Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens: 3 things the franchise can’t do this offseason

By Chris Schisler

OWINGS MILLS, MD - MAY 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with general manager Ozzie Newsome after a practice during the Baltimore Ravens rookie camp on May 5, 2013 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MD - MAY 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with general manager Ozzie Newsome after a practice during the Baltimore Ravens rookie camp on May 5, 2013 in Owings Mills, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: C.J. Mosley #57 of the Baltimore Ravens and Tyus Bowser #54 walk off the field after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-38 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: C.J. Mosley #57 of the Baltimore Ravens and Tyus Bowser #54 walk off the field after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-38 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2. Stick to their draft strategy and ignore need:

If Roquan Smith is on the board with the 16th pick, he’ll probably be the most talented player available. He is a top 10 prospect and the best linebacker in this draft by a large margin. The Ravens first round pick though, must fill a desperate need. While getting a stud next to C.J. Mosley would be a good idea, the need-o-meter reads that this is a lukewarm need. The Ravens cannot justify taking a linebacker when the strength of their team is their front seven. Baltimore needs to be willing to bend their process to the needs of the team. Wide receivers, tight ends, running backs, heck even quarterbacks should get the front of the line treatment.

Needs over best player available

Say Smith is available at the 16th pick but so is Courtland Sutton. I don’t care if Smith is the third ranked player on their entire board, Sutton would provide more value to the purple and black. If the Ravens want to draft a linebacker or a corner, they can do it in the third or fourth round. Until then the Ravens have to do whatever it takes to get play-makers on the offense. If the Ravens can grab a top-tier defensive tackle, or a tight end like Troy Fumagalli, they need to take the tight end. It’s that simple. In this draft needs should be prioritized over value.

The Ravens might want a pass rusher so badly that they’ll want to ignore the wide receiver position. That’s when someone should kindly tell Mr. Newsome and Mr. DeCosta that they drafted three outside linebackers in the past two seasons. Get second round value out of Tyus Bowser because you passed on JuJu Smith-Schuster to get him. The Ravens need wide receivers and tight ends. I repeat the Ravens need wide receivers and tight ends.

Home/Ravens News