2014 NFL mock draft: Ravens select Calvin Pryor

With the 17th pick in Pride Of Detroit's 2014 NFL mock draft, the Baltimore Ravens select Louisville safety Calvin Pryor. Scottishlionsfan is serving as the Ravens' general manager, and his reasoning for the pick is below.

So drafting for the Ravens actually produced a number of striking similarities to the Lions: They have a need at safety after one left via free agency, and there is a need for a No. 2/3 receiver. The only difference is that the Ravens' O-line could use more work and they have fewer question at CB and LB. So with that in mind and channeling my inner Ozzie Newsome, the Baltimore Ravens select Calvin Pryor.

A safety falling into my lap here was my ideal realistic scenario due to the larger drop-off in talent than at other positions. Pairing Pryor with last year's rookie, Matt Elam (we all remember those old man comments), gives defensive coordinator Dean Pees a possible Seahawks type of secondary with both Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb being legitimate No. 1 corners, along with two rangy, athletic safeties who have the capacity to play as blitzers, run stuffers or deep-coverage guys. Admittedly, that's a lot of high draft picks in one area, but to paraphrase new Lions defensive coordinator and former Ravens assistant Teryl Austin, "You can't have enough good DBs."

I realize that right tackle or guard may actually be a larger need, but there is an abundance of starter-quality linemen to be found later in the draft.

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Check out the 2014 POD Community Mock Draft tracker for a look at all of the picks.