Draft / FA / Offseason Roster Moves (Merged)

[Carey]

See, what I get from your post is that our needs are generally at positions where mdi round picks absolutely can succeed. ILB, DT and even Safety are not generally first round needs. LT and passrusher are. Obviously special players dictate special circumstances, but as a general rule, the first(and even second) round is littered with QB's, LT's, CB's, RB's and passrushers. Those are the best athletes with most specialized skillsets. Guards, interior Dlinemen, linebackers, safetys, TEs and FB's are just less valuable.

That's a good thing. Bu It means I don't think we need to panic if we haven't gotten a NT after the first two days.

You know, that's very true and an aspect i underrated. There is a good amount of ILB's im comfortable with rounds 2-4. Same can be said for the free safety position. NT is interesting because i think it's pretty scarce as far as legit 3-4 nose tackles that could contribute early but it's not like you have to take one in the first to ensure you get one. I like Brandon Williams a lot and he could be had in the 2nd or 3rd, probably 2nd the way he's rising. LT i think you go with a developmental guy like Quessenberry and im keeping an close eye on Luke Marquadt from Asuza Pacific http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profil...rdt?id=2539644

So after careful thought and your post, forget my whole last post lol

[Iscull]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-d...eremiah/165100

Daniel Jeremiah's mock is up

If Montgomery falls all the way to 32, something is wrong with the other GM's...

[bmorecareful]

The WR thing is interesting...We in all reality do need a guy that projects as a true #2/outside threat that can naturally separate from man coverage but i look at the needs and i struggle to find room to use an adequate draft pick(First 4 rounds) on that this year with the needs. Now depending on how free agency goes for us maybe we can, let's take a look at the needs...

For me ILB and DT are locked in as positions that have to be addressed early. With the anticipation that Kruger is gone we have to replace his pass rushing in this draft as well. Whether Ed Reed is brought back or not i think we have to draft a FS because even if Ed is back he's had injury issues, Thompson is coming off an injury, and i like Omar Brown a lot but im not sure if he's ready to make that kind of jump yet. LT is also a position i think has to be address with an heir apparent in a ideal situation.

So those are 5 spots i view as higher needs then WR. Now if we could do a lot of moving up and down the board and obtain more picks rounds 2 thru 4 then i could see it but if not i think it's gonna be difficult. Now if anybody knows any prospects rounds 5 thru 7 that have some outside WR upside who would be better then say Thompson or Streeter with a year under their belts then that's fine but that is gonna be increasingly difficult to find. I really like Ace Sanders as a 5th rd guy but his small and probably will be slot only.

Then again if a really good WR falls then Oz and Co. will take him because they dont sacrifice value very often, so all i said could have been a moot point lol

You know, that's very true and an aspect i underrated. There is a good amount of ILB's im comfortable with rounds 2-4. Same can be said for the free safety position. NT is interesting because i think it's pretty scarce as far as legit 3-4 nose tackles that could contribute early but it's not like you have to take one in the first to ensure you get one. I like Brandon Williams a lot and he could be had in the 2nd or 3rd, probably 2nd the way he's rising. LT i think you go with a developmental guy like Quessenberry and im keeping an close eye on Luke Marquadt from Asuza Pacific http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profil...rdt?id=2539644

So after careful thought and your post, forget my whole last post lol

I wouldn't say "forget your whole last post." You actually did a really good job of breaking down the overall hierarchy of needs and I agree with the way you presented it 100%. But as you acknowledged, Ozzie will not draft based on the hierarchy of needs; he'll try to fill the needs by taking the best available player at each round. That means that even if ILB is our "worst need" it doesn't need to be our highest pick. I do expect to see them try to address every single position you listed, and I would add WR and interior OL depth to those needs.

If Montgomery falls all the way to 32, something is wrong with the other GM's...

I have heard from many reports that NFL teams are not very high on Montgomery. His own strength and conditioning coach was dogging him and a bunch of other LSU players as not being committed to the weight room and film study, and those are not optional elements of the football player's craft at the NFL level like they are in college. The dude definitely seems to give it 100% on the field, though.

Me personally, I would rank all of the following DEs ahead of Sam Montgomery: 1) Damontre Moore 2) Bjoern Werner 3) Ziggy Ansah 4) Dion Jordan 5) Alex Okafor 6) Barkevious Mingo 7) Datone Jones

[bt12483]

I don't follow college much, but it seems this draft is lacking in Offensive playmakers.

It seems in general to be a draft without a lot of high profile guys in it. I am correct in this opinion?

Personally I think we need to address LB and LT most.

Maybe another TE if Dickson leaves. I am always interested in WR, just because I want Joe to have weapons for the future.

You guys have way more knowledge about college than I do, I am just a pure NFL junkie (fantasy nerd).

Should we just load up on DEF players since we are set at RB, decent at WR (assuming Boldin stays) and good at TE (Pitta)?

[NCRAVEN]

I don't follow college much, but it seems this draft is lacking in Offensive playmakers.

It seems in general to be a draft without a lot of high profile guys in it. I am correct in this opinion?

Personally I think we need to address LB and LT most.

Maybe another TE if Dickson leaves. I am always interested in WR, just because I want Joe to have weapons for the future.

You guys have way more knowledge about college than I do, I am just a pure NFL junkie (fantasy nerd).

Should we just load up on DEF players since we are set at RB, decent at WR (assuming Boldin stays) and good at TE (Pitta)?

I think we should. Our offense is pretty good and plays well together. We do however need a good route runner who can get separation. He may already be here (Thompson, Doss) but I wouldn't mind Austin from WVU if he made it to the second.

If I were in the FO, I would try to resign McKinnie and draft a prospect in the mid-round to replace him. IMO, we have way to many holes on the D-line and up the middle on the LB corps not to go with a D heavy draft.

[NC Raven]

I don't follow college much, but it seems this draft is lacking in Offensive playmakers.

It seems in general to be a draft without a lot of high profile guys in it. I am correct in this opinion?

This generally seems right to me. I'd say there are a ton of B- players, particularly at the positions we most need to deal with (ILB and DL). Seems like the type of draft where the Ravens could excel, especially with 11 picks.

I will go maybe against the grain a little bit (against the majority perhaps) and say we'll do some type of package to either move up in the Second or get another Second or Third in this draft. Don't see anyone in the First we'd move up for, though maybe we'd ,move up 5-6 slots to grab a Hankins, or Elam, if it's getting late in the round and we want, for example, to jump a New England or SF to one of these guys.

I don't know that we need to sign 11 rookies, or that we'd want to even if we needed that many players to fill out the roster.

[jonboy79]

This generally seems right to me. I'd say there are a ton of B- players, particularly at the positions we most need to deal with (ILB and DL). Seems like the type of draft where the Ravens could excel, especially with 11 picks.

I will go maybe against the grain a little bit (against the majority perhaps) and say we'll do some type of package to either move up in the Second or get another Second or Third in this draft. Don't see anyone in the First we'd move up for, though maybe we'd ,move up 5-6 slots to grab a Hankins, or Elam, if it's getting late in the round and we want, for example, to jump a New England or SF to one of these guys.

I don't know that we need to sign 11 rookies, or that we'd want to even if we needed that many players to fill out the roster.

With all of the first round LT's seemingly out of reach, I agree. In my last "mock draftish" thing I posted on the scout board, I had us trading up in rounds 2 and 3. I really think this is a draft to be aggressive, as we have so many picks it's not worth nitpicking on value when there is a desired player on the board. Just reach up and grab him.

Here it is...
My new favorite four round mock that came to mind this morning would be.

Te'o at 32
Trade up in the 2nd for Tavon Austin
Trade up in the thrid for potential LT Quessenberry from San Jose.
and then just ffor giggles, Tyrann Mathieu and TE Michael Williams from Bama with our two comp 4ths.

Other comp picks to be used on a Punter, FB and a NT. And probably a safety in there somewhere, though the Honey Badger may fit in there as well. Or perhaps Corey Gaham moves with the acquisition of Honey Badger. Honey Badger and Webb inside in the dime would be shweeeeeet....

[bmore finest]

I love this thread. I'm not the best at draft breakdowns, but I have all of you.
I'm looking forward to this draft and this thread as we get closer to the draft.

Generally I hoping 3 or 4 rookies play this season coming. What spots is up in air. But I will feel ok if 3 or 4 is giving good Contribution to next year team.

[wickedsolo]

You know, Datone Jones is a real possibility at 32 if he is there.

5 Technique in a 3-4? Check.
Rush the passer? Check.
Set the edge? Check.

6'4" 285lbs.

Kind of like a more all around McPhee.

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[PalladinInNC]

You know, Datone Jones is a real possibility at 32 if he is there.

5 Technique in a 3-4? Check.
Rush the passer? Check.
Set the edge? Check.

6'4" 285lbs.

Kind of like a more all around McPhee.

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Sounds good to me Wicked. Hey, what's your opinion on Faulk as a possible LT prospect (and if so, in what round)?

[Raveninwoodlawn]

You know, Datone Jones is a real possibility at 32 if he is there.

5 Technique in a 3-4? Check.
Rush the passer? Check.
Set the edge? Check.

6'4" 285lbs.

Kind of like a more all around McPhee.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Forum Runner

The more I think about it, the more I'd love to have a shot at Jones.

My top 3 favorites for who I want at the 32nd spot...being realistic as to who may be there are Elam, Jones and Minter...I've really come to like him more and more.

My favorite media/ex scout guy (Daniel Jeremiah apparently really likes Minter as well)...

Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks

I'm watching LSU defense vs Florida…This is a Kevin Minter highlight tape.

RT @YahooForde: He was unbelievable that game. RT @MoveTheSticks I'm watching LSU defense vs Florida…This is a Kevin Minter highlight tape.

Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks

I've see all I need to see from Kevin Minter…Instincts, burst, explosive striker, sorts through the trash, great effort. I'm in. #Draft

Daniel Jeremiah ‏@MoveTheSticks

RT @matt_miz: very good fit for Ravens, no? > When I scouted there, we focused on speed, toughness and instincts. Minter checks all 3 boxes

[The Excellector]

The more I think about it, the more I'd love to have a shot at Jones.

My top 3 favorites for who I want at the 32nd spot...being realistic as to who may be there are Elam, Jones and Minter...I've really come to like him more and more.

My favorite media/ex scout guy (Daniel Jeremiah apparently really likes Minter as well)...

Ray was also an undersized ILB.

[bt12483]

...
Trade up in the 2nd for Tavon Austin

If we still had Cam, I would think he wouldn't know how to use a player like this. But now with Caldwell...my interest is peaked. He would certainly add a new wrinkle to our offense. Local boy, dream come true.

Problem is he kind of overlaps with Jacoby for returns and Rice for screens. But I guess that could be a good problem to have. Austin looks made for the Patriots.

[jonboy79]

If we still had Cam, I would think he wouldn't know how to use a player like this. But now with Caldwell...my interest is peaked. He would certainly add a new wrinkle to our offense. Local boy, dream come true.

Problem is he kind of overlaps with Jacoby for returns and Rice for screens. But I guess that could be a good problem to have.

as much as I like Jacoby, if we are able to draft Austin, then he becomes a bit expensive and superflous... maybe not quite expendable. I guess that's my way of sayingthat if the FO chooses Boldin over Jacoby in a one or the other scenario AND they draft Austin, then I would be happy withthe sum total.

[Carey]

Daniel Jeremiah loves Minter, says when he was scouting here they focus on 3 things with LB's 1. speed 2. toughness 3. instincts and Minter fits the bill. Talks about the Florida game being essentially a Minter highlight reel, which it was, he was tremendous in that game.

[The Excellector]

They have Deonte Thompson and the draft to find developmental return guys who could become outside WRs. I don't think Jacoby Jones survives the off-season as a Raven.

[Boulderraven]

This generally seems right to me. I'd say there are a ton of B- players, particularly at the positions we most need to deal with (ILB and DL). Seems like the type of draft where the Ravens could excel, especially with 11 picks.

I will go maybe against the grain a little bit (against the majority perhaps) and say we'll do some type of package to either move up in the Second or get another Second or Third in this draft. Don't see anyone in the First we'd move up for, though maybe we'd ,move up 5-6 slots to grab a Hankins, or Elam, if it's getting late in the round and we want, for example, to jump a New England or SF to one of these guys.

I don't know that we need to sign 11 rookies, or that we'd want to even if we needed that many players to fill out the roster.

Pretty much agreed with most of this. NO WAY WE TAKE 11 PLAYERS. 11 players is moves wasted and a bunch of cuts. Quality over quanity.

[leachisabeast]

Ozzie made it clear that they will not pass up a good offensive prospect if he is there. By some of the logic here, Ray Rice would not have been taken in the second round and Benard Pierce would not have been taken in the third.

Eddie Lacy?

[leachisabeast]

I'd be more than happy to have Sam Montgomery, Kevin Minter, or Datone Jones as first round picks.

[The Excellector]

Eddie Lacy?

Hey.....you never know.