With the 25th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft…

Receiver Derrick Mason, who is 36, is set to become an unrestricted free agent (UFA) and could possibly retire.  And considering Mason sort-of retired last year, I’m hoping — but not holding my breath — that I’ll see Mason in a Ravens’ uniform in 2010.

In addition to Mason, Kelley Washington will become an unrestricted free agent as well.  Plus, the team’s No. 2 WR (Mark Clayton) and No. 4 WR (Demetrius Williams) will both become restricted free agents.

Even with Mason, who recorded his third consecutive 1,000-yard season and his eighth in the past nine years, the Ravens’ receivers were the team’s biggest weakness.  If Mason had stayed retired, the Ravens would have had the worst receiving corps in the NFL last year.

Mason’s 1,028 receiving yards in 2009 were only 25 yards less than the combined total of the next three wide receivers, who finished with 1,053 receiving yards.  Clayton had 480 yards, Washington had 431 yards and Williams had 142 yards.

“To bring in four or five new faces to a quarterback, that’s kind of hard,” Mason said when the season ended. “There will be some turnover. Hopefully, the people they bring in here can help Joe out and help with his continued growth in this sport.”

“In the position that we’re in, we’re probably going to end up having to find a guy that is going to be able to come in and be a straight playmaker,” Clayton said.So, where does all this leave the Ravens?  Most likely in position to draft a receiver with their first-round pick.

If still available at 25, there is the possibility that the Ravens draft Jermaine Gresham, the tight end from Oklahoma, as ESPN’s Mel Kiper projects.  Or they may possibly draft a cornerback like Syd’Quan Thompson from California, as projected in Fox Sports’ mock draft.

And drafting a receiver in the first round doesn’t guarantee that he turns out to be an elite receiver.  After all, Clayton was a first-round pick in 2005.  And Travis Taylor, who was selected 10th overall in 2000, never came close to living up to his potential.

Here are some receivers that the Ravens may target with the 25th pick:

Golden Tate, Notre Dame: After Notre Dame fired Charlie Weis, QB Jimmy Clausen declared himself eligible for the NFL draft.  Tate didn’t waste much time to follow suit.  Tate posted back-to-back 1,000-yard and double-digit touchdown seasons at Notre Dame.  He’s a playmaker that plays bigger than his size (5′11″ and 195 pounds).  Michael Abramowitz of TheFootballExpert.com and FootballsFuture.com have Tate going to Baltimore in their mock drafts.

Arrelious Benn, Illinois: Benn has the size (6′2″ and 220 pounds) that Tate does not.  In addition to being a big target, Benn has 4.4 speed.  As a junior, he regressed, at least statistically, with a performance of 38 receptions, 490 yards and two touchdowns.  In his first two seasons at Illinois, Benn combined for 121 receptions and 1,731 yards.  That said, Draft Countdown wrote, “Benn didn’t have the big junior season everyone was expecting but for the most part that can be attributed to lackluster quarterback play and it certainly isn’t an indictment of his talent.”

Brandon LaFell, LSU: Like Benn, LaFell is a big receiver (6′3″ and 206 pounds).  In 2009, LaFell finished with 57 receptions, 792 yards and 11 touchdowns.  DraftAce.com compares LaFell to Pittsburgh’s Hines Ward and writes, “Like Ward, he lacks elite speed but is a physical possession receiver and contributes to the run game as an elite blocker.”

ESPN’s Todd McShay projects the Ravens to draft Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant.  However, I would expect Bryant to be gone by the time the Ravens pick at 25.

Tags: Arrelious Benn, Brandon LaFell, Demetrius Williams, Derrick Mason, Dez Bryant, Golden Tate, Jermaine Gresham, Kelley Washington, Mark Clayton