In a mock draft put out by Bill Barnwell, the Ravens move back in the first round.
ESPN staff writer Bill Barnwell wrote an article yesterday where he highlighted possible trades each team could make in the first round of the NFL draft. It is a way to spice up your common mock draft where you focus on the needs of the team via trade, rather than just a specific player. While every team might not need to trade in the first round, there is a good possibility the Baltimore Ravens could make a move.
In Barnwell’s scenario, the Ravens would be trading their first rounder (16) and sixth rounder (186) to the 49ers in exchange for a second round pick (34), two 4th round picks (109 and 143) and a 2018 second-round pick.
This is what Barnwell had to say about the deal:
"If the 49ers aren’t confident about getting Kirk Cousins and want to draft one of the defensive stars with the second overall pick, here’s a deal in which they get back into the middle of the first round to nab a quarterback. The Ravens are likely looking for pass-rushers and offensive linemen, and in this draft, it’s better to go after those guys in the middle rounds. Ozzie Newsome should be effective at drumming up interest in this pick from teams looking at quarterback options, and while it would be tempting for the Ravens to trade this selection for San Francisco’s 2018 first-rounder, my deal provides a mix of useful draft assets for a Baltimore team that is increasingly dependent upon guys playing out rookie deals."
Right Up The Raven’s Ally
Knowing the Ravens, a move like this would not surprise me at all. Rarely do we see them want to move up in the first round. We all know that Ozzie Newsome loves his draft picks and rightfully so. The Ravens have made a name for themselves finding talent past the first round. For many fans, it may be frustrating to not have a first round pick, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In just about every draft, there is first round talent that falls into the second round. It just depends on who teams take and who reaches for players. An early second round pick at #34 is almost like having a late first round pick.
Next: Terrell Suggs: 3 Reasons Why 2017 Will Be His Last Season
Do I hate this move? Absolutely not. As Barnwell said, if the Ravens are looking to take a pass rusher in the first round, they can afford to trade back. It is an extremely deep position in the draft. Adding two fourth round picks would be huge. That is right up Ozzie’s ally when it comes to finding talent. I also think the addition of a second round pick next year would be huge. Obviously it does not help this year, but it means a whole lot going into the 2018 draft.