http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/04/25/michael-irvin-on-janoris-jenkins-cant-play-football-with-choir-boys/ I don't see him ponying up the money to pay these guys with bad character issues. Also in the day of teh cap giving a guy who gets in trouble all the time can distroy a team for yrs. At a lower pick yeah get the guy and if he self destructs who cares.
They had so many breaks go their way last yr so don't put everything on that. Also the D is very old with Ray and Ed. They will both be gone soon and need to have their replacement seasoned and ready to go. Pollard is also in his last yr. He may or may not be the guy at SS going forward. At LT and OC they will need new guys in 2013. Those guys will need seasoning too. To me that is retooling.
By the time this team is ready to go to a SB Ray will be on the downside of his career. They are in a retooling yr now. They will be having to do a major overhaul of the D very soon.
2012 mock draft, take three 29. Ravens: Amini Silatolu, guard, Midwestern State. Silatolu is a mauling run blocker in the Mike Iupati mold. Not a snowballs chance.
I do think the operative word in your post is seem. Yes shifty guys do tend to last longer but really not that much longer. If trading RR would get a SB win would you do it? I would. A trade like this can solve many issues on the franchise for 5 yrs. I would with the trade back go for Doug Martin or Miller in the 2nd round. The OL should be pretty well stocked during this draft with the acquired picks.
Because he has 4 yrs on his tires and RB's average about 3.5 yrs of use in the NFL. Also you would bend Cleveland over for the #4 pick. That one trade could set the Ravens up for a huge run. Would Dallas have won 3 SB's had they not traded Hershel Walker? I very much doubt they would have gotten 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herschel_Walker_trade