Not moving Mason yet
Subscribers of our draft guide will notice that Derrick Mason remains the rankings. This isn't because we're lazy; it's because Mason isn't retired yet. Based on everything we've heard, I don't think he will.
Granted, there is a fair bit of speculation going on here. But people close to the situation believe there is a good chance he'll play. It's also the middle of July. We anticipate getting an update about his visit with Ravens coach John Harbaugh fairly soon. If he's still not back on the field early in camp, we'll adjust accordingly.
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Mark Clayton stands to benefit the most if Mason follows through and retires. We ranked Clayton as the WR47 before the Mason news. This is higher than his ADP in most places, even after the news.
I remember being a little surprised he came out that optimistic, but someone had to catch Joe Flacco's passes. I was a big fan of Clayton before and after his rookie year, but he's proven spotty at best since then.
If he can stay healthy, which seems unlikely, there is enough talent between Clayton and Flacco to put up a 1,000-yard season. If Mason doesn't return, Clayton could rise about 8-10 spots in the ranking. After 35 receivers, I see a big drop-off this season. Clayton would fit near the top of the group after them.
The catch here is that the Ravens will add someone. If its Amani Toomer, I would still bump Clayton up. If its Matt Jones, he won't move up as much. If its Brandon Marshall (you never know), he may move down.
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