Ravens strive for ‘value’
With this draft, Ravens get back to their hard-hitting, defensive ways Team says it will continue to look for offensive help before training camp
If anyone is truly surprised that the Ravens put a huge emphasis on defense in this year’s NFL draft, it would be wise to remember the famous adage about the fate of those who ignore history.
The Ravens used their first four picks to fortify key defensive positions and make sure they would not suffer an ending in 2017 like the one that turned a top-ranked defense in early December into a disaster.
Ozzie Newsome and John Harbaugh can talk all they want about the best player on the board, but the nature of this draft was dictated by the way the Ravens’ depleted defense was torched during the final month of last season.
Think about that and then think what might happen if the Ravens were to come up two cornerbacks and an effective pass rush short of the playoffs again next December. Owner Steve |
When the Ravens made the last of their seven picks right around 4 p.m. Saturday, one of their most anticlimactic draft days in recent history ended, and one of the most uncharacteristic drafts of general manager Ozzie Newsome’s tenure was over.
After selecting four defensive players during the first two rounds, the Ravens finished the proceedings Saturday by adding two offensive linemen – fourth-round San Diego State guard/center Nico Siragusa and fifth-round Texas A&M tackle Jermaine Eluemunor – and sixth-round Virginia Tech safety Chuck Clark.
With those selections, the Ravens exited a draft for the first time in franchise history without drafting a single offensive skill-position player. They didn’t select a wide receiver for the first time since 2009 even though they entered the draft with that as a major need.
Their seven-man draft class was the smallest since 2009 and