CSN Mock Draft, Pick 32: Ravens select …

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No. 32: Robert Woods, WR, USC (6-1, 190)

Sitting at the end of the line in the first round, the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens could go several different routes.

Given how our mock draft stars have aligned, the Ravens could fill their inside linebacker void with former LSU prospect Kevin Minter.

They could replace Ed Reed and shore up the secondary with Florida International safety Jonathan Cyprien.

They could go for one of the best prospects available, regardless of position, and tab Desmond Trufant from Washington.

The thinking here is that Baltimore, which rarely reaches or errs in the first round, looks to upgrade an offense that let slot receiver Anquan Boldin bolt in free agency with the selection of USC wide receiver Robert Woods at No. 32.

Woods could be a first-round sleeper, compared to the other top-flight wideouts. There are questions about Tavon Austin’s ability to adapt from a gimmick college offense, about Cordarelle Patterson’s pedigree, and about Justin Hunter’s injury history and consistency. Keenan Allen (California) and DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson) are also considered potential first-rounders who could easily last until the second.

Woods’ stock has risen throughout the offseason, as teams examined tape from his entire career at USC, not just the numbers from his final year. Former USC quarterback Matt Barkley recently told Yahoo! Sports that he regretted not targeting Woods more this past season and pinned some of the responsibility for the team’s lackluster season on his failure to speak up and influence the offensive play calling.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Woods is one of the college game’s crispest route runners and isn’t as unrefined as some of his first-round cohorts. His ability to play anywhere on the field and get open makes him comparable to former USC wideout Steve Smith, a second-round pick by the Giants in 2007 who had 107 receptions in his third season and was headed for an excellent career until he suffered a major knee injury.

Woods would be the ideal complement to speed wideouts Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones, and give Joe Flacco the inside presence that Boldin provided.

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