ESPN's Todd McShay put together his first mock draft, and his selection for the Baltimore Ravens makes a lot of sense.
McShay has the Ravens picking Texas A&M wide receiver Mike Evans in the first round. This would add a sizable playmaker to the NFL's 20th-ranked passing attack.
You'll need a subscription to read the Insider post, but I have received clearance to provide an excerpt:
"If you watch Alshon Jeffery play for the Bears this season, you'll get an idea of what makes Evans so intriguing," McShay wrote. "A former basketball player who has improved throughout his two seasons at Texas A&M, Evans has strong hands and is tough to beat in jump-ball situations."
While the Ravens could use another target for Flacco, they are typically hesitant about taking a wide receiver in the first round after getting burned with Travis Taylor (2000) and Mark Clayton (2005). Whether the Ravens take a wide receiver this high will be determined with what they do with Jacoby Jones in free agency and how much faith they have in the development of Marlon Brown.
The lure of Evans is he's got the talent to be a No. 1 receiver in the league. His stock may drop after the combine because he'll likely post a slower 40 time than other receiver prospects. But his ability to compete for passes and generate yards after the catch make the 6-foot-5, 225-pound Evans a valuable commodity.