Baltimore Ravens: Ezekiel Elliott at No. 6? No, Thank You

The Baltimore Ravens have been linked to Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott in recent days. Ozzie Newsome, please do not make that move.

Mel Kiper Jr. released his recent mock draft and has the Baltimore Ravens using the No. 6 pick on Ezekiel Elliott. Scouring through the Internet, many feel that drafting the top running back in this year’s draft would be a good move.

Am I the only one that thinks it’s not?

Some people have compared Elliott to Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Every team in the league would love to have a talent like that, and there is no denying that the Ravens need playmakers on offense. We have also seen first-round rookie running backs struggle in the NFL.

The numbers already on the Ravens roster make the pick unlikely. Sure, they do not have a lot invested in any of the players already in the mix. Justin Forsett is not being paid top dollar. Javorius Allen was admirable taking over for Forsett, but didn’t exactly run away with the job either. Lorenzo Taliaferro, Terrance West and Trent Richardson are also on board.

That last name alone is exactly why the Ravens should stay far away from drafting a running back so early.

Richardson was compared to Peterson and was the third overall pick in the 2012 draft. Three years later, he was without a team. The Ravens are giving him an opportunity this summer, but that has more to do with Ozzie’s love of Alabama alums than promise Richardson has shown in the NFL.

Last season, two running backs were drafted in the first round. Todd Gurley started off his rookie year with a bang by rushing for over 100 yards in his first four starts. He faded down the stretch, with only one game reaching the 100-yard mark.

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Melvin Gordon was linked to the Ravens in many mock drafts last season, and had nowhere near the success as Gurley. Many were surprised that the San Diego Chargers traded up to land Gordon with the 15th pick. He started in 13 games for the Bolts, tallying 641 yards on the ground and 192 yards receiving. In comparison, Buck Allen totaled 541 yards rushing and 353 yards through the air with six starts.

Allen was selected in the fourth round, 110 picks after Gordon.

Before going any further, let it be known that I am a fan of Elliott. In three seasons at Ohio State, he rushed for 3,961 yards and 43 touchdowns. The numbers are impressive and his play on the field does wow you. Then again, so did many running backs drafted early.

Let me remind you of some other running backs that were selected in the top five that didn’t work out: Richardson, Reggie Bush, Cadillac Williams, Ronnie Brown, Cedric Benson and Darren McFadden.

Here’s the list of every RB drafted in the first round since AP and Marshawn Lynch were drafted in 2007: McFadden, Jonathan Stewart, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhall, Chris Johnson, Knowshon Moreno, Donald Brown, Beanie Wells, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews, Jahvid Best, Mark Ingram, Richardson, Doug Martin, David Wilson, Gordon and Gurley.

Please tell me which of these guys you desperately want in a Ravens uniform.

Elliott could be the next big thing at running back and the Ravens might kick themselves for not taking him down the road. But the way this team is currently constructed, running back is not a glaring need. Taking one of the top defensive talents is still the right way to go. Baltimore’s identity has been defense and they have lacked that game changer on that side of the ball since Ed Reed and Ray Lewis were on the team.

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Some will argue that no one was comparing Gordon to Peterson, but the same comparisons were there about Richardson, Bush and the three running backs selected in the top five of the 2005 draft. That alone is enough to scare me off Elliott and in favor of taking one to the defensive playmakers available in this draft.

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