The Baltimore Ravens need value from the 2019 NFL Draft, and that could come in several different forms:
The Baltimore Ravens need to get value in the 2019 NFL Draft. That means when the 22nd overall pick rolls around, Eric DeCosta has to do what brings the team the most value moving forward. That could be trading back and acquiring more picks. That could be taking a player at 22. There have been hundreds if not thousands of mock drafts and none of them really project how the board is actually going to fall.
Fans have a tendency to pick one player and fixate on them. It’s Player A or bust in many people’s minds. This train of thought is not realistic and it tends to ignore other factors. A perfect example of this was when the Ravens selected C.J. Mosley in the 2014 NFL Draft. The Ravens have the 17th pick and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix would have filled the biggest need.
It seemed like an easy decision but the Ravens went with Mosley. Ozzie Newsome couldn’t pass up on Mosley. Baltimore went with the highest player on their board, a player they probably didn’t think would be available and it worked out. In this move, the Ravens focused on the highest value and they got a Pro Bowl caliber linebacker for five seasons before he broke the bank with the New York Jets.
Forcing things in the NFL Draft usually doesn’t go to well. That’s what the Ravens did when they drafted Breshad Perriman in 2015. The Ravens got enamored with his speed and size and took a player who had red flags going into the draft. They may say that he was the best player on their board, but it feels like Newsome forced this pick. At the time we were thinking with cautious optimism, but it was never a secret that Perriman was a boom or bust player.
The argument isn’t that the Ravens shouldn’t take a receiver. The argument is that they shouldn’t rush to do it, unless that’s how the board falls. Most of the top wide receiver talent may wind up being taken in the second round. While, I’m high on several of the receivers in this draft class, if nobody is desperate to start the run on receivers, waiting may be the right call.
Trading back is almost always the best case scenario. This allows the team to drop down a few spots and pick up additional draft picks, Getting into the second round would be incredibly helpful, especially to target a wide receiver. However if a top 10 talent slips to the 22nd pick, Baltimore can’t pass it up. If Clelin Ferrell or Jonah Williams is there, passing that up could be a move that fans talk about for a long time.
One option for the Ravens with the 22nd overall pick is Garrett Bradbury. He is a center from N.C. State. This is a move that would send many fans spiraling because it wouldn’t be exciting. Many pundits believe that Bradbury is a plug and play, long-term starter. Excitement is overrated sometimes but having a quality offensive line never gets old.
The point is that there are a lot of different ways the first night of the NFL can go, that would work out for Baltimore. The Ravens must focus on value. Their decision on Thursday night must be a game changer of a decision. The important thing is not to go into the draft with one train of thought and lose sight of the board and how it progresses.