Jeremiah: 'I'll Buy You Dinner' If Ravens Pick at No. 22
The Ravens have the 22nd pick in this year's draft, but NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah told Peter King of NBC Sports that he would be surprised if the Ravens don’t trade down.
"You look at the Baltimore Ravens picking at 22. They have no second-round pick," said Jeremiah, a former NFL scout with the Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles. "To me, if the Ravens pick at 22, I will buy you dinner the next time we're together.
"I know the new GM, Eric DeCosta, taking over there from Ozzie Newsome, is a very bright guy. The value in this draft is in that second-round range. I would be surprised a team like Baltimore doesn't take pick 22 and look to get out of there and see if they can flex some more picks there in that second-round range."
The Ravens are certainly no strangers to trading back. They did so twice before selecting tight end Hayden Hurst at pick No. 25. The last time Baltimore traded back, and out of the first round entirely, was in 2012 when took outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw at No. 35 and offensive tackle Kelechi Osemele at No. 60.
Russell Street Report's Adam Bonaccorsi looked at potential trades the Ravens could make if they wanted to move back.
Why Ravens Fans Shouldn't Get Their Hopes Up for Le'Veon Bell
Speculation as to where Pittsburgh Steelers stars Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown will play in 2019 continues to be a hot topic on social media.
Bell fueled the fire over the weekend when the free agent running back posted a hype video on Twitter and asked: “so where do I go?”
The Ravens were one of three teams mentioned prominently in the video. The others were the Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets.
But Ravens fans shouldn't get their hopes up for a running attack that features Bell and Lamar Jackson, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley says.
"It wouldn't fit new GM Eric DeCosta's philosophy of being 'financially responsible' with the salary cap," Hensley wrote. "The Ravens don't have any player averaging more $10.5 million per season (once quarterback Joe Flacco is officially traded), and Bell reportedly turned down a deal last season that averaged $14 million per season."
Hensley also cast doubt on whether Bell's style would be a good fit in Baltimore.
New Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said recently that he values a running back's ball carrying ability as much more important than his receiving prowess. One of Bell's best attributes is his talent as a receiving threat. Plus, the Ravens are looking for more of a downhill runner, which isn't as much Bell's strength.
"Plus, Bell's ultra-patient running style isn't a great fit for run-option plays, which will likely remain a big part of the offense in 2019," Hensley wrote.
Meanwhile, Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said Friday that three teams had already expressed interest in Brown, the All-Pro wide receiver who officially became available last week after a meeting with Steelers Owner Art Rooney II.
"We've had, I'd say, three teams that have touched base with us and we'll see how that grows," Colbert said on the NFL Network's "Up To the Minute Live." "I think that'll unfold over these next few weeks as teams get better perspective of what else there is available to them."
Colbert stressed that there's no guarantee that Brown will be traded.
"We're looking at maybe not having this significant player, one of the best football players, not only on our team but in the National Football league," Colbert said. "So, of course, if you're going to subtract that player from your team, you better have compensation that justifies that. And that's what we're seeking. ... If it doesn't benefit us, we won't do it. And that's as simple as it gets."
Torrey Smith: Free Agents Will Play With Lamar Jackson
During his appearance on Glenn Clark Radio Friday, former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith was asked if he thought it would be difficult for the Ravens to attract high-caliber free agent wide receivers given the team's run-first offense led by quarterback Lamar Jackson.
"Well, I think that does play a little factor, but there's this thing called a checkbook that they use," said Smith, who is now with the Carolina Panthers. "If you pay, guys are going to come, so it doesn't really matter."
Smith was quick to add that he is a fan of Jackson's.
"I think you need to think long term. Lamar's a very talented player," he said. "I think he's going to be great for the franchise. And he's only going to get better, that's the thing about it. When the game slows down and he actually gets the reps that he needs, I think he's going to be a great player."
Smith, who was on the show to promote his annual Torrey Smith Family Fund Charity Basketball Game at Royal Farms Arena March 30, said he spent some time with Jackson a couple weeks ago.
"I'm getting him to come out to the game," Smith said.
Smith immediately sensed the concern that his off-the-cuff announcement might've caused to anyone in the Ravens organization or fan base.
"Not to play," Smith clarified. "To come on out and kick it."
Ravens Have Two Of 10 Most Impactful Compensatory Picks of Decade
It's been well-documented that the Ravens are the standard-bearers when it comes to playing the compensatory pick game, so it comes as no surprise that two Ravens compensatory picks made NFL.com's list of the 10 most impactful compensatory picks of the decade.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, who the Ravens selected in the fourth round in 2013, came in at No. 3 on the list, and offensive tackle Ricky Wagner, who the Ravens selected in the fifth round in 2013, was No. 9.
Juszczyk played every game over four seasons with the Ravens and has been to the Pro Bowl three times (with the Ravens in 2016 and with the San Francisco 49ers the past two seasons).
Wagner started 45 games in his final three seasons with the Ravens before signing a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Detroit Lions -- the largest contract of any compensatory pick since 2010.
The Ravens have received 50 compensatory picks since the program was launched in 1994, eight more than the next closest team (Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers).
Quick Hits
- New Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta is making a strong first impression, Hensley wrote.
