Ravens Draft Preview: Be ready for anything
BALTIMORE -- Expect the unexpected when the Ravens pick in the NFL draft.
The team has a history of surprise picks, trades and maneuvers—none bigger than five years ago when they traded with Philadelphia to get the final pick of the first round and selected quarterback Lamar Jackson. A year ago, Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton was unexpectedly available when the Ravens picked him 14th overall. So, they immediately brought in a talented defender they did not anticipate getting.
The Ravens' first-round surprises continued after the Hamilton pick when they traded receiver Marquise Brown—a former first-round pick himself—to Arizona for another first-round pick that General Manager Eric DeCosta used to select Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum. Expect the unexpected.
Will the Ravens 2023 draft be unusual? It already is. They have just five picks, which is their fewest since 1999. They have a new offensive coordinator in Todd Monken whose input on talent is a new factor. Just two weeks ago, the Ravens stunned the league with the signing of star receiver Odell Beckham to a one-year, $15 million contract. There's the looming specter of trading linebacker Patrick Queen, a first-round pick in 2020 who has one season left on his contract.
The Ravens' fanbase has more optimism now that franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson agreed to his mega contract extension.
DeCosta says the Ravens have multiple contingencies to address a number of roster needs.
He's mentioned a need for either immediate help or depth at offensive line, defensive line, defensive secondary and receiver. He openly addressed the possibility of drafting a quarterback this year stating, "the fact is that we think you can get a quarterback in the first round, or the third round, or the fourth round who we'd have a chance to develop."
On Thursday night, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce a Ravens first-round draft pick…or will he? DeCosta has said that just having five picks doesn't sit well with him and he'd like more. The most likely path to gain more picks is to trade down. If the Ravens use the 22nd overall pick, then the consensus is that they'll pick a cornerback or a receiver.
A popular pick for the Ravens in mock drafts is Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes or Penn State's Joey Porter. Another possibility includes an intriguing storyline: University of Maryland cornerback Deonte Banks, a Baltimore native who played at Edgewood High School. Others have the Ravens taking wide receiver Zay Flowers (Boston College) or Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Ohio State). Former Ravens scout Daniel Jeremiah does draft analysis on NFL Network and says he usually has a good feel for the Ravens game plan heading into their drafts. But regarding this year, he says, "I have no clue."
