No you didn’t hear it wrong as the Ravens selected tight end Crockett Gillmore with their final third round pick in the the 2014 NFL Draft.
While many including myself couldn’t have imagined that, Gillmore, the 6’6 260 pound is ready to get started in the Ravens offense led by Gary Kubiak from the ground up.
“From the bottom. You’ve got to work your way in,” Gillmore stated in his conference call with the Baltimore media last night.
“It’s a league where nothing is given to you. I plan on coming in to learn from Owen Daniels and Dennis Pitta and really being involved in that room to do everything I can to come in and help the team. We want to win games, so that’s our goal.
Gillmore is no stranger to adjusting to adversity on the football field. Recruited to play tight end at Colorado State, Gillmore converted to defensive end in 2010 shortly before the season opener, filling an injury void.
His 2011 season took another turn when just nine days before Colorado State’s spring game he made the switch back to tight end. Not only did Gillmore secure the starting tight end role he went on to lead the Rams in in receiving.
The signing of Crockett fills a need for a blocking tight end, something Gillmore alluded to as a strength of his.
“My strength as a player is getting anything [going] with my hands,” he stated. While Crockett did mention his weakness was getting that first initial step, is certainly something that is coachable.
Head coach John Harbaugh reiterated that point as well.
“Crockett is a good blocker. But I’ll tell you what, the guy is a good receiver downfield, too,” Harbaugh stated.
“When you see him running the crossing routes and the stuff downfield, he’s a big target and he’s got very good hands. So, he’s got the potential to be a very complete tight end, if that speaks to what you’re talking about.”
Thought to be a later round pick by many pundits, Gillmore was happy to picked even at the end of the third round.
“I knew Baltimore’s needs and and a few others teams’ [needs], and they’re alright at the end of the third round,” Gillmore stated.
“It was a good opportunity to be drafted there. You don’t want to be disappointed; I don’t know if you can be disappointed by the fact you’re being drafted in general. But to have this opportunity is unbelievable. I’m very excited to be a Raven.”
The Ravens have now filled holes by adding a linebacker, safety, tight end and defensive tackle over the last two days.
The team will enter into the final day of the draft with needs still at the right tackle position, running back and back-up quarterback position, all of which they will likely fill today by the draft’s end.
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