Ravens in Unfamiliar Position for NFL Draft

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta finds himself in unfamiliar territory.

The team has just five picks in the 2023 NFL draft, which is unusual because DeCosta usually likes to stockpile picks. It would surprise no one if sports bookmakers Canada actually offers a prop bet on DeCosta expanding his treasure chest of draft capital.

That possibility notwithstanding, the Ravens sent their second-round and fifth-round picks to the Chicago Bears in exchange for linebacker Roquan Smith. Another seventh-round pick went to the New York Giants as part of the deal for guard Ben Bredeson in 2021.

The addition of Smith changed the fortunes of the entire defense so there are no regrets with that decision. Losing a seventh rounder is also not that concerning.

DeCosta is preaching quality over quantity if the Ravens do indeed move forward with the five picks. It’s their fewest selections since 1999 when the team had just four picks.

However, former GM Ozzie Newsome hit the jackpot with all four of those selections because each became an impact player.

“Every Draft is different,” DeCosta said. “Ultimately, we’d love to have more picks; I think most years we do. Sometimes what we find is if you have too many picks over a three or four-year span, it’s hard for all those guys to make the team and contribute. I go back to, there was a draft many years ago where I think [executive vice president and former general manager] Ozzie [Newsome] had four picks.

“[It was] one of our best Drafts. [In 1999], I think we took [Chris] McAlister, Brandon Stokley, Edwin Mulitalo and there was one other guy [Anthony Poindexter]. It was a hell of a Draft; it was a hell of a Draft; every single guy contributed right away. My goal, my mentality is to take every one of those picks this year and nail every single one of those picks.”

The Lamar era has been exciting as hell, but also frustrating, and has produced just one playoff win.

Now as the "will he stay or will he go" drama drags on, @BenDackiw, like much of #RavensFlock, just wants an answer ASAP. https://t.co/9m7SuYwxki

— Russell St. Report (@RussellStReport) January 24, 2023

One of those five picks in the 2023 draft will likely be a cornerback. The Ravens admitted they can never have too much depth at that position.

The team recently claimed cornerback Trayvon Mullen off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys. Mullen is also the cousin of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and has valuable NFL experience.

Mullen was a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft by the Raiders from Clemson. He has 150 tackles and four interceptions over 46 career NFL games (31 starts). He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals this past season and was later released and picked up by the Cowboys last month.

Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters is a free agent. The team has not ruled out bringing him back, but DeCosta likes some of the other defensive backs on the roster.

“At some point, Marcus and I will probably speak,” DeCosta said. “His agent, Doug Henderickson, is one of the best in the business as well. Regarding the corner position, we’re a team that always feels like you can never have enough good corners. So, I would expect that at some point in free agency and/or the Draft, we’ll try to augment that position. I think we’ve got some good, young, promising players for sure. Jalyn Armour-Davis, we drafted ‘Pepe’ [Damarion Williams] this year as well; both of those guys we think have bright futures. Brandon Stephens was playing his best football late in the year, and we’re excited about his progression and growth as well.

“We had some other guys this year that stepped up, too, as well – Daryl Worley is a guy that played well; he’s a free agent. Kevon Seymour. Kyle Fuller – a free agent – played really well in Week 1 before his knee injury, unfortunately. There’s always the potential that some of those guys could return as well.”