3. Eric DeCosta is sending a statement with this pick:
Eric DeCosta took over for a legend in Ozzie Newsome. Newsome had one horrible mark as a general manager, he couldn’t get star wide receivers in Baltimore; in fact he barely even tried to do so. DeCosta is not the kind of person to go into the draft with a “_____ or bust” mentality but there’s no chance drafting a receiver with his first pick is a coincidence. He did see the bigger picture by trading back from 22 to the 25 pick; but he got what everybody knows he wanted. DeCosta got a receiver, he got his receiver.
It also shows you that he has a vision for this team. He didn’t want a catch radius guy to make tough catches in traffic. He wanted a dangerous, flashy and exciting receiver whose speed has to be accounted for on every single play. If Brown works out he is going to do so in spectacular fashion. He’s a boom or bust player and it feels like this is the kind of pick DeCosta has been waiting to make.
The way the board fell the Ravens had options. Montez Sweat was available and he was a player that many considered to be a top 10 talent. Newsome would have picked Sweat and “Hollywood” Brown wouldn’t have been a consideration. The tried and true method would have seen Baltimore take Sweat or even Jawaan Taylor for the offensive line. DeCosta sent a statement by going after a potential superstar with his first pick.