No. 8

Pick by Baltimore Beatdown Matt Ryan Quarterback Boston College

In our final selection of the day, with the eighth overall selection in the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft, the Baltimore Ravens select... Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College.  The first quarterback is now off the board, and the man who made the selection - Rexx of Baltimore Beatdown - explains his rationale:

  The Ravens have so many needs, as injuries, poor play, aging veterans and pending retirement have uncovered the reasons that the Ravens slipped to 5-11 in 2007 from a record setting 13-3 2006 season. Even though we haven't heard for certain whether or not All-Pro left tackle Jonathan Ogden is retiring, the offensive line still needs help. The defensive line didn't put enough pressure on the opposing QB, mainly due to the loss of Adalius Thomas to the Patriots through free agency and the injury to DE Trevor Pryce. If Pryce comes back they should be fine, but if not, that will continue to be an issue. The most glaring weakness that was exposed on defense was the cornerback position, where injuries to both Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle allowed opposing QB's to pick the secondary apart. Rolle has epilepsy but even if under control, his skills have diminished to the point that a cornerback selection is a top priority.

I would have selected a top notch corner with the 8th pick if Matt Ryan was off the board, and then taken a QB with our second round pick (Delaware's Joe Flacco or Michigan's Chad Henne). However, Ryan is the best player available, perhaps in the entire draft, and should be the rising star of this franchise under a new coaching staff for the next decade. The Ravens will put him at #3 on the depth chart, behind starter Steve McNair and Troy Smith. Kyle Boller has proven over the years that he is not capable of leading this team and will be released, while Smith will (temporarily) move into the backup role.

Matt Miller, host of this site as well as owner of New Era Scouting, provides his analysis below:

  I'll be the first to say it, this pick is smart, sexy and way past due. Kyle Boller has proven himself to be a very good back-up in this league, but not a starter. Steve McNair had trouble staying healthy five years ago, now he's just waiting to retire. Putting Ryan behind these two for a season will let him learn from an All Pro (McNair) and a bust (Boller). It's the best situation for him, and for new Head Coach John Harbaugh, a guy who knows a thing or two about QBs (his brother, Jim, does too).

The Ravens have few immediate needs other than quarterback. The wide receivers have played better as of late, and there is youth on the roster, but there is not a receiver worth picking at 8. A cornerback could have been had, but you rarely have the chance to draft a true franchise quarterback with the eighth overall pick.

Grade: A+  ::  Matt Ryan Scouting Report - New Era Scouting :: Matt Miller's Top Five Prospects Remaining - 1.  OT Ryan Clady, 2.  LB Keith Rivers, 3.  CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, 4.  CB Mike Jenkins, 5. RB Rashard Mendenhall  

That does it for day three of the 2008 SB Nation NFL Mock Draft - times flies when you're mocking!  We will be back with three more picks tomorrow; for now, we'll leave the Cincinnati Bengals, represented by Cincy Jungle, on the clock.