OTL: Mock Draft Friday – A Trade UP!

Today’s edition of Mock Draft Friday will focus on one need: a playmaker on defense who can be a game-changer and game-wrecker.

Getting that playmaker will require some foresight and critical thinking from the ‘Ravens’ side.

So why did I say critical thinking was required for this pick of Jalon Walker? As you can see, we had to trade up, something the Ravens aren’t known to do often in the first round. When they do, though, it is usually for a player seen to be an extraordinary value, i.e. Tyler Linderbaum or Lamar Jackson. Whether or not the Ravens view Walker in that vein is unknown at this juncture.

It wasn’t just moving up though. The Ravens will have to believe in Walker. His body type says he is more of a linebacker than a pass rusher, but his tape says the opposite. So he is a weird prospect to evaluate, but the upside is out of the world and that is why, in my intro, I didn’t mention the words “edge rusher,” opting instead for Game Wrecker:

Jalon Walker is a coaches dream.

Pass-rush + linebacker versatility
Run game discipline/fundamentals
Rapid trigger + athleticism

20-years-old with limited experience btw… pic.twitter.com/GsKj3GqcIB

— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) January 17, 2025

Walker, to me, would be a Swiss army knife that Zach Orr could unleash. Think Micah Parsons’ rookie year for the Cowboys. He won’t be a full-time Edge as he will be dropping in coverage a bit against tight ends and backs, but Walker could be a game-wrecker if used smartly. Trading up with old friend Joe Hortiz of Ravens West was worth it to me.

As for the rest of our board…

Savaiinaea played tackle in college, but will play guard in the league. His main issue is that he struggles with pure speed, meaning a smaller,, quicker interior defender could eat him for lunch. I see him as basically what the Ravens brass and Harbaugh seem to think Daniel Faalele is.

Now it’s time for one of “my guys” in this year’s draft. We talked last week about the importance of adding a free safety to this defense, and Mukuba is perfect for that role:

Texas S Andrew Mukuba was one of my favorite players to watch in CFB last season.

-Versatility… 3 years in the slot for Clemson but looked natural as a centerfielder in 2024

-Fluid mover with very good zone coverage awareness… lots of ball production (5 INTs/6 PBUs

-Runs… pic.twitter.com/p5Tbfvk4B9

— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) March 19, 2025

I love former slot corners who move to free safety, and he fits the bill.

Burke has impressed me with his Combine and athletic testing. He ran a lot faster than I expected and already has good tape. I don’t know if the Chidobe Awuzie signing would push corner down the board as far as need, but Burke is too good of a player to pass up in this range. Rivers has some really solid pass protection tape and Ty Hamilton is the kind of athlete you have to take a risk on in the late rounds of the Draft. APR is a solid Edge piece for this late in the Draft and Dumas-Johnson is a developing Linebacker.

So what did you think of this Mock Draft Friday, Flock?

The post OTL: Mock Draft Friday – A Trade UP! appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/03/28/out-to-lunch/otl-mock-draft-friday-a-trade-up/