The NFL Draft is just over a week away and the Ravens hold 11 picks, tied for the most in the league.
While General Manager Eric DeCosta will stick to his best player available approach, he expects to draft "at least" one cornerback and safety.
The Ravens lost starting cornerback Brandon Stephens (Jets) in free agency and moved on from nickel corner Arthur Maulet. They have surefire starters in Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey, but DeCosta knows how important it is to have depth.
"It's always a big need. Every single year," DeCosta said. "You could ask 31 other teams, they would all say the same thing. Corner is a critical, important position. They break down. They're like Bugattis and they just break down and you've got to have them in reserve."
Baltimore has one of the top safeties in the league in Kyle Hamilton, but the Ravens want to add a running mate who allows Hamilton to play closer to the box like he did in 2023.
"I think it's a pretty deep safety crew," DeCosta said. "Obviously the top guys but then there's maybe four or five or six guys that will probably be third, fourth, fifth round guys that are good players. This is a really nice pool of players to pick from I think we definitely will look at that."
DeCosta said he wants to treat the draft like an open highway with no cars – a place where he can do what he wants and isn't tied to specific needs. But he knows what positions could use help, and if there are two prospects with similar grades, he will opt for the biggest need.
DeCosta Is 'Fairly Confident' Ar'Darius Washington Will Return Next Season
Safety Ar'Darius Washington remains unsigned after the Ravens placed a Right of First Refusal tender on him, but DeCosta said he is "fairly confident" Washington will be back in purple in 2025.
Washington has until Friday to sign an offer sheet with another team, and if he does the Ravens can match it and pay him $3.263 million next season. If the Ravens don't match the potential offer sheet, they will lose him for no compensation.
After missing significant time during his first three seasons due to injury, Washington was fully healthy in 2024 and stepped in as a starter for the second half of the year. Baltimore's secondary was ranked last in the NFL through the first 10 weeks but became one of the league's best with the addition of Washington.
Ravens Would Like to Add Punt Returner in Draft
Head Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens "need to get settled" at punt returner at the end of season press conference, and DeCosta echoed the sentiment on Tuesday.
"It would be nice," DeCosta said of adding a returner in the draft. "I think we've done a good job sizing that up. ... I think we have some guys that can do it, so we've got a floor, but we want a high ceiling. That's what we want and we're going to try to find that guy."
The Ravens started the season with Deonte Harty as the primary returner, but injuries derailed his season. Baltimore then used Tylan Wallace, Steven Sims, and Desmond King at returner. Wallace is the only one still with the Ravens and Baltimore hasn't added anyone with punt return experience this offseason.
DeCosta Speaks on Mark Andrews
As Mark Andrews enters the final year of his contract, there has been plenty of speculation about his future in Baltimore. DeCosta addressed Andrews' status ahead of the Draft.
"I never know what's going to happen," DeCosta said. "... But I can tell you this, Mark Andrews is a warrior, and he's played his butt off for us. And his competitiveness, his talent, his attitude, his leadership is so valued here. And he's a great player.
"I think we're in the business of keeping as many great players as we can. So, there's always a lot of unpredictability with the draft. You just never know."
