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NFL Free Agency: 3 big things we learned about Eric DeCosta

By Chris Schisler

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on the bench during their game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on September 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 20: A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on the bench during their game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on September 20, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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OWINGS MILLS, MD – SEPTEMBER 08: Baltimore Ravens President Dick Cass (L) and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta (R) watch the team practice at their training facility on September 8, 2014 in Owings Mills, Maryland. Earlier in the day the Ravens terminated the contract of running back Ray Rice and the NFL suspended him indefinitely after the release of video showing Rice striking his then-fiancée in a hotel elevator. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
OWINGS MILLS, MD – SEPTEMBER 08: Baltimore Ravens President Dick Cass (L) and assistant general manager Eric DeCosta (R) watch the team practice at their training facility on September 8, 2014 in Owings Mills, Maryland. Earlier in the day the Ravens terminated the contract of running back Ray Rice and the NFL suspended him indefinitely after the release of video showing Rice striking his then-fiancée in a hotel elevator. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Eric DeCosta had much of the Baltimore Ravens fanbase worried at the start of NFL Free Agency. It turns out that DeCosta had it covered. Here’s what we learned about the Ravens’ new general manager already:

1. He’s patient and doesn’t let emotion get in the way:

The first two days of the legal tampering period made it seem like Eric DeCosta wasn’t doing much for the Baltimore Ravens. There were no stars linked to the purple and black and players like C.J. Mosley, Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs were going elsewhere. It didn’t take long for fans to log on to Twitter and declare that this was the end of the world and declare the Ravens were in a painful rebuild. DeCosta let the dominoes fall where they were going to fall all along, and made two savvy signings: Earl Thomas and Mark Ingram.

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It can’t be easy for a general manager with the number one defense in the NFL to see starters go out the door at the same time. Cutting Eric Weddle wasn’t an easy decision, at least not for the heartstrings. You could fill a book with all the praise DeCosta heaped upon C.J. Mosley over the years. Terrell Suggs leaving certainly hit deep for the fanbase, and it had to hit harder for DeCosta.

Instead of emotions driving the Ravens to keep Weddle, they got a massive upgrade at the free safety position. Instead of emotions pulling the general manager to an unthinkable price tag for C.J. Mosley, they let him go to the New York Jets. Instead of signing Le’Veon Bell and sticking it to the Steelers, he inked a more sensible deal with Mark Ingram. DeCosta showed patience and discipline that is hard to find in the NFL. The goal was never to win the month of March, but to act upon a long drawn out plan. The Ravens can now look forward to March of 2020, where they will have a bigger chunk of cap space and  a bigger free agent market.

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