In the NFL draft, there are no sure things. But when it comes to the 2016 version, there may be no player with a future that seems so much brighter than that of his contemporaries than former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott. However, despite his many strengths and the numerous elite attributes he brings with him to the league, Elliott's draft stock remains a question, even as the hours until the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft slowly slip away.
With teams like the Eagles and Rams moving up for quarterbacks, pushing position players like Elliott down the board, Elliott's floor is hard to discern. Many think it's Miami at No. 13 or possibly New York at No. 10, but would a team like the Baltimore Ravens, led by shrewd GM Ozzie Newsome, potentially consider the big former Buckeye with their first-round selection?
On paper, it's an obvious fit. Yes, the Ravens already have a quality top option at running back in Justin Forsett under contract for two more seasons at a reasonable hit ($3.7 million). And yes, they have a talented youngster with ample upside who played relatively well in spot duty last season in former USC back Javorius Allen.
But Forsett, a former seventh-round pick and NFL journeyman who secured himself the top spot with the Ravens thanks to an impressive 2014, missed a large chunk of 2015 after breaking his arm. He'll also be 31 in October.
And Allen, despite a strong three-game stretch from late November to early December wherein he displayed strong receiving as well as running skills, faded down the stretch and saw his carries limited as he struggled with fumbles.
The question when connecting the Ravens with Elliott isn't about need - Newsome and Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh surely know that adding a back as talented, explosive and, perhaps most importantly, well-rounded as Elliott to their stable of ballcarriers would upgrade the offense immediately, taking plenty of pressure off quarterback Joe Flacco and giving the team a threat out of the backfield that they haven't had since the days of Ray Rice.
The question will instead be about value and opportunity cost. If the Ravens stay put at No. 6, it's likely that several elite players at positions of need will be available, including offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and linebacker Myles Jack, assuming the franchise is OK with his medicals. The Ravens could certainly use talent along the offensive line after losing Kelechi Osemele and in their defensive front-seven, where more low-profile players are in line for starting gigs than usual.
With the running back position being devalued - and the Ravens, with Forsett and former fourth round pick Allen, seem to be a team that feels that way - it's hard to justify a top-10 pick on Elliott.
However, there's no denying his talent, and if he's somehow the best player left on the Ravens board when their turn comes Thursday night, Newsome may have a hard time saying no.
