ExtremeRavens Posted Tuesday at 08:11 PM Posted Tuesday at 08:11 PM With the start of the NFL draft just over a week away, the clock is nearly ticking for the Ravens. Baltimore held its third set of draft meetings last week, this one including the coaching staff. With 11 picks this year, there are plenty of players for them to hone in on. Tuesday in Owings Mills, general manager Eric DeCosta and coach John Harbaugh met with reporters to discuss this year’s draft at the organization’s annual and colloquially dubbed “liars’ luncheon.” It of course draws that moniker because Baltimore is not revealing its plans for the draft, which will take place April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Still, at least some things could be gleaned from the 40-minute session. Defensive line a ‘priority’ With the retirement of Michael Pierce and Brent Urban hitting free agency and turning 34 next month, the Ravens are a bit thin along the defensive front. Put bluntly, it seems all but certain they’ll add to the position in this year’s draft. “I think it’s certainly a priority,” DeCosta said. “This is a fairly deep defensive line class. We’ve always been a team that wants to be big and strong and powerful on both sides of the line.” It helps that Baltimore already has Nnamdi Madubuike, the ascending Travis Jones and sometimes-starter and veteran Broderick Washington. Beyond them, however, there is no one who has played more than one season. And of that group — Adedayo Odeleye, Basil Okoye and C.J. Ravenell — none have appeared in a game, which could lead the Ravens to look at someone like Oregon’s Derrick Harmon with their first-round pick (27th overall). Left tackles don’t ‘grow on trees’ The logic to re-signing left tackle Ronnie Stanley to a contract extension ahead of the start of free agency was simple. “Left tackles don’t grow on trees,” DeCosta said. “I think Ronnie had one of his best years last year. Looking out at the draft and free agency, we just didn’t really see a lot of guys that we felt that were better than him.” Still, Baltimore needs depth along the offensive line and with DeCosta adding that the class is deep at both tackle and guard, it seems almost certain they will add one if not more players, including perhaps a swing tackle after losing Patrick Mekari in free agency. Said DeCosta: “I think that if you’re looking at the offensive line, the defensive line and the outside linebackers as a whole, I would say that they’re the three of the strongest positions in this draft class.” Edge also a need The Ravens return their outside linebacker group from a year ago — including Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, who had 12 1/2 and 10 sacks respectively. Still, it’s a position of need, with only Tavius Robinson and David Ojabo, who struggled last season, next in line behind them. It’s also what DeCosta called a “good” class, particularly in the early and middle rounds. As for how he eyes traits versus production of a potential player? “It’s a cocktail,” he said. “You try to get the full depth of who that player might be. I’m a big fan of production … I think production speaks to consistency and doing it over and over again. “However, there are some really good players that for whatever reason might not be productive.” One player who fits that mold, for example, is Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart, who has met with the Ravens but could be off the board by the time Baltimore picks at No. 27 after a big performance at the NFL scouting combine. The Ravens see the depth of the 2025 draft class similarly to the 2022 class, in which they picked tight end Isaiah Likely in the fourth round. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Draft depth likened to 2022 The last time the Ravens had 11 picks in the draft was in 2022. That class was fruitful, early and later on. Baltimore got future All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th overall pick, future Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum 25th, defensive tackle Travis Jones in Round 3, and offensive lineman Daniel Faalele and tight ends Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely in Round 4. While this year’s class isn’t as front-loaded, the expectation is to find meaningful contributors in the middle rounds. DeCosta said the Ravens have 217 players as draftable — a big number when there have been some years that they’ve struggled to have 160. “That means that the mid rounds are going to be really good,” DeCosta said. “Also I think that undrafted free agency should have a chance to be really really good for us.” But with a roster that’s already deep, it also means that the Ravens likely won’t have all 11 draft picks make the team. Ravens continue to keep eye on kickers With uncertainty continuing to swirl around Justin Tucker, who is being investigated by the NFL over sexual misconduct claims by several massage therapists, DeCosta didn’t rule out the possibility that Baltimore will use a draft pick on a kicker — something the organization has never done. Asked if he thinks it’s worth using a pick on the position, he replied in the affirmative. “It’s worth it if you have the right kicker,” he said. “It should be said that some of the greatest kickers of all time weren’t drafted. There’s no blueprint for finding a kicker, except you gotta be able to evaluate the kicker.” That’s something that senior special teams coach Randy Brown has continued to do, DeCosta said. Ravens mum on Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry extensions Earlier this offseason, DeCosta said he might visit quarterback Lamar Jackson in South Florida in regards to a potential contract extension, something that he and others in the organization have also discussed internally. Where those talks stand, however, remains unknown, which of course is how DeCosta likes to keep things. Though he did concede the two have texted and had a “conversation” as the team readies for the draft. “Didn’t get into specific players,” DeCosta said. “We talked a little bit about the roster and what he’s up to and his vision.” He was equally non-forthcoming about a possible extension for running back Derrick Henry, who is in the final year of his two-year contract, and how that could pertain to the draft. “We have a lot of [different] balls in the air right now,” DeCosta said. “Aside from the draft we’re looking at free agents on the street, looking at re-signing our own guys. “We’ll also continue to build a roster after the draft. … There will be some good opportunities to fill holes after draft.” DeCosta remains noncommittal about Mark Andrews’ future DeCosta was asked bluntly if he fully expects tight end Mark Andrews, who is in the final year of his contract, to be on the roster this season and stopped short of simply saying yes. “Oh man, I never know what’s gonna happen,” he said before heaping praise on the Ravens’ all-time leading scorer. “He’s a great player, and we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can.” Andrews has been the subject of trade speculation this offseason, particularly with fellow tight end and the ascending Likely entering his fourth season and thus extension eligible. It’s still possible the Ravens could look to deal Andrews ahead of or during the draft for the right offer. But that is not a path they have generally taken (though they did deal wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals a few days before the 2022 draft). Safety Ar'Darius Washington is likely to remain in Baltimore as a restricted free agent. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Ar’Darius Washington likely to remain with Ravens Friday marks the deadline for restricted free agent safety Ar’Darius Washington to sign an offer sheet with another team, something that appears less likely with each passing hour. “I’m fairly confident he will be back,” DeCosta acknowledged. Either way, though, he doesn’t see it impacting their decision making when it comes to the draft and all but said the obvious: that Baltimore will likely use picks on the cornerback and safety positions. “Corner is critical, important position,” he said. “They’re like Bugattis, they just break down.” DeCosta also said that they’d look at safeties to add to a group that includes second-year players Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade, both of whom were core special teamers last season. Punt returner possibilities With the Ravens’ well-documented struggles on punt returns last season, will they look to draft a wide receiver or player at another position with that capability? “It’d be nice,” DeCosta said, before Harbaugh raised his hand with a big smile and added, “I am.” To the point, special teams coordinator Chris Horton Jr. has bene ranking prospects from first to worst when it comes to return skills. The Ravens do have some internal options — most notably wide receiver Tylan Wallace, who had the job before losing it last season — but it’s clear they haven’t made up their mind on the position and DeCosta said they want a “high ceiling” when it comes to the role. Deadline approaching for Hamilton, Linderbaum With Hamilton and Lindernbaum entering the final year of their rookie contracts, the Ravens have until May 1 to decide whether to pick up their fifth-year options. With each having been selected to two Pro Bowls, doing so wouldn’t come cheap. Hamilton would cost $18.6 million, while Linderbaum would ring in at $23.4 million. DeCosta, unsurprisingly, was mum on what Baltimore plans to do. Given Hamilton’s skill set and importance to the defense, though, picking up his would seem like a no-brainer as he’ll likely reset the safety market with an extension that would top the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Antoine Winfield’s $84.1 million contract that has an average annual value of over $21 million. As for Linderbaum, the Ravens could hold off until next offseason and use the franchise tag on the center, which they could then pull while working out a long-term extension should they go that route. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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