The Baltimore Ravens will select No. 6 in the 2016 NFL draft, which will be their highest selection since 2000.
The Ravens shared the same 5-11 record as the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers. But the Ravens's strength of schedule (.507) was better than the Jaguars (.473), who pick No. 5, and worse than the 49ers (.539), who select No. 7.
Here’s a quick look at the top three positional needs for the Baltimore Ravens.
1. Cornerback: The Ravens need a starter opposite Jimmy Smith on a pass defense that set team records for fewest interceptions (six) and most touchdown passes allowed (30). Lardarius Webb, a season-opening starting cornerback, now calls himself a free safety, and his replacement Shareece Wright is a third or fourth cornerback on most teams. A playmaker like Florida State's Jalen Ramsey or Florida's Vernon Hargreaves III would be ideal.
2. Pass-rusher: Baltimore finished with 37 sacks, their fewest since the 2012 season. The common thread in both those seasons was losing Terrell Suggs to an Achilles injury. Suggs, who is expected to return in 2016, turns 34 during next season and Elvis Dumervil will be 32 later this month. The Ravens need to look to the future and get a young rusher they can pair with rookie Za'Darius Smith, who finished second on Baltimore with 5.5 sacks.
3.Offensive tackle: It wouldn't be a surprise if the Ravens cut Eugene Monroe because he has proven unreliable since signing his five-year, $37.5 million deal ($11 million signing bonus) before the 2014 season. If that happens, left tackle becomes a priority, especially with Joe Flacco returning with a surgically repaired left knee. There's no one on the Ravens' roster signed next season who can viably protect Flacco's blind side. So, Baltimore has to acquire a left tackle in the draft or free agency.