The Baltimore Ravens are considered perennial draft winners. Ozzie Newsome has made a name for himself when it comes to drafting valuable talent through his draft process since coming to Baltimore in 1996.
The man dubbed “the Wizard” by those around the league met with the media on Wednesday alongside Assistant General Manager Eric DeCosta, Head Coach John Harbaugh, and Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz for the Ravens annual pre-draft press conference.
Ozzie and company were seemingly more open this year than in recent pre-draft pressers about the draft process for the team beginning on April 30.
Among the many topics that were discussed at the event known as the “Liars’ Luncheon”, the front office brass highlighted the need for drafting a playmaker.
Far too often last season the Ravens needed one to step up, and it rarely happened.
Many draft experts have the Ravens selecting either a cornerback or wide receiver with the 26th overall pick.
“Best player available” is a mantra often expressed around the Under Armour Performance Center. Traditionally the Ravens have gone with the best player on their board regardless of need.
Team owner Steve Bisciotti said that the Ravens aren’t desperate for a wide receiver when he spoke to the media earlier last week.
He did mention the need for a tight end, however. He also expressed that it wouldn’t surprise him if the Ravens opted for a pass rusher, given the fact that both Suggs and Dumervil will be another year older in 2015. With Pernell McPhee leaving in free agency, the Ravens will need some youth at the position.
“We take the best player,” said Newsome when asked about drafting defense recently with their first round pick. “It was up until you said that that I didn’t realize we haven’t drafted an offensive player [in the first round] in three years, or three or four years.”
“Since who? (Reporter: “Michael Oher.”) Since Michael Oher, wow. OK. I don’t go in with any preference as to what side of the ball [we choose]. Sometimes there are more needs on defense, and the board is set up that way, so we tend to stay with the board. But I don’t go in with any preconceived ideas that I’m not going to draft offensive players – I’m an offensive player myself – but I do believe you win with defense.”
Two players who fit the bill as a playmaker type are defensive ends Shane Ray and Randy Gregory. Both John Harbaugh and DeCosta spoke in detail about the draft prospects.
“We had a conversation about Shane Ray, which is kind of intriguing. We both like him. What jumps out first of all is his motor, right?” responded Harbaugh. “This guy has an unbelievable motor. He’s going to get plenty of NFL sacks just because he’s going to keep coming relentlessly. And then he’s a leverage rusher with subtle speed to work the edges.
“He can work the edge of an offensive tackle like few other guys. So, he’s an interesting guy.”
The Ravens brass also acknowledged the fact that they haven’t ruled anyone out or off of their big board yet when it comes to a player’s character. Gregory failed a drug test at the NFL Combine for marijuana. DeCosta said that it would likely affect his draft positioning, but the Ravens will consider off-the-field issues on a case by case basis before deeming them draftable or undraftable.
Much like the Gregory case, the Ravens said that they met with cornerback Marcus Peters and wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, both of whom have had off the field issues recently.
“We’ve had both of those guys come to Baltimore, and we’ve been able to do additional work,” stated Newsome when asked about whether their character issues would hinder the team from selecting them. “We will spend next week with basically our third set of meetings with the scouts, and coming out of those meetings we will have a better idea of where players will rank as far as our board is concerned. But, they both have been in the building.”
Wednesday wasn’t an earth shattering news event by any means, but it did shed some light on how the personnel staff viewed some draft prospects. Ozzie won’t ever tip his hand leading up to the draft. He will leaving us all speculating about what the team will do with their first round pick and beyond.
Until then, just respect Ozzie’s draft process.
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