Ravens offseason and draft thread

Have to agree with TF on Jackson. I just don't see franchise QB. Right now i see more Kyle Boller than franchise. I also agree that Hurst could've waited until the 2nd, but Ozzie did get his guy, so not too disappointed.

Jackson could very well develop into a good/very good and exciting QB under Marty and Urban. Both have good resumes in that dept. But, all of that depends on Harbaugh's job security with the Ravens. If they go 8-8 or worse and/or miss the playoffs again, will Harbs, Marty, Urban, Roman, etc still be in Baltimore to develop Jackson? If they wanted a QB so bad to trade back up into the 1st, why not Rudolph? He just seems like a safer player and more NFL ready than Jackson. I hope I'm wrong about Jackson and he turns into the next Warren Moon or Derek Carr or Phillip Rivers, etc....... Right now, I'm just not seeing it.

I also think they gave up too much for Jackson. I also believe they could've received at least 1 extra pick in the two earlier trades.

I get why they traded back especially after Fitzpatrick and McGlinchey were off the board. I do like they added more 3rd and 4th rd picks and not too upset about losing the 2nd. For some reason, Ozzie doesn't do very well with his 2nd rd picks, but really shines in the 3rd & 4th rds.

On a lighter note, I can't believe the Browns took Mayfield 1st overall and then passed on Chubb. Being a Ravens fan, I'm very happy about those picks.

 

Honestly, between the QB coach, the OC, and Roman, these 3 men have some history succeeding (to a certain degree) with strong armed, mobile QBs with accuracy. Urban (QB coach) and Mornhinweg (OC) where there in Philly during Vick's best season of his career as a QB. Roman was the OC for Kaepernick when he was winning games in San Fran and he was also the OC for Tyrod's first two seasons. I question his durability in the NFL though. At, I think, 205 pounds, he won't be able to take but so many direct hits, especially in the AFC North when it gets cold.

I will say this though, I kinda feel sorry for Flacco. He might be the only "franchise QB" who's front office never truly tried to put talent around him. It took 4 years for big armed Flacco to get a deep threat WR. After winning the superbowl, they trade his best security blanket. In 9 freaking years since Flacco's draft, during the first three rounds of the draft, the Ravens only drafted 2 WRs, 1 RB, 3 TEs, and 4 o-lineman. That's 10 picks out of 29 possible chances to put real talent around your franchise QB. And only 3 of those 10 picks where 1st rounds picks, so it was rare that putting talent around Joe was even the first priority.

I thought they were finally attempting to put talent around Joe by signing Crabtree, Brown, and Snead........but clearly they had Jackson as a target and this was just a matter of putting talent around their future QB (which for the record I'm not against).

 

I think Kid mentioned it, but those trades were Timmy Jernigan all over again. Giving up potentially good players to move up in the later part of the draft. No extra pick. I swear if they draft a d-lineman in the 3rd I'll lose my shit. We've drafted a d-lineman in the 2nd or 3rd for the past 5 straight drafts, and all but one is still on the team along with other later rounds picks. Use them or stop drafting them

 

Here's something else I just read on another blog. Jackson is a Bobby Petrino disciple. Other Petrino QB's have included such notables as Brian Brohm and Ryan Mallet. Not exactly the most enticing endorsement.

Petrino's offensive system is geared for college. It works incredibly well. I wonder if Jackson is a system QB who happens to be insanely athletic. Unfortunately, every defensive player in the NFL is insanely athletic, and usually beat the hell out of scrambling QBs. I hope Jackson is can beturned into an accurate passer because his legs won't take him to the promise land in the long-term. Just ask RGIII.

Then again, if he doesn't make it as a QB, they could have a WR.

 

I just need someone to force Jackson to spend as much of the offseason as possible with Russell Wilson. I don't care if they if he just helps babysits while listening to Ciara record new music.

 

OK, before everyone goes off the deep end, a little perspective: You have no clue how this guy is going to pan out. Just like Cleveland has no clue on Mayfield. I think some of you conveniently forgot about Tedy Bridgewater. He turned out ok, that is until the freak injury. I, for one, feel a whole lot better about Lamar Jackson at this point than RGIII, should Joe go down. Let's face it, before that pick, if Joe goes down for any period of time, our season is done. Love the Hurst pick, and if we come away with a bunch of O-Line depth, some secondary help and maybe one or two project-type WRs, I think we've done well.

 

I really dont get what the issue is here.

Jackson is a massive talent from a scouting perspective, in order to flourish we do need to build around him but like i said, we are a great team to get the best out of him given the type of football we play and the pieces we have- which is what i literally said in a previous post that may have gotten buried.

It was a shrewd move for the franchise, we have a back up, flacco cant hold us under a gun and we hold all the cards. the kid could be truly great with the right coaching, its unfair to say he is a raw passer- because he can fullfil the role of a qb its just that he has such insane ball carrying ability that people dismiss his passing ability- he does need work but again; he gets to sit and learn for a year.

As for the D lineman drafting. this draft is stacked as fuck for D lineman, we will almost undoubtedly take a guy tonight on the D line because talent will slide.

I am very happy with how this first round went, Hurst is another pure hands catcher which is exactly what we need.

We hate drops.

Look at what we have done this off season, Crabtree, snead and hurst- all hands catchers. Joe has weapons, joe was never truly good or great outside of one run in the post season. he is our qb but he isnt that great, and he makes some truly woeful decisions. His touch hasnt improved in nearly a decade.

i could go on but this is getting long. i am very optimistic with jackson and what we have done so far

2k

 

Well, as I said above, I think he'll succeed here. He's in a great situation to flourish given his skill set. That said, I don't see the issue with hoping he learns to protect himself from a QB who came out of college also considered a run first QB that's managed to strive while having a bad o-line. There's a history behind running QBs not staying healthy

I think I also questioned his accuracy at some point. Again, there's as history of sub 60% college passers becoming sub 60% professional passers. As fans, we don't have to love every thing about every pick. There are legitimate concerns with Jackson. Hopefully he becomes the next Aaron Rodgers......but even Rodgers had a few concerns coming out of college

 

Now, I would be ecstatic if we traded up to get Will Hernandez tonight. It's a pipe dream, I know, but he looks like the heir apparent to Marshal Yanda. I would have preferred to see one of the ND O-linemen fall down the board to us, but it is what it is. O-line is our next big need position. Wouldn't be at all upset to see Courtland Sutton fall down the board a bit, we need a WR right now who can lift the lid off coverage. Finally, we need to get some serious depth at DE/OLB, because as much as I love Suggs and don't want to jinx him, I do not see him getting through an entire season at his age. He needs someone who can spell him more frequently.

 

he is a great guard but he goes very quickly tonight and is a very safe pick.

I just dont know how we could possibly leverage that trade, i think it will be interesting to see what we do but there is so much god damn mid rounds talent that i think we may be content to sit tight.

Hernandez would be insane though. Sutton wont slide much either.

2k

 

I wonder how far Courtland Sutton will fall. I also wonder if the Ravens will continue going offense. It's almost a guarantee that Flacco isn't here in 2019, so why not build around your future franchise QB. I say if Sutton falls to the middle of the 2nd round, see if you can package that first 3rd rounder with the 6th and/or 7th to get him. Draft an o-lineman with the other 3rd rounder, and then use the 4th however they see fit. I'm not against another pass rusher, but we have so many already on the roster who aren't being used, I'd rather they get a shot. Makes sure the future QB actually has weapons, something they didn't do for Joe

 

It doesn't take me but so long to get on board with most draft picks (minus Oher and Elam) so I'm already thinking up random things. I'm wondering how much more the Ravens plan to do in free agency after the draft? Baltimore currently has about 10M in cap space. Since they traded down so many times before drafting instead of staying at 16, it should overall cost them a little less right? The team could also save about 4M or more by extending Mosley, and another 4M if they cut an older player like Carr, Weddle, or even Suggs. The reason I'm thinking about that is........it would really only cost them an additional 4M to cut/trade Flacco this year.

Now here me out. The days of first round QBs holding the clipboard all year are gone. Almost all see the field and extended playing time in year one. With all these new offensive weapons on the team, along with having a QB coach, OC, and Roman who all did very well with running QBs, I wonder if the Ravens would just bite the bullet immediately on Flacco so they walk into 2019 with zero cap hit for Joe, and their future franchise QB already having a year of experience under his belt. RG3 then becomes your backup and you don't have to make any chances to the offense depending on who's under center.

 

And I just read, not sure how true it is, that of all the QBs taken in the first round, Jackson was in the most pro-ready offense. Someone who watches college can confirm or deny that statement, but consider me on board as of now

 

It appears from Ozzie & Cos interviews that the draft went exactly as planned. They all act like this doesn't affect Joe and Harbs even said "joe is our QB this year." The deveil is in the details and I think Joe's days are numbered which to me is disappointing because he hasn't had a consistent OC, decent receiving weapons since 2014, and a suspect OL since Matt Birk retired.

Here's another conundrum (although a good one to have) what happens if Joe rises to the challenge and has a career year or another SB appearance? The pick might seem justified then - maybe. They could've used this years and 2019's 2nd rd picks to continue to build around offense instead. RG3 has the same skill set as LJ, but is experienced and more seasoned. And, I'll reiterate, rushing QBs from college are often hurt in the NFL trying to do what they do best. Name me one in NFL history that hasn't missed significant time other than Russell Wilson? Tyrod hurt in Buffalo, Tebow and Vick with concussions and cracked ribs, RG3 knee and ankle, Cam with shoulder, concussion and knees, and where do I start and finish with Steve McNair, Steve Young and Randall Cunningham? If they can get him to be more like Dak Prescott (similar throwing style and pocket presence) I think they could have a much better QB in Jackson then.

And I'm sure that the cheap 4!M place holder salary for Vick is more of a consulting/coaching fee. Joe has a job to do and keeping his job is paramount (unless it isn't and he's given them some indication he's lost passion) so I doubt he "mentors" Lamar like they say. Lamar IS his competition until proven otherwise.

I just thought they could've made better use of the picks they just acquired and spent.

 

To trade back up into top half of 2nd round from #65, you'd need to give up BOTH 3rd round picks, can't see that happening given the value available in 2nd/3rd rounds. However, if someone they really like falls to the last 7/8 picks of round two, you could give move up from #65 and only have to surrender it and a 4th rounder.

 

Rd2 is winding down and the Ravens are first up in Rd3. have they ever lead a round in their 22 seasons? Anyone think they'll go defense here?

 

Haha of course the Ravens will go defense and probably DL/front 7. They missed all the top talent WRs again. They really do need someone as a return man though. Wouldn't be shocked on RB.

 

Well Snead can return and Moore is certainly capable. Hell. Maybe they let Hayden Hurst or LJ do it now.

 

Ravens trade back. We probably swapped 7th round picks. Going off that 16 trade down. Haha