Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager, has graded the top eight college football players in the country in preparation for the NFL Draft on April 26, but the one the team covets most remains a mystery.
Cornerback, quarterback and offensive tackle are major needs for the Ravens, who went 5-11 last season, a year after going 13-3 and winning the AFC North Division.
The top players who could be available when the Ravens are on the clock are Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin and Boise State offensive tackle Ryan Clady. But the Ravens gave no indication who they will take when their key decision makers met with the media at the team?s headquarters at Owings Mills on Tuesday.
“The wounds from last season are fresh. It was a very trying season for me personally. We have nine picks and they are all valuable,” Eric DeCosta, the Ravens director of college scouting, said. “In last year?s draft, I didn?t feel we would be able to address too many needs. There were big holes in the middle of the draft board. This year there are small holes, but there are a lot more players.”
And if history is any indication, the first player the Ravens draft likely will be a good one. Since arriving in Baltimore, 10 of the team?s 14 first-round picks are still on the its roster, and of the team?s 70 draft picks since 1999, 30 are still on the roster ? the highest percentage in the NFL.
Newsome said he feels no added pressure to find talented players in this year?s draft after the team missed the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, leading to the dismissal of Coach Brian Billick.
“The pressure I have on myself is that I still have a bitter taste in my mouth from last year?s record,” Newsome said. “I lost a very dear friend in Brian. I think it?s upon me to do everything I can to get this organization back to where it belongs ? and that?s on top of the AFC North.”
What also makes this draft intriguing is it?s the Ravens? first under John Harbaugh and his staff, which includes offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.
“Some of the coaches who John has brought to us have come from very good draft rooms,” Newsome said. “It?s been good for us to bounce some information off those guys to how they would view some of the players we drafted and they would talk about some of the players they drafted.”
Harbaugh said preparing for the draft has been educational after spending the past 10 seasons as the special teams coordinator/defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.
“It?s been a great process coming from Philadelphia and seeing how Baltimore operates and seeing how Ozzie Newsome runs his drafts,” he said. “It?s a great confidence booster for a first-year coach coming in here. This is a very impressive process that is run here. It?s just been awesome. I think our coaches feel the same way.”
