ravensfanatic77

When did they sign Jacoby Jones? Pretty sure he just came in for a visit...

If Kruger, Upshaw, and Kindle/McAdoo can't somehow combine to cover both OLB positions, do you all think there is a possibility of moving McClain to OLB to replace Suggs and having Ellerbe or Ayenbadajo play ILB next to Ray?

Do you know what you are talking about? How did we whiff on Hightower? We had no chance to draft him. It makes no sense to spend picks to trade up when you have a bunch of equally rated prospects still available. Furthermore, how in the name of God would you suggest we should have gotten both Hightower and Konz when both went ahead of our original pick slots!? We would have to trade up in both rounds and then we would probably give up all but maybe 1 pick in this draft and probably have to give up a 2nd or a 3rd in next year's draft to complete moves....completely pointless and moronic to give up an entire draft and start using next year's picks. Don't even respond by saying "well New England did it..." they had a ton of ammunition to make the moves they did by stockpiling picks every year by trading down multiple times. I think Pierce not being like Rice is the point! He is a change of pace back that is in the same mold and make up that Ricky Williams was last year; which worked really well for that one year. If you want the same back as ray rice well then look to our UDFA signing of Bobby Rainey from Western Kentucky. We will never know the truth but it seems that the Ravens really weren't as high on Konz as the media made them out to be and are much more content with letting Birk play another 1-2 seasons while grooming Gino Gradkowski to start in 2013 or no later than 2014 depending on Birk's situation.

I tell ya...this draft isn't the sexiest by any means but we got a lot of players that we should be excited about having. Round 2 #35: Courtney Upshaw, OLB will be a starter at OLB from Day 1 and we traded back and still got him. He is an every down OLB that will be able to set the edge against the run and rush the passer. Imagine a package for passing downs that have Suggs, Upshaw, McPhee, Kruger, and Ngata on the field!?! Our pass rush went from a questionable area to an area of strength. Grade A+ Round 2 #60: Kelechi Osemele, OL will likely win the starting LOG vacancy. He has a lot more natural talent than Jah Reid and is just as large. I could envision our line being (left to right) Bryant, Osemele, Birk, Yanda, Oher. That is a lot of beef on the left side and having two mammoth run blockers around Birk will definitely help him in knocking big DT/NT off the line of scrimmage. Grade B+ Round 3 #84: Bernard Pierce, RB will be the top back up to Ray Rice and will essentially be a change of pace back in the same mold as Ricky Williams was. Seems like he was high on the Ravens board as apparently Harbaugh had been texting him about wanting him since day 1 of the draft. Grade B- Round 4 #98: Gino Gradkowski, OG/OC will be the top back up at Center/Guard and hopefully the successor to Matt Birk. He is a gritty, tough, hard nosed O-lineman which exactly what we need and want. If you read some of the information on him on ESPN and CBSsports, they report that he is a smart player that is dedicated. He is a Pittsburgh native that wants to play for the Ravens...ya gotta love it. Grade C+ Initially, I thought that we reached for Gradkowski but if you notice there is a run on Centers early in the 4th round after we picked Gino and before we were on the clock again. Perhaps the Ravens were in the know that the Centers were going to come off the board and Gino was clearly their favorite of the group after Konz and knew if they wanted him they would have to take him with the 98th pick. Round 4 #130: ChristianThompson, S is one of those players that I can see being a small school guy that everyone says Ozzie reached for but turns out to be a solid special teams contributor and eventually a starter. He has a year to learn behind both Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard to absorb as much as he can from them. He is extremely athletic and a solid hitter and could contribute on all special teams. Grade B Round 5 #169: Asa "Ace" Jackson, CB will also add special teams depth and will be in the rotation for KR/PR. He was one of the fastest DB's this year and has great ball skills from the looks of it. He is a tad undersized, but Lardarius Webb isn't that big either. He will be 4th-5th on the depth chart CB and an active special teamer. At the very least, hopefully we are able to find a way to get him on the practice squad if he isn't ready for the 53 man roster. Grade B- Round 6 #198: Tommy Streeter, WR I'm not going to lie, he certainly wasn't my favorite WR in the draft...he wasn't even in my top 8-10 but he fills a major need and he was a huge value pick at the end of the 6th round. Streeter was predicted by many to go in the 2nd-3rd round range; mainly do to his size/speed combination. He's 6'5" and 220 lbs and ran a 4.40 40 at the combine. He only had one productive season at Miami- this past season he had 820 yards with 8 touchdowns. A lot of this can be do to inconsistent QB play at Miami, but there are also some holes in his game. He will need a lot of work on developing his route running and being more physical getting off the line of scrimmage, but he his a huge target with incredible speed- something that the Ravens desperately needed. Grade B+ Round 7 #236: DeAngelo Tyson, DL This is a developmental player who will more than likely find his way onto the practice squad. He has good size at 6'2" 315 lbs and ran a 4.83 40 at his Pro Day. He seems to have underperformed in college and could use some serious coaching to try and bring out his potential. He could potentially be someone who could play as a 5 technique in the 3-4 in a rotation with Art Jones and Pernell McPhee. At best he could see the field in 2 years if he even is on the team still. At this point on the draft I would have preferred taking a flier on Vontaze Burfict but maybe he can come in as a UDFA. Grade D So there you have it. Like I said, not a sexy draft but a good number of guys that will add much needed depth to key positions and special teams and will start in 2012 (Upshaw and Osmele) or in 2013 (Gradkowski and Streeter). The grade I give our draft has a whole is: B-

Settle down HILL-BILLY, let's wait til week 1 before you start making statements about the tide turning. Remember who went 6-0 in the AFC North last year? That's right the Ravens did!!!!

1. Indianapolis Colts (QB, WR, DL, CB, OL)- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 2. Washington Redskins (QB, S, RT, ILB, CB, G/C) (from St. Louis)- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 3. ***TRADE*** Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CB, RB, LB, SS, TE) (from Minnesota)- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (Tampa Bay receives Rd. 1 #3 and Rd. 5 #138; Minnesota receives Rd. 1 #5 and Rd. 2 #36) 4. Cleveland Browns (QB, RB, WR, RT, CB, OLB)- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State 5. Minnesota Vikings (CB, LT, WR, S, G, LB) (from Tampa Bay)- Matt Kalil, OT, USC 6. St. Louis Rams (WR, OL, CB, OLB, DT, RB) (from Washington)- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU 7. ***TRADE*** Philadelphia Eagles (OLB, SS, OT, DT, TE/FB, QB) (from Jacksonville)- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. (Philadelphia receives Rd. 1 #7; Jacksonville receives Rd. 1 #15, Rd. 2 #51, and Rd. 5 #153 pick) 8. Miami Dolphins (QB, WR, DE, T/G, S, OLB)- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 9. Carolina Panthers (DT, CB, DE, WR, OLB, OL)- Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina 10. ***TRADE*** Dallas Cowboys (G/C, CB, OLB, SS, DE, TE) (from Buffalo)- Mark Barron, S, Alabama (Dallas receives Rd. 1 #10; Buffalo receives Rd. 1 #14 and Rd. 3 #81) 11. Kansas City Chiefs (NT, LG, S, DE, CB, WR)- Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College 12. Seattle Seahawks (DE, LB, WR, RB)- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina 13. Arizona Cardinals (OT, WR, OLB, DE, S)- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 14. Buffalo Bills (LT, WR, OLB, CB, QB) (from Dallas)- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame 15. Jacksonville Jaguars (DE, WR, CB, RT) (from Philadelphia)- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina 16. New York Jets (OLB, WR, S, RT, RB, LB)- Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse 17. Cincinnati Bengals (RG, WR, CB, DE, SS, RB)- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 18. San Diego Chargers (OLB, S, CB, RB, OL, DE)- David Decastro, OG, Stanford 19. Chicago Bears (OL, DE, CB, WR, DT, S)- Whitney Mericlus, DE/OLB, Illinois 20. ***TRADE*** Houston Texans (WR, LB, G/T, CB, NT) (from Tennessee)- Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia (Houston receives Rd. 1 #20 and Rd. 4 #115; Tennessee receives Rd. 1 #26 and Rd. 3 #76) 21. Cincinnati Bengals (RG, WR, CB, DE, SS, RB)- Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 22. Cleveland Browns (QB, RB, WR, RT, CB, OLB)- Doug Martin, RB, Boise St. 23. Detroit Lions (CB, RB, OL, LB, S)- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (G/T, NT, ILB, CB, WR, RB)-Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis 25. Denver Broncos (DT, RB, CB, WR, G/C, QB)- Michael Brokers, DT, LSU 26. Tennessee Titans (CB, DE, C, OLB, S) (from Houston)- Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin 27. New England Patriots (DE, OLB, S, WR, CB, DL, G/C)- Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama 28. Green Bay Packers (OLB, FS, DE, RB, CB, C, QB)- Shea Mcclellin, OLB, Boise St. 29. Baltimore Ravens (G/C, OLB, ILB, WR, S, DL)- Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama 30. San Francisco 49ers (RG, WR, S, CB, RB, OLB)- Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin 31. ***TRADE*** Cleveland Browns (QB, RB, WR, RT, CB, OLB (from New England)- Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklamhoma St. (Cleveland receives Rd. 1 #31; New England receives Rd. 2 #37 and Rd. 4 #118, and Rd. 5 #160) 32. New York Giants (RB, OL, TE, LB, CB, WR)- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Agreed he is a small school prospect that is likely a project at OG. Not a good pass protector either. Probably wouldn't beat out Jah Reid for LG. Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin is a more NFL ready OG.

McAdoo better put on some LB's. 6'7" and only 245 lbs? That's crazy!

Zebrie Sanders is a chump...not impressed...NO THANKS!

The following is my 2012 NFL Draft mock 1st round. Please note that in parenthesis are team needs per the draft guru himself, Mel Kiper. As far as referencing a player ranking system, I used the other draft guru's, Todd McShay's, player rankings from espn.com (Insider). As you can see, not all players selected appear in his "Top 32," but as well all know not every team sticks to their board and need often outweighs BPA philosophy. Trade scenarios are based off standard NFL Draft pick value chart. Please enjoy and comment. I take positive and negative criticism...so lay it on me. GO RAVENS! 1. Indianapolis Colts (QB, WR, DL, CB, OL)- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford 2. Washington Redskins (QB, S, RT, ILB, CB, G/C) (from St. Louis)- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor 3. ***TRADE*** Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CB, RB, LB, SS, TE) (from Minnesota)- Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (Tampa Bay receives Rd. 1 #3 and Rd. 5 #138; Minnesota receives Rd. 1 #5 and Rd. 2 #36) 4. Cleveland Browns (QB, RB, WR, RT, CB, OLB)- Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State 5. Minnesota Vikings (CB, LT, WR, S, G, LB) (from Tampa Bay)- Matt Kalil, OT, USC 6. St. Louis Rams (WR, OL, CB, OLB, DT, RB) (from Washington)- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU 7. ***TRADE*** New York Jets (OLB, WR, S, RT, RB, LB) (from Jacksonville)- Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina (New York Jets receive Rd. 1 #7; Jacksonville receives Rd. 1 #16, Rd. 2 #47, and 2013 Rd. 4 pick) 8. Miami Dolphins (QB, WR, DE, T/G, S, OLB)- Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M 9. Carolina Panthers (DT, CB, DE, WR, OLB, OL)- Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. 10. ***TRADE*** Philadelphia Eagles (OLB, SS, OT, DT, TE/FB, QB) (from Buffalo)- Mark Barron, S, Alabama (Philadelphia receives Rd. 1 #10 and Rd. 3 #71; Buffalo receives Rd. 1 #15, Rd. 2 #46, and Rd. 4 #114) 11. Kansas City Chiefs (NT, LG, S, DE, CB, WR)- David Decastro, OG, Stanford 12. Seattle Seahawks (DE, LB, WR, RB)- Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College 13. Arizona Cardinals (OT, WR, OLB, DE, S)- Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame 14. Dallas Cowboys (G/C, CB, OLB, SS, DE, TE)- Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina 15. Buffalo Bills (LT, WR, OLB, CB, QB) (from Philadelphia)- Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa 16. Jacksonville Jaguars (DE, WR, CB, RT) (from New York Jets)- Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina 17. Cincinnati Bengals (RG, WR, CB, DE, SS, RB)- Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse 18. San Diego Chargers (OLB, S, CB, RB, OL, DE)- Shea Mcclellin, OLB, Boise St. 19. Chicago Bears (OL, DE, CB, WR, DT, S)- Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama 20. ***TRADE*** Houston Texans (WR, LB, G/T, CB, NT) (from Tennessee)- Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia (Houston receives Rd. 1 #20 and Rd. 4 #115; Tennessee receives Rd. 1 #26 and Rd. 3 #76) 21. Cincinnati Bengals (RG, WR, CB, DE, SS, RB)- Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech 22. Cleveland Browns (QB, RB, WR, RT, CB, OLB)- Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford 23. Detroit Lions (CB, RB, OL, LB, S)- Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama 24. Pittsburgh Steelers (G/T, NT, ILB, CB, WR, RB)- Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis 25. Denver Broncos (DT, RB, CB, WR, G/C, QB)- Michael Brokers, DT, LSU 26. Tennessee Titans (CB, DE, C, OLB, S) (from Houston)- Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin 27. New England Patriots (DE, OLB, S, WR, CB, DL, G/C)- Courtney Upshaw, OLB, Alabama 28. Green Bay Packers (OLB, FS, DE, RB, CB, C, QB)- Doug Martin, RB, Boise St. 29. Baltimore Ravens (G/C, OLB, ILB, WR, S, DL)- Dont’a Hightower, ILB, Alabama 30. San Francisco 49ers (RG, WR, S, CB, RB, OLB)- Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor 31. New England Patriots (DE, OLB, S, WR, CB, DL, G/C)- Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame 32. New York Giants (RB, OL, TE, LB, CB, WR)- Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford

Thank god you aren't running the show in the draft room! This dude is a complete moron...how in hell do you test positive on a drug screen at the combine? Everyone knows they are going to be tested, yet you still can resist the urge to smoke a bowl?!?!?! Honest to god you must be a borderline mentally retarded invidiual to do something so blatently stupid. Call me crazy but someone who is that idiotic has no business protecting my QB's blindside...at least not as a 1st round selection. I would be shocked if he was drafted in the 1st round by anyone and if the Ravens draft him then I would say the whole Front Office will need to be drug tested!

I agree with Mel...try and trade down do somewhere between 33-40 and pick up at least an early 4th round pick. Some solid prospects will still be on the board at that time and will repesent more value ifselected then.

Maybe we can trade him on draft day for a 4th or 5th rounder...especially if we luck out and have Hightower fall to us.

I don't get the Dennis Dixon tryout...does he really offer anything else that we don't already have in Tyrod Taylor?

No no no to Mike Adams...dude will be a bust. Hightower is a dream pick would love to see him there. Cordy Glenn would be acceptable as well. Harrison Smith would be a solid pick too. Ben Jones doesn't really carry a 2nd round grade in my book. There is a huge drop off in talent at the OC position after Konz and I wouldn't look at either of them until 3rd round at the earliest. Bobby Massie is starting to be mentioned as a late first rounder, but no later than mid 2nd rounder. I agree that if Burfict is around at our comp pick in the 5th round or later he should be considered. We have enough veterans and a great coaching staff to tame his wild ass. If not, cut him and you don't lose much. Rishaw Johnson is a bum...don't want anything to do with him...not even as a 7th rounder...only would be willing to accept him as an UDFA and even then he has no chance of making the roster and probably not even the practice squad. He is a bum and a MORON...take a look at the Combine footage of him. Mental error after mental error...NO THANKS!