2017 NFL Mock Draft: Baltimore Ravens select Corey Davis

With the 16th pick in the 2017 Canal Street Chronicles Community NFL Mock Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select....

Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan (6-foot-3, 209-pounds)

Here’s what CSC member Jarred Braxton had to say on the pick:

Since I find myself in Mr. Newsome’s shoes for this event, I take a look at my team needs and initially, I zero in on two positions of great need and they are:

Edge-rusher. Terrell Suggs is getting up there in years and Elvis Dumervil figures to be on the cusp of retirement since no team has taken an interest in his services in free agency.

Wide Receiver. Breshad Perriman has not earned his keep as of yet, Steve Smith has called it quits and Mike Wallace is effective but he is no longer the man he once was.

Does anyone remember Pharrell Williams’ Oscar-nominated megahit “Happy” from the “Despicable Me 2” soundtrack? Well, if the first round of the draft were to look anything like this, I’m sure Steve Bischotti and Ozzie Newsome would be blaring that song so loud, everyone within Owings Mills, MD could hear it because the Ravens have their pick of the litter at WR and they now find themselves on the clock!

In case anyone is wondering how things work in Baltimore, I’ll put it in layman’s terms: Joe Flacco pays the bills in Baltimore. Ever since he signed his $100M megadeal, which has been restructured again and again and again so the team can have cap space, and since Ray Lewis is almost in the HOF and Ray Rice…well you know what happened, Bischotti and Newsome practically made Flacco the face of the franchise and he needs help! I take a look at the board and what it has to offer me and realize that I need to strike now and secure Flacco’s potential #1 WR and since the draft has more than adequate depth and talent at edge-rusher this year, I can look to that position on day 2 or 3.

So I opt for WR, and I know who’s there on the board and I let everyone know who I think is the draft’s best WR. “It might sound crazy but I’m about to say” that with the 16th pick in the Canal Street Chronicles NFL Mock Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select: Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan.

That’s right. I’m leaving Mike Williams in his free fall and I pick Davis. I honestly believe that he will be the first WR taken off the board, ahead of Williams and I think that Davis fits this Ravens and Marty Mornhinweg’s system better than Williams. The most critical knock on Davis is the fact that he played in a small school at a smaller conference, but despite that, there are many positives to take away from Davis’ prospect profile.

He has done nothing but DOMINATE his competition!

Overview from NFL.com: “The 2016 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year is the all-time leader in major college football in receiving yards (5,285). From Day 1, Davis was a great target for the Broncos despite being just a two-star recruit out of Illinois with a rough childhood and academic issues. He was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2013 (67-941, six TDs), and then was named first-team all-conference for the first of three times in 2014 by leading the conference with 1,408 yards and 15 touchdowns (ranking third in the FBS). Davis was among the nation's leading receivers as a junior (90-1,436, 12 TDs) before garnering first-team All-American honors in 2016 by ranking in the top 10 in the three major receiving categories -- 97 catches (eighth), 1,500 yards (seventh), 19 touchdowns (tied-first).”

He is a four-year starter compared to Williams’ injury-plagued body of work. They say that durability can be a player’s best ability and the fact that Davis stayed healthy throughout his entire college campaign could give him an edge over Williams, who missed significant time because of a neck injury.

He passes many tests in what a team could want in a WR. Tall, quick and an excellent route runner who can win those 50-50 balls with outstanding concentration. His hands? Yes, he has some issues with drops throughout his career but scouts rave about how competitive of a player he is.

If he isn’t a #1 WR right away, he can grow into one.

Look at his highlights. There is a lot to like in Davis’ game and that must make the Ravens “Happy, Happy, Happy, Happy” and give them a high like they’re “a hot air balloon about to go to space.”

Go ahead and critique me for passing on Mike Williams but “I should probably warn ya, I’ll be just fine” and I think the Ravens would make a fine choice for taking Corey Davis with the 16th pick. If I were to go OLB, my guy would have been Takkarist McKinley from UCLA or Charles Harris from Missouri.

Thanks to all the CSC members who are participating in this year's community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible!

Community Mock Draft Results

1. Cleveland Browns - Myles Garrett, DE, TAMU
2. San Francisco 49ers - Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
3. Chicago Bears - Jamal Adams, S, LSU
4. Jacksonville Jaguars - O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama
5. Tennessee Titans - Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
6. New York Jets - Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
7. Los Angeles Chargers - Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
8. Carolina Panthers - Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
10. Buffalo Bills - Tre’Davious White, CB, LSU
11. New Orleans Saints - Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
12. Cleveland Browns - Mitch Trubisky, QB, UNC
13. Arizona Cardinals - Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech
14. Philadelphia Eagles (via Minnesota) - Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
15. Indianapolis Colts - Ryan Ramcyzk, OT, Wisconsin
16. Baltimore Ravens - Corey Davis, WR, Western Michigan

The Washington Redskins are on the clock!