thundercleetz

One more thought: as much as this will be seen as a need pick, make no doubt this was a BPA pick as well. Going into the draft we knew the small group of guys that could realistically be available and would present value to the Ravens at their pick: Marcus Peters, Bud Dupree, and Shane Ray. All three guys were off the board. Perriman IMO was by far the best remaining option, so I believe Ozzie when he said if Perriman was gone, he would have traded out. Btw, if Jaelen Strong is so good, why did the Eagles and Colts pass on Strong as well, and take another receiver? Makes me think there are either red flags on the wrist, or his lack of ability to create separation is alarming to teams.

Seemed like Perriman had a good feeling the Ravens were the team: @RavensInsider: Breshad Perriman 'I feel like football has always been in my blood' said Ravens was 'my best visit, that was the team I wanted to play for' Here's a pre draft interview with Perriman on a Ravens podcast: http://www.purplereignshow.com/2015/03/12/purple-reign-show-3-12-15-ravens-podcast

This pick will receive a lot of criticism, and justifiably so. Yes, Perriman has holes in his game. However, when it comes to WR the Ravens needed to make a pick like this and take a chance. We've tried the safe route before and it hasn't worked. If we are going to draft a WR in the first round and have him be a bust, I'd rather it be on a physical freak like Perriman than a smaller guy with limited potential like Mark Clayton. There are similarities to Torrey Smith. However, Perriman offers a whole lot more. Perriman is a tank when he gets the ball in his hands, he doesn't go down easily. While Perriman's hands are suspect (got better as the college season went on), he has very good body control when adjusting to passes. He also has a fairly large catch radius. What I don't think people realized about Torrey was he had small hands by WR standards, which explains why he body caught the ball so much and wouldn't go up for balls. This shouldn't be a problem with Perriman as he has bigger hands and will high point balls. Remember, as fast as Torrey was, Perriman is at least a step faster, as well as being an inch taller with ten more pounds of bulk. Truly a physical specimen. Perriman is also a much better run blocker than Torrey. Perriman might initially be used in a Torrey-like capacity, but I think has the potential (key word, potential) to be a #1 receiver in the mold of Josh Gordon, with a downside potential of a Kenny Britt. When you look at all the teams that Perriman could have gone to: we are probably the best fit. Obviously matching Perriman's speed with Flacco's arm is a given. Perriman will be on a team with fellow UCF WR Kamar Aiken. I am sure Bobby Engram was a part of the draft evaluation of Perriman. We wouldn't have taken Perriman if Engram, and the other coaches, did not feel his weaknesses were coachable. You don't see the Ravens take these types of risks in the draft. We usually draft guys heavy on college production and generally considered safe picks. With that said, I do not think Perriman will be a starter for us off the bat. I see Aiken as the X, Split End, and Steve Smith as the Z, flanker. Perriman will see the field as the X in situations where he will be able to get open deep or on crossing patterns that allow him to take advantage of his YAC abilities. The press in the NFL is on a much different level than college. If we throw him out there as the full time X he will struggle. However, pick your spots with some off man coverages, or some soft zones, and we'll give him the opportunities to use his speed and blow by the coverage, even winning some jump balls down the field. Perriman will be put in the best position to succeed and develop. I think Torrey was seen coming out of the draft limited as a one dimensional but really good #2 receiver, which is why he fell to the second round despite a great combine and a solid junior year. Perriman has #1 receiver potential. Now the likelihood that he will reach it, that's debatable... As a risk taker myself, I LOVE the pick!

Do we start thinking of trading up for Parker? Is this the draft topic????

This division is wide open. Each team has weaknesses. The walk off HR last night was a big momentum changer for us. If we lost that game things could have gotten really bad for us. Great to see us follow up a close walk off win with a big game offensively. Jimmy Paredes is killing it. He performed well for us at the end of last season, he had a great spring and is raking in the majors. Hopefully he can keep up a high level of play this season. He is a big guy with good speed.

I would be all for drafting Marcus Peters or Kevin Johnson. After last year, a team can never have too many quality corners. Peters would be great. Peters and Smith on the outside as press corners, Webb moves into the slot. Certainly gives us options to being the blitz.

Interesting read on how the NFL can improve its scheduling: http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/166141/inside-slant-innovating-the-nfl-schedule

Considering the deals going around this year, I would say Jimmy Smith is certainly worth the money. Darrelle Revis - 5-years, $70M+ with $39M guaranteed Byron Maxwell - 6-years, $63M with $25M guaranteed Chris Culliver - 4-years, $32M with $16M guaranteed http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agents/cornerback/

@PFF: Before his injury last season #Ravens CB Jimmy Smith was 2nd amongst all CBs, allowing just 0.57 Yards Per Coverage Snap

Marcus Peters

AJ is LOCKED IN! What a streak he's on! Really tough to see Schoop go down. I feel he was close to breaking out and could have hit 25 HRs for us.

This topic is an incredible read! I have no idea how you know all of this, but yes, you should definitely write a book, TBird!

I would rather draft a couple of receivers and go into training camp with an open competition of what we have.

I'm sure that "source" that said the Ravens were interested was Crabtree's agent. You don't think Harbaugh called his brother to ask about Crabtree? If Crabtree was a worthwhile gamble Harbaugh would be the first to know. We didn't even bring him in for a visit. Glad we passed...

Awesome post TBird. I watched some highlights of Jones and the guy had a rope for a right arm. Sounds like the type of player that could have played and been a star in any era. Were the expectations high for the Colts going into the 1978 season? I'd imagine after solid 76 and 77 seasons having a 27 year old MVP at QB, Jones was expected to take that next step and be on his way to an all time great.

I'm reading about Bert Jones. This is from his wiki page: "The widely respected scout Ernie Accorsi is quoted as saying that if Bert Jones had played under different circumstances, he probably would have been the greatest player ever. John Riggins has been quoted as saying Bert was the toughest competitor he has ever witnessed. On the eve of Super Bowl XLII New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, in discussing his choices for the greatest quarterbacks of all time, described Jones as the best "pure passer" he ever saw." An NFL MVP at 25 years old. The guy seemed like a stud. For the old timers here: how good were those Colts teams from 1975-1977? I saw they got demolished by the Steelers twice in the playoffs, and lost a heart breaker to the Raiders. Were those teams serious Super Bowl contenders? Seems like a real shame how injuries got to him in 1978 and 1979. Was he just not the same when he came back in 1980?

Makes my head explode. Jai Reid has been one of my least favorite Ravens right up there with David Reed and Terrance Cody. Reid was actually a negative asset to us last year considering he put Urban on the IR in training camp.

I agree. Would have liked to see Irsay leave the history in Baltimore, but what can you do?

I like Diggs a lot. I think he could contribute immediately as a slot receiver. Not the tallest guy but large catching radius with enormous mitts.

Mid-second to early-third rounder? It will depend on when the run of receivers happens.

Very similar physical numbers to Odell Beckham Jr. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/wp/2015/02/19/stefon-diggs-flashes-his-inner-odell-beckham-jr-with-one-handed-catches/

You're missing the point here: because of age Yanda might be worth $4M a year while someone gives KO $9M a year (just giving an example on the numbers not accurate). Yanda's bonus will be significantly less than KO's. No way Yanda gets a five year deal with a big bonus number, as you use in yor example. If he demands that, we'll let him go for a comp pick.

I was talking money wise. Length is irrelevant as long as it's structured right. But yes, if the money is equal I would obviously take KO. However, the money will not be equal.

The effects of being in the Big Ten! The Under Armour influence l, and it's emergence in the basketball world (MVP candidate Seth Curry is UA's biggest name), doesn't hurt either. The Big Ten is a national conference. Terps wouldn't have gotten this caliber of prospect in the ACC.

Yanda is probably cheaper to extend at this point in his career. I could see someone giving KO silly money like Bem Grubbs a few years back.