Draft approach

[Ghoulahoo]

In the past the Ravens have drafted best player available. How does that work? Would the following approach be doable. Let's say there are 24 positions to consider, 11 on offense, 11 on defense and a kicker and punter. Before the draft the team evaluates their number one choice at each position. Since they are drafting 29th, odds are that some positions will be duplicated by the 28th pick. Therefore the Ravens are left with their number ones at the positions not yet drafted. Then they rank each position according to need and choose the number one guy left who is highest needed position. One caveat is that even if a position is chosen by another team it may not be the Ravens number one choice for that position so basically it comes down to the number of Ravens' first choices left at number 29 and of those you choose the number one at the highest ranking need. Is that how it works or would the team consider say a second choice at safety higher than a first choice at running back for example?

[mfdoom42]

Best Player Available is a misnomer. Best Player Available Who Also Fits the Philosophy of the Team and a Position That Isn't Already Locked In is more apt, but doesn't really work as a motto.

[HoustonRaven]

Best Player Available is a misnomer. Best Player Available Who Also Fits the Philosophy of the Team and a Position That Isn't Already Locked In is more apt, but doesn't really work as a motto.

+1

[Carey]

Best Player Available is a misnomer. Best Player Available Who Also Fits the Philosophy of the Team and a Position That Isn't Already Locked In is more apt, but doesn't really work as a motto.

Well said, its a blend of bpa, need and value

[Bazooka Joe]

The last three drafts have netted us some decent talent. I noticed the good number of players playing still their rookie deals. What a way to keepthe cap number down.

Many keep wanting to sign a bunch of high end FAs, but the Eagles and Skins and Cowboys show every year that's not the answer.

This draft won't be sexy, but we are in need of big uglies anyways.

[arnie_uk]

the only team totally, blindly BPA is he giants imp, they draft the best player regardless of position and need, see JPP being drafted when they had arguably the best DE tandem in the league already in Tuck and Osi

[The Excellector]

As others have eluded to, Ozzie and his staff use a formula with certain variables that count toward their own percentage of the total formula. Some of those variables are need, how well the player performed in college, how well they expect his skills to translate to the NFL/Ravens, work ethic, off-the-field issues, etc.

That is why, for the most part, you've seen the Ravens take players high that could both be considered the best player available and a player that could fill a 'need'.

[goodandfast]

Best Player Available is a misnomer. Best Player Available Who Also Fits the Philosophy of the Team and a Position That Isn't Already Locked In is more apt, but doesn't really work as a motto.

Exactly. In the social sciences, we call this operationalizing our variable. In this case, 'Who is the Best Player Available?' lacks an objective answer for all parties, so to ensure that people within the organization are clear about what players fall into the BPA category, certain criteria are established that define what BPA means to the Ravens in 2012. Obviously this can be a complicated process, and each of the established criteria then are weighted against each other in the case of each player so that they can be graded and ranked cross-positionally with a fairly high level of confidence that Player A is a better fit than player B and so on and so forth--even if player A is an LB and player B is an Olineman.

[Ravenswintitle]

If you read the book "Next Man Up" it gives some pretty good insight into how the Ravens approach the draft

[Raven 555]

I sure hope Ozzie talks to the WR from Iowa, Marvin McNutt. Great attitude, big hands ran the 40 in 4.42, and is 6'2 3/4".