Ravens mock draft roundup: Which players are projected to land in Baltimore in first round?

With the NFL draft less than two weeks away, here’s a look at which prospects experts and analysts predict the Ravens will select in the first round.

Note: All picks are No. 28 overall, unless noted otherwise.

Oklahoma linebacker Kenneth Murray

Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Hanson: “A tackling machine for the Sooners, Murray has the non-stop motor and sideline-to-sideline range to become an impact defender in the middle of the Ravens defense.”

Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller: “Some players just feel like they were meant to be with a certain team. That’s what you get when you watch Kenneth Murray and think of his fit with the Baltimore Ravens.”

Establish The Run: “Trampled by Derrick Henry in their year-ending playoff loss, the Ravens have dedicated their offseason to shoring up a soft defensive front. ... The logical next step is adding second-level athleticism. A run-and-hit linebacker the Ravens have lacked since letting C.J. Mosley walk, Murray’s speed and range consistently pop off his tape.”

USA Today: “Consider this a sizable victory for Baltimore, which can take another significant step in the fortification of its front seven by bringing on a rangy tackler.”

Sporting News: “The Ravens didn’t address linebacker in the first wave of free agency, and they need more speed on the second level to better handle the run and cover short-to-intermediate routes. Murray (6-2, 241 pounds) is an active, rangy playmaker who can be as effective dropping back as he is getting downhill against the run or blitzing.”

Newsday: “The Ravens addressed their defensive line by franchise-tagging Matt Judon and trading for Calais Campbell. Now they need someone to play behind them in the middle of the defense. Murray has great athleticism, range and coverage skills and is a good open-field tackler.”

NFL Trade Rumors: “Inside linebacker is among the top needs for the Ravens and it just so happens that one of the top prospects falls to them at No. 28 overall.”

San Diego Union-Tribune: “The Ravens finally replace C.J. Mosley. Murray is an explosive athlete who developed elite instincts during his three seasons in Norman.”

Wisconsin linebacker Zack Baun

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah: “The Ravens need more edge rush. Baun has the athleticism to drop and cover, as well.”

NBC Sports: “He’s undersized at just a shade under 240 pounds, but Baun can play off the line and rush the passer in sub situations. He’s the kind of smart, tough front-seven defender the Ravens have become known for.”

Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos

NFL.com’s Peter Schrager: “I think GM Eric DeCosta continues the Ravens’ annual tradition of adding franchise cornerstones at key positions. Gross-Matos is an above-average pass rusher who can also stop the run. Wink Martindale runs one of the fiercest defenses in the league. Gross-Matos could be an immediate impact guy.”

Sports Illustrated’s Dr. Roto: “Baltimore brought Matt Judon back in 2020 on the franchise tag. By drafting Gross-Matos, they might be inclined to let Judon sign elsewhere next off-season.”

LSU linebacker Patrick Queen

CBS Sports (Ravens acquire pick No. 19 from Raiders): “Baltimore has an MVP QB already in-house, but need that next great linebacker to man the middle of their defense. They identify Queen as a player who fits that bill and get aggressive to move up and take him knowing they are entering their Super Bowl window.”

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter (Ravens acquire pick No. 20 from Jaguars): “Last year, the Steelers moved up to get their man in the middle (Devin Bush). This year, their rival moves up to get Queen before the Patriots can draft him, giving Jacksonville a third-round compensatory pick and their fourth-round selection.”

Southern Illinois safety Jeremy Chinn

Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski: “The possibility of the 6′3″, 221-pound Chinn at linebacker in certain packages is an interesting possibility for the Ravens, who need to become more athletic along their second line of defense. Baltimore can be forward-thinking in its approach to defensive deployment and utilize the small-school product in a variety of manners.”

Georgia running back D’Andre Swift

NFL.com’s Adam Rank: “This is not to be a predictive piece by any stretch, but instead I will use my consulting services to help nudge teams in the right direction and tell them what they should do on April 23. ... Swift makes too much sense here in this spot. The roster already includes [Mark] Ingram, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill. But if teams are going to allow the best back in the draft to fall to No. 28, you have to do it.”

Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr.

Pro Football Focus NFL Podcast’s Sam Monson: “Finding a role within an NFL offense for Laviska Shenault is a challenge in my opinion, and that’s without getting into his medical issues. But if there’s a team with the will and creativity to do it, it’s the Baltimore Ravens. Even with Shenault’s truncated playing time due to injury, his 44 broken tackles still led all draft-eligible receivers, and he is so special with the ball in his hands that our lead draft analyst Mike Renner’s comp for him is Saquon Barkley. This is a pick the rest of the NFL would collectively groan at seeing if it’s made.”

Wisconsin running back Jonathan Taylor

Walter Football: “The Ravens don’t have that many glaring needs, so they can afford to take the best player available. They could use a running back, as they have many carries to go around. Jonathan Taylor showed surprising athleticism at the combine, which helped mitigate some of the concerns teams have with the workload he handled at Wisconsin.”

Michigan center Cesar Ruiz

The Ringer: “Stout, reliable interior lineman with immense strength, positional versatility, and day-one starting potential. ... Ruiz also brings versatility to the pros, having made 31 collegiate starts, 26 at center and five at right guard.”

Clemson wide receiver Tee Higgins

Athlon Sports: “Adding more weapons around the MVP behind center will be a priority for the front office even if it seems likely they’ll move back out of the first round in what could be a trade-heavy draft. Higgins can be a great complement to Hollywood (Marquise) Brown on the outside while adding another big-play threat for defenses to account for.”