The Baltimore Ravens were drafting from need last April and they found some good players, as usual.  2nd rounder Torrey Smith (WR) gave the Ravens the deep threat that they have been looking for.  They also found a nugget in the 5th round in DE Pernell McPhee.  Here is a look at the players the Ravens selected in last April’s NFL Draft:

23-year old CB Jimmy Smith was supposed to step right into the starting lineup, but he was beaten out by Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb.  He played in 12 games for the Ravens last year and he had 20 tackles, 8 passes defensed and 2 interceptions.  Smith might develop into a starter down the road for the Ravens.

The Ravens took 22-year old WR Torrey Smith in the 2nd round of the draft.  He played in all 16 games for the Ravens last season and he caught 50 passes for 841 yards (16.8 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 39 yards (9.8 ypc) and he returned 1 kickoff for 24 yards.  The sky is the limit for Torrey Smith as he played like a first round pick in 2011.

23-year old OT Jah Reid was looked upon as a reach by Ravens’ GM Ozzie Newsome in the 3rd round.  Reid played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Ravens last year.  He might develop into a starter in the near future.

In the 4th round came 22-year old WR Tandon Doss’ at Joe Flacco’s request.  Doss played in five games for the Ravens as a rookie last year and he didn’t catch any passes.  He will have to step up next year or he might have to get a real job.

25-year old CB Chykie Brown came to the Ravens in the 5th round.  He played in 7 games and he had 4 tackles and 1 pass defensed last year.  Like Doss, Brown is going to have to step up in 2012.

23-year old DE Pernell McPhee was a steal for the Ravens in the 5th round.  He played in all 16 games for the Ravens last year and he had 23 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 2 passes defensed.  McPhee could develop into a starter down the road for the Ravens.

22-year old QB Tyrod Taylor was the Ravens’ #2 QB in 2011 and that’s not bad for a 6th round pick.  Taylor played in 3 games for the Ravens last year and he completed his only pass attempt, good for 18 yards.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 2 yards.  It will be interesting to see if the Ravens bring in competition for Taylor in 2012.

23-year old RB Anthony Allen was picked in the 7th round by the Ravens.  He played in 5 games for the Ravens last year and he carried the ball 3 times for 8 yards (2.7 ypc) last year.

GRADE FOR 2011:  B-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  B

22-year old rookie WR Torrey Smith has been outstanding for the Ravens so far this year.  He has played in 13 games for the Ravens so far this year and he has caught 37 passes for 693 yards (18.7 avg) with 6 TD grabs.  Smith has also carried the ball 4 times for 39 yards (9.8 ypc) so far this year for the Ravens.  Smith has injected big time speed into the Ravens’ offense.  When Joe Flacco looks deep, he’s looking for Torrey Smith.  This was just another outstanding pick by Ravens’ GM Ozzie Newsome.

Ravens’ GM Ozzie Newsome has struck gold in the NFL Draft once again with 22-year old rookie DE Pernell McPhee in the 5th round of the 2011 NFL Draft.  McPhee has played in all 12 games for the Ravens so far this year and he has 20 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass defensed.  McPhee is currently second to OLB Terrell Suggs in sacks on the Ravens.

The Ravens had two big needs in my opinion coming into this draft……CB and WR, and they addressed both of those needs.  CBs Jimmy Smith and Chykie Brown were solid picks for the Ravens.  Smith will have a solid chance to start from day #1 for the Ravens.  WRs Torrey Smith (a gamebreaker with big time speed) and Tandon Doss (a great possession receiver) are going to be solid additions to the offense.  Joe Flacco actually mentioned Tandon Doss to Ravens’ management as a player he would like to have on the team.  The Ravens might have reached with OT Jah Reid, but who am I to question Ravens’ GM Ozzie Newsome?  6th round pick (QB) Tyrod Taylor will be the most interesting player to watch, as he is a very athletic player.  He wants to stay at QB but the Ravens might have other plans for him.

PROJECTED GRADE:  B+

The Ravens took 23-year old RB Anthony Allen out of Georgia Tech with the 225th overall pick (7th round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Allen is 5’11″, 223 pounds and he runs a 4.6 40.  Allen is a pure power back as he likes to pound the ball between the tackles.  He plays hard all the time and he also plays hurt.  Not really much of a help in the passing game as either a blocker or receiver.  Allen played in 13 games (all starts) for Georgia Tech last year and he carried the ball 240 times for 1,316 yards (5.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also caught 3 passes for 88 yards (29.3 avg) with 1 TD grab last year.  Allen played in 52 games (35 starts) in his four years with Georgia Tech and Louisville in which he carried the ball 546 times for 3,036 yards (5.6 ypc) with 33 TD runs.  He also caught 33 passes for 401 yards (12.2 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Allen is exactly the opposite skill set wise of Ray Rice, so he might be able to win the backup job behind him with a strong training camp.  Another nice pick for GM Ozzie Newsome.

The Ravens took 22-year old QB Tyrod Taylor out of Virginia Tech with the 180th overall pick (6th round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Taylor is 6’0″, 221 pounds and he runs a 4.5 40 as he is an excellent athlete.  Many draft “experts” see Taylor playing WR or returning kicks….which are two things that Taylor doesn’t want to do.  I think the Ravens will give Taylor a chance to play QB and see how he does.  Taylor at least deserves a chance based on his college career.  Taylor has a big time arm and he is probably the best runner of the 2011 rookie class at QB.  Taylor played in 14 games (all starts) for Virginia Tech last year and he completed 188 of 315 passes (59.7%) for 2,743 yards with 24 TD passes and only 5 INTs.  He played in 50 games (42 starts) in his four years with the Hokies and he completed 495 of 865 passes (57.2%) for 7,017 yards with 44 TD passes and 20 INTs.  Taylor will get his shot to stay at QB and if he has a good training camp (if the Ravens get to have one), he might be the #2 QB this year and beyond.

The Baltimore Ravens took 22-year old DE Pernell McPhee out of Mississippi State with the 165th overall pick (5th round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  McPhee is 6’2″, 274 pounds and he runs a 4.75 40, so he’s a pretty good athlete.  He plays hard and he’s a force against the run as he tries to drive through the ballcarrier.  He played in 13 games (all starts) at Mississippi State last year and he had 35 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, batted down 4 ball and he forced 1 fumble.  McPhee played in 25 games (all starts) in his two years with the Bulldogs and he had 91 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, batted down 8 balls and he forced 2 fumbles.  The Ravens got a really nice developmental defensive end in McPhee as GM Ozzie Newsome got good value once again with this pick.

The Ravens picked 24-year old cornerback Chykie Brown out of Texas with the 164th overall pick (5th round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Brown is 5’11″, 185 pounds and he runs a 4.45 40.  Brown has impressive physical tools but it will be up to the Ravens’ to coach him up as he’s soft in run support.  He’s not a really good tackler and he doesn’t make as many big plays as he should.  Brown played in 9 games (all starts) for Texas last year and he had 19 tackles, broke up 7 passes and he forced 1 fumble.  Brown played in 47 games (29 starts) in his four years with the Longhorns and he had 106 tackles, broke up 24 passes, had 2 interceptions and he forced 2 fumbles.  The Ravens hope that Brown will develop quickly and help them in nickel and dime defenses next season as well as help them out on special teams.

The Ravens took 21-year old WR Tandon Doss out of Indiana with the 123rd overall pick (4th round) of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Doss is a big target at 6’3″, 200 pounds but he’s not the fastest receiver around as he runs a 4.55 40.  Doss is a tough guy who isn’t scared to go over the middle.  He also has outstanding ball skills and a nice set of hands as he catches almost anything that touches even one finger.  Doss played in 11 games (all starts) for Indiana last year and he caught 63 passes for 706 yards (11.2 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He played in 31 games (21 starts) in his three years with the Hoosiers and he caught 154 passes for 1,854 yards (12.0 avg) with 13 TD grabs.  Doss also returned 66 kickoffs for 1,549 yards (23.5 avg) at Indiana and he returned 11 punts for 93 yards (8.5 avg) in college.  Doss came to the Ravens at QB Joe Flacco’s request, so they should hit it off pretty good.  This was a solid pick for the Ravens.

The Baltimore Ravens took OT Jah Reid out of Central Florida with the 85th overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.  Reid played in 53 games (41 starts) in his four years with the Knights.  He impressed late in the season against Georgia and in the East/West Shrine Game and that’s what likely caught GM Ozzie Newsome’s eye.  Reid is a big guy at 6’7″, 327 pounds, so he has pretty good playing power.  He is a tad slow against speed rushers though, so his future is at RT in the pros.  This was quite a bit of a reach for the Ravens as Reid wasn’t expected to be picked until at least the 5th round.