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The 2019 NFL Draft: The Ravens Most Important Draft

By Garrett Ferguson

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: A detailed view of the pick is in for the #6 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: A detailed view of the pick is in for the #6 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /
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The 2019 NFL Draft is the Baltimore Ravens most important draft since their first in 1996. With a first year general manager and a quarterback coming off his rookie season, this draft could make or break the Ravens for years to come and here’s why:

Legacy:

Since their inception in 1995, the Baltimore Ravens have always had one man running the show, that is until this year. Last offseason Ozzie Newsome announced he would be stepping down from general manager following the 2018 season and hand the reigns over to longtime apprentice Eric DeCosta.

Fast forward a few months and here we are, a month away from arguably DeCosta’s most important weekend of his life; the 2019 NFL Draft. The reason this draft is so important is because it’ll be the first in franchise history where Ozzie isn’t behind the wheel and the team is preparing to flip the league upside down schematically with Lamar Jackson and Company. DeCosta has huge shoes to fill if he’s going to continue Ozzie’s draft legacy while building his own.

Lamar Jackson:

If the Ravens want the Lamar Jackson Era to be successful, they have to use the draft to surround him with the complementary weapons he needs to grow, something Ozzie failed to do with Joe (minus the 2012 playoff run).

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Specifically, Lamar need’s an X receiver with strong hands and a large catch radius that will aid him as he improves his accuracy, a stud interior offensive linemen who can pull across the line for Greg Roman’s scheme, and a third down pass-catching back to be the lightning to Mark Ingram’s thunder.

Defensive Exodus:

The departures on defense this offseason with C.J. Mosley, Za’Darius Smith, Eric Weddle, and Terrell Suggs all leaving had an eerily similar feeling to the 2013 offseason when the likes of Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, and Paul Kruger all moved on. DeCosta is tasked with replacing not only the production, but the leadership lost with those players on the defensive side of the ball and the Draft is his first chance to do so.

This coming season will also be the first in the teams history where neither Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, or Terrell Suggs will rock the purple and black which is why this draft is even more important. If DeCosta can fill those holes with solid players like he already has with Earl Thomas, this team will be contending not rebuilding.

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With a new general manager, second year quarterback, and change in defensive cornerstones, this draft is of utmost importance. If DeCosta fails to do any of the three points mentioned above, it could set this team back for years. The 2019 NFL Draft is his first chance to show us what he can do, we can only wait.

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