley. Onwuasor made some strides in that spot last year and the Ravens haven’t given up on Correa, a second-round pick in 2016. But they are in position with the 16th overall pick where one of the draft’s top inside linebackers could fall to them. It wouldn’t be a popular pick with the fan base. But if there is one spot on defense that is a bit unsettled, it’s weak-side linebacker. Possibly on Ravens’ radar: Rashaan Evans, ILB (Alabama), Malik Jefferson, OLB/ Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas Thursday-Saturday TV: NFL Network, ESPN, chs. 45, 5 ILB (Texas), Darius Leonard, ILB/OLB (South Carolina State), Uchenna Nwosu, OLB (Southern California), Roquan Smith, ILB (Georgia) Outlook: Would the Ravens be able to resist a guy like Smith or even Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds, the top two inside linebackers in the draft, if they are still on the board at No. 16? The team would benefit greatly from adding a fast and physical linebacker that can patrol the middle of the field and help out Mosley, particularly in coverage. Tight ends killed the Ravens last year and a linebacker who can match up well would address that concern. Evans, who is a guy the Ravens like, also brings a pass-rushing dimension. If the Ravens believe Onwuasor will continue to improve or the light will turn on for Correa, then they’ll likely stay with what they have. The same holds true for outside linebacker. Assuming everyone is healthy, the Ravens will have a hard enough time finding snaps for Bowser and Williams behind Suggs, Judon and Za’Darius Smith. Team officials have said many times that you can never have enough pass rushers, but adding another high-round pick to the mix would seemingly be an admission that they aren’t as high on Bowser or Williams as they were when they drafted them a year ago.