The Ravens are hoping a linebacker who wore No. 52 at the University of Miami can help lay the foundation for the team the same way one did 13 years ago.
With the first of three third-round picks, the Ravens selected Tavares Gooden hoping he could one day be the heir apparent to another 52 ? likely Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Gooden was one of eight players the Ravens selected Sunday ? a day that will shape the franchise?s future.
After taking Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco in the first round and Rutgers running back Ray Rice in the second round on Saturday, the Ravens added depth on offense, defense and special teams with their picks over the last five rounds on Sunday.
“Where this football team is today, where we started ? we needed an influx of talent,” Ozzie Newsome, the Ravens general manager, said. “This was a deep draft and we were able to get the picks to utilize them in this draft.”
The Ravens addressed a number of needs with their 10 picks, including in the third round, when they drafted Gooden, Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski and Texas-El Paso offensive tackle Oniel Cousins.
Gooden had 100 tackles as a senior and could replace Lewis, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Zbikowski is an accomplished boxer who can also play special teams. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Cousins is the latest offensive linemen drafted by the Ravens, who are preparing for a future without likely Hall of Fame left tackle Jonathan Ogden, who appears to be leaning toward retirement.
The Ravens also addressed their need at cornerback after trading a fourth-round pick to Oakland for Fabian Washington. Washington, 24, had 40 tackles and an interception last season and found out last week he would avoid prosecution for a February domestic violence charge against his girlfriend if he completes a 26-week intervention course for first time offenders and stays out of trouble.
“Scouts like picks and coaches like players,” Harbaugh said. “Picks usually translate into players here in Baltimore.”
Of the Ravens? 10 draft picks, none was bigger than Flacco, who was selected with the 18th pick overall after the team traded up from 26 with the Houston Texans. The Ravens had traded down from eight to 26 in a swap of draft picks with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“The first thing that I want to do is prove that I can play football in the National Football League,” Flacco said. “To get in there and have the chance to do that is going to be an incredible experience for me.”
