Did the Ravens add Steelers kryptonite in Weddle? One Pittsburgh fan thinks so. The Ravens could miss at cornerback if they don’t take one of the top five. A former Baltimore writer ranks the CB prospects so we know who those are. We look at two potential reasons to trade the sixth pick besides what we’ve already covered. RB Richardson is ready to get things started. A Ravens’ target retires.
Ravens May Have Added Steelers’ Latest Kryptonite in Eric Weddle
As I was preparing this version of Ravens Links, I thought I had a decent but not great version of links. Oh boy, did that change. As I was getting ready to post, this gem came across my alerts. If you’ll recall, a Steelers fan received some coverage for his hilarious build-up of excitement to sign Eric Weddle, which even included writing a letter to the safety. It all came crashing down when his team’s most hated rival signed the free agent he coveted most. How tragic.
Now, Steelers Depot writer Matthew Marczi looks at the struggles on the back end of both the Raven and Steeler defenses. He says Weddle may be Steelers kryptonite in more ways than one. Nothing makes me quite as happy as an upset Steelers fan. So rather than get too much into it, I’ll let you read for yourself:
Weddle’s presence figures to do much more than simply add a quality player to the defensive backfield. His veteran leadership, experience, and mere presence will have a sort of settling effect on what has been an unstable secondary for the past few seasons—which is just what Pittsburgh was looking for.
Only not at that same price tag. But the price of not signing him now is that, rather than seeing him on a weekly basis, in a black and gold uniform, the Steelers will now be getting a look at him two or three times a year, for at least the next couple of years, donning Ravens purple.
Pittsburgh just got some of its kryptonite out of the AFC North to the AFC West when Bengals safety Reggie Nelson signed with the Raiders; now, perhaps, the AFC North has imported yet another from out west. Whether that is with key interceptions or simply preventing the Steelers from finding stability in the secondary.
Poetry. Sheer poetry.
If Ravens don’t grab corner by second round, they could miss out
The cornerback market looks a little volatile right now for the Ravens with the 36th pick. If history is any indication, though, they can’t wait much longer than that to grab a good one. As Eric DeCosta said, “If history’s any indicator, every legitimate starting-type corner is going to be off the board midway through the third round.”
Cliff Brown, who was a part of our media round-table discussion this week, lists the potential options for the second round. If you look at mock drafts lately, Mackensie Alexander and Will Redmond seem the most likely to be available past the first round.
Ranking the top 5 cornerbacks in the 2016 NFL Draft
For another perspective on cornerbacks, let’s turn to the Eagles Wire and Turron Davenport. You may recognize the name of the writer. He used to cover the Ravens. Now writing for USA Today’s Eagles page, he lists the five best corners in the draft. In order, he says they are Vernon Hargreaves, Mackensie Alexander, William Jackson, Kendall Fuller, and Tavon Young. I like Jackson more than Alexander, personally. Jackson led the nation with 28 passes defended.
Small-school phenom Victor Ochi draws NFL scouts to suburbs
Rich Cimini of ESPN was at the Stony Brook pro day a couple of weeks ago. You’re probably wondering, “What the hell is Stoney Brook?” It’s the alma mater of Will Tye, tight end for the New York Giants, and where small-school prospect DE Victor Ochi played his college ball. Ochi was stiff in the hips in his drops to coverage, but the game film shows a strong pass rusher with a relentless motor. As Kyle Casey said in Tale of the Tape, he may be the best day three pass rusher.
3 draft-day trade scenarios for the Ravens
Jason Hirschhorn of Baltimore Sports and Life looks at three different angles for potential trades for the Ravens. The first one – fielding offers from teams looking to jump the 49ers – was covered yesterday and a couple of weeks ago in greater detail. The second two are newer to this site. He looks at the possibility of a team like the Falcons trading up for a player like Myles Jack. He also looks at the possibility of the Ravens not liking the value for the sixth pick.
Former No. 3 overall pick Trent Richardson says he’ll sign with Ravens
We’ve heard about the “unofficial agreement” between Trent Richardson and the Ravens. Now, we hear it from the man himself. In an interview with Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun, Richardson said he is ready to tell his kids that he’s going back to work. “I can’t wait,” Richardson said. “I feel like I did when I left home from high school to go to college. To me, it’s about earning an opportunity that they gave him.”
Filed to ESPN: Jets LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson is retiring today after 10 seasons, per sources. Only 32. Completely healthy. A stunner. #nyj
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) April 8, 2016
D’Brickashaw Ferguson was one of the players who captured the Ravens’ interest at left tackle. Now, he appears to be off the market.
