OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Eric DeCosta mentioned Tuesday it’s loopy to suppose this can be his twentieth 12 months operating the draft for the Baltimore Ravens. This can be quantity six for him as common supervisor and it may be his most necessary.
When the primary spherical begins on Thursday, April 25, the Ravens are slated to have the thirtieth total decide and 9 alternatives over the seven rounds.
After dropping over ten high quality items by way of free company or commerce from final season, this 12 months’s rookie class can be anticipated to step proper in.
“We may have some alternatives for positive. There goes to be some spots that may be stuffed. The burden is on me to search out these gamers who can fill it,” mentioned DeCosta throughout Tuesday’s pre-draft press convention.
The Ravens’ most evident wants are at offensive line and cornerback. DeCosta known as this 12 months’s prospect pool of offensive lineman “stacked”.
“It’s a really deep pool of gamers. We see rather a lot of completely different alternatives in completely different rounds to get gamers at deal with, guard and middle.”
He thinks the broad receiver group is “actually deep” and the corner class is “strong”.
“We would love so as to add a proficient corner sooner or later in the draft, whether or not that’s first spherical, second spherical, third spherical, no matter that may be.”
The Ravens additionally have to fill out their operating again depth behind Derrick Henry.
“There might be a fairly sturdy likelihood we’ll draft a operating again sooner or later,” mentioned DeCosta.
It gained’t be with their first decide. That choice is designated for an affect performer at a place of want. Picking so late in the primary spherical, it’s anybody’s guess as to who will nonetheless be accessible.
“You actually need to get worth,” mentioned DeCosta. “So, for us, you simply hope and pray that one of these top-20 guys may be there for us at 30.”
DeCosta mentioned his employees is holding draft conferences all this week and the crew’s draft board can be just about set by Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
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