Dez Bryant was almost drafted by the Baltimore Ravens

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant (88) carries the ball after a catch chased by Detroit Lions defensive end Jason Jones (91) during the first quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Daily Caw, where we round up all the latest Baltimore Ravens news from around the web. As we get ready to count down the final hours before the deadline teams face to sign their franchise players to long term deals, the Ravens are thankfully not part of that drama. But they could have been, as we find out just how close the team was to trading up and drafting Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.

Jah Reid kept Dez Bryant from Ravens – Tony Lombardi, Russell Street Report

"Ozzie Newsome tried to swap with a familiar trading partner, the New England Patriots, to move up one spot (No. 24) and pick Bryant. The cost: the No. 25 overall pick and 2011’s third round pick.The Ravens believed the Patriots demands were too pricey just to move up one spot.Moments later the Patriots dealt the pick to the Cowboys in exchange for the No. 27 overall and the Cowboys third-round pick, No. 90 overall. To balance the deal the Patriots gave up their fourth round pick, No. 119 overall.What might have been?"

The pressure is on: Eugene Monroe – Bo Smolka, CSN Baltimore

"The Ravens signed tackle Eugene Monroe to a five-year, $37.5 million deal before the 2014 season, but then he missed five regular-season games with injuries and was replaced by undrafted rookie James Hurst. Monroe also missed one playoff game and was limited to brief special teams duty in the other. Monroe’s cap number of $7.7 million is the fourth-highest on the team, but he was among the lowest-rated left tackles in the league according to Pro Football Focus. CBS Sports columnist Pete Prisco declared Monroe the Ravens’ most overrated player."

Ravens rookie Julian Wilson upbeat after season ending injury – Aaron Wilson, The Baltimore Sun

"The former Oklahoma starter underwent surgery to repair the damage to his leg before being waived-injured and then reverted to the Ravens’ injured reserve list.“I was upset, but, at the end of the day, everything happens for a reason,” Wilson said. “God has a plan. You can’t question what happens. I can only control what I can control.”"

2014 Ravens draft class – best ever? – Kyle Rate, Russell Street Report

"Last year’s class of Ravens rookies may be the best ever.That is a courageous statement given Baltimore’s renowned drafting history which includes a historic 1996 draft where half of the Ravens current Mount Rushmore (Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis) were selected together. Of course it is early in these players’ careers, but entering their important second season, here is why last year’s rookies have the potential to be Baltimore’s best ever."

Next: Ravens Revealed: Steve Smith Sr.

Dez Bryant was almost drafted by the Baltimore Ravens

More from Ebony Bird

Schedule