NFL Draft 2018: The argument for the Ravens to trade up
By Joe Schiller
With all of the talk concerning the Baltimore Ravens and the possibility to trade back in the first round, is there a chance they could trade up?
The 2018 NFL draft is going to be extremely exciting because we really have no idea what’s going to happen. By this time in the process, most of the top picks have been leaked and teams have their selections set. The same can’t be said this time around, at least from an outsiders perspective. Even general manager John Dorsey reportedly won’t tell the rest of the Browns organization their selection first overall.
Thursday night is set to be pure chaos and the Baltimore Ravens sit smack dab in the middle of the first round at pick No. 16. It’s an awkward spot to be in. Too far away from the top talent or too far up from the backend players. By all accounts, there’s a strong possibility the Ravens could trade back and acquire Day 2 and Day 3 picks. That seems extremely smart given the gap between their first two picks (16 and 52).
But what if the Ravens shocked us and traded up? Ozzie Newsome and the front office have been unpredictable before and who’s not to say they’ll be the same this year? After all, it’s Newsome’s curtain call as head honcho.
Must Read: Willie Snead joins the Ravens: Q&A with Who Dat Dish
Aside from it being a surprise, there’s a chance the Ravens could move and we’ve seen it before. They attempted to move up in the 2016 draft from No. 6 to No. 4 with the Dallas Cowboys to select cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Instead, they took tackle Ronnie Stanley, which proved to be a great pick in itself.
The potential is there and it’s not something to ignore.
Garrett Downing of Ravens.com hit the nail on the head in a video highlighting likely trade scenarios. The possibility of a quarterback or defensive player dropping could serve as a potential calling card for Ozzie Newsome to trade up.
It’s almost a lock the Browns and Jets select a quarterback. However, teams like the Giants, Broncos, and Colts could stand their ground and select the best player available, potentially dropping two of the top four quarterbacks drastically.
The second option completely contradicts, the first. In this scenario, a run on quarterbacks happens early, dropping a top-10 talent. Whether that’s the likes of Derwin James, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds or Marcus Davenport, the best player available mantra isn’t out of the question. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey was the perfect example last season. Marcus Davenport seems to be one of the most likely candidates to fall into the early teens and his incredible athleticism and raw potential as a pass rusher presents an intriguing option.
Signing wide receiver Willie Snead allows the Ravens to target a pass-catcher on Day 2 rather than potentially reach at pick No. 16. This would play right into selecting a defensive player. While the offense clearly possesses the biggest needs, positions like inside linebacker, safety and pass rush will need to be addressed sooner or later.
The bottom line
Thursday night is going to be a must-watch spectacle. There’s no telling what’s going to happen in the first round and the Ravens remain a mystery team. The front office could go a number of different directions leaving fans covering all their options, even trading up.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 Draft needs to win now
It’s not necessarily an ideal situation in terms of losing Day 2 or Day 3 picks but if Ozzie Newsome falls in love with a franchise-changing prospect, they may be too much to pass up in his opinion.