Winter Sports

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The 2024 NFL draft (8 p.m. ET on ESPN, ABC, ESPN App) began Thursday night in Detroit and goes through Saturday. The Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to make nine of the draft's 257 picks, beginning with the No. 30 selection of the first round on Thursday night.

ESPN will provide pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Ravens' selections as they are made.

A look at each of Baltimore's scheduled selections:

My take: The Ravens couldn't believe that Wiggins, one of their top-20 rated players, was still on the board at the bottom of the first round. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta turned down eight offers to trade back because they loved Wiggins so much. Wiggins, who was the second-fastest player at this year's NFL combine, only allowed 176 yards to receivers in 10 games last season. He has the speed to match up against the likes of Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase. The Ravens can use Wiggins and Brandon Stephens as their outside cornerbacks and shift physical Marlon Humphrey into the slot. It just got tougher to move the ball against a Baltimore defense that allowed the fewest points in the league last season.

Key stat: Wiggins only allowed one completion over 20 yards last season. This fits well with a Baltimore defense that led the NFL with the fewest yards per attempt (5.9) last season. "I'm the best corner in the draft," Wiggins said after he slid to Baltimore at the bottom of the first round. "Tape speaks for itself."

Not concerned about size: Wiggins is only the second defensive back in the last 21 years to get drafted in the first round after weighing less than 175 pounds at the NFL combine. The Ravens said his lack of weight doesn't impede his play. "When you watch the tape, he comes up and smacks people," Harbaugh said. "That's what he does. He's not afraid of the physical part of it at all. He's a complete corner."

What we're hearing about Wiggins: "In my opinion, [he's] the best cover corner in the draft. Highly athletic, fantastic feet. [He's] a guy that can [become] a true shutdown-type corner." -- Ravens GM Eric DeCosta

What's next: The Ravens' priority has to be getting an offensive lineman with one of their two picks on Day 2. Baltimore has the No. 62 overall pick in the second round and the No. 93 selection in the third round. Baltimore lost three starters on the offensive line this offseason, and it only added backup Josh Jones in free agency.

My take: The Ravens were able to find their starting right tackle because of a fortuitous second round. With only two offensive tackles selected in 29 picks on Friday night, Baltimore was able to get one of the best and mobile right tackles in this draft. Rosengarten ran the 40-yard dash in 4.92 seconds, the fastest speed of any offensive lineman at this year's NFL combine and the fastest by any 300-pounder regardless of position at the combine. A two-year starter, he is the favorite to fill the void left by Morgan Moses, who was traded to the New York Jets this offseason.

Key stat: No sacks allowed in two years as a starting right tackle (1,158 pass blocking plays). That's the most pass blocks without allowing a sack by any FBS lineman since 2022. Reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson should rest easier after the Ravens replaced Moses, who allowed a team-worst nine sacks, with Rosengarten. How important is it for Baltimore to protect Jackson? Last season, the Ravens were 8-0 when Jackson was sacked two or fewer times.

Round 3, No. 93: Adisa Isaac, Edge, Penn State

My take: After losing linebacker Jadeveon Clowney in free agency, the Ravens addressed their pass rush with Isaac, who was Penn State's most productive edge player. He led the team with 7.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss, which were more than first-round pick Chop Robinson. So why wasn't Isaac drafted higher? His 4.74 time in the 40 at the combine ranked toward the bottom of edge rushers. But Isaac played faster on the field. He got pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on 11% of his rushes, which ranked second in the FBS behind Texas State's Ben Bell. This marks the third time in four years that Baltimore has drafted an edge rusher in the first three rounds.

Ties to the team to know: Isaac said Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh helped recruit him to Penn State. Now, Isaac will join Oweh in the NFL as part of a Baltimore pass rush rotation that also includes Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo. "We're close," Isaac said of his relationship with Oweh. Depth at edge rusher is a big reason why Baltimore led the NFL with 60 sacks last season. "I like having fresh guys out there playing really hard and especially at that position," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.

What's next: The Ravens have six picks on Day 3, including two in the fourth round (Nos. 113 and 130 overall). Their biggest needs are guard, wide receiver, running back and safety. It also wouldn't be a surprise if Baltimore uses one of its seventh-round picks on a developmental reserve quarterback.