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What Free Agency Told Us About the Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Plan

By Garrett Ferguson

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) /
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If there is anything that could give you a slight indication of what a team wants to do in the Draft it’s free agency. Let’s take a look at what the Baltimore Ravens did in free agency and what it tells us they might do in the Draft Thursday night:

Who they added:

  • Earl Thomas, S (SEA)
  • Mark Ingram, RB (NO)
  • Seth Roberts, WR (OAK)
  • Justin Bethel, CB (ARI)

Who they lost:

  • Joe Flacco, QB (DEN)
  • Terrell Suggs, OLB (ARI)
  • Za’Darius Smith, LB (GB)
  • C.J. Mosley, MLB (NYJ)
  • Eric Weddle, S (LAR)
  • John Brown, WR (BUF)

Reading between the lines:

The Ravens free agency moves tell a story I’m not sure many fans have picked up on. What was different from this free agency compared to past seasons? The Ravens didn’t go bargain shopping for veteran receivers. Granted, they did sign Seth Roberts who was cut by the Raiders, but his addition doesn’t hold the significance of past players like Anquan Boldin, Steve Smith Sr., Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, John Brown, and Michael Crabtree.

You would have to go back a few years to find an offseason where the Ravens did so little at the wide receiver position and it could be because Ozzie is out and DeCosta is in. The one blemish on Ozzie’s resume is his wide receiver draft history. The Ravens have only had one receiver they drafted make the Pro Bowl and that was Jermaine Lewis in 1998 and 2001. There are many reasons you can attribute to this horrible wide receiver drought whether it be bad luck, bad scouting, lack of development, and etc. but my gut tells me DeCosta is driven to change that in his first crack at general manager.

During the Annual League Meeting in Phoenix, AZ head coach John Harbaugh held a media session and when asked about the receiver situation, he reiterated the statement DeCosta made regarding the position. This tweet from Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic says it all.

Next. The Baltimore Ravens top 10 options with the 22nd overall pick. dark

Whether the Ravens actually saw any value in free agency or not, their lack of talent at wide receiver only makes one believe that they will address it early in the Draft. Their wide receiver woes are well-known around the league and I believe DeCosta will attempt to bury that stigma in his first NFL Draft as the teams General Manager. You just have to read between the lines.

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