Ravens' Super Bowl Odds Drop After Draft
The draft experts all liked the moves the Ravens made with their nine picks this year.
But the oddsmakers don't appear to agree.
Las Vegas updated its betting lines for Super Bowl XLIX after draft weekend, and the Ravens actually dropped a bit. The Ravens had 33-to-1 odds going into the draft, but that number has now dropped to 40-to-1, according to CBSsports.com.
"Can't really figure out why the Ravens dropped," wrote Will Brinson of CBS sports. "40-1 is a nice preseason number for a group of teams that could either surprise, bounce back or both."
The Steelers (33/1) are now the AFC North favorites to win the Super Bowl. Cincinnati is tied with Baltimore at 40/1 and the Browns are at 50/1.
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks lead the way at 6/1.
While the Ravens dipped a bit in the eyes of the oddsmakers, they gained some ground in terms of the early ESPN power rankings. The Ravens jumped three spots to move up to No. 13 after their additions.
NFL.com kept the Ravens at No. 15 in their power rankings, but praised General Manager Ozzie Newsome's moves.
"The Baltimore Ravens went about their work very quietly during draft week," NFL.com's Elliot Harrison wrote. "[The] pick of safety Terrence Brooks is wonderful. The mid-third-round selection certainly could have gone earlier; Brooks has the potential to be a complete player in run support, blitzing and coverage. He and Matt Elam might end up being the best tandem since Michael Bolton and Samir Nagheenanajar."
Arthur Brown Reacts To Drafting Mosley
When the Ravens drafted inside linebacker C.J. Mosley with the 17th-overall pick, the status of second-year linebacker Arthur Brown quickly became a question amongst fans and pundits.
Brown was a second-round pick last season and was expected to step into a starting role this year alongside veteran middle linebacker Daryl Smith. Mosley's arrival will stiffen the competition for playing time, but Brown said he's excited about the Ravens adding another linebacker.
"It brings the element of competition to the room, and that's great for our room and great for our team," Brown said during a recent interview with WNST. "That's great for our defensive unit because it's going to help mold and build us up as a unit. I'm definitely excited and definitely look forward to the competition."
Brown was mostly a reserve in his rookie season, playing behind Smith and Jameel McClain. The Ravens primarily used Brown in sub packages on passing downs because he has the speed to cover running backs and tight ends, and is a good blitzer.
He finished his rookie season with 12 tackles, a forced fumble and a half sack.
While Brown was in line to start this season, he knew the Ravens would likely draft another inside linebacker at some point.
"Our coach definitely expressed his interest in the draft. He definitely had in mind taking a linebacker," Brown said. "He definitely communicated that to us in our room. It wasn't necessarily a surprise that we took him. Honestly I think he's a great complement and a great extension. Coach definitely thinks highly of him and I'm looking forward to him being a great part of this team."
The Ravens have high expectations for Mosley this year, but there is still plenty of time between now and the start of the season to figure out how all of the linebackers will fit into the defense.
"I'm looking forward to the assembly of this team just as much as the fans, so once we get it going it will be going," Brown said. "There is one goal in mind and that's Super Bowl."
Reaction To Heap's Induction
The Ravens announced that long-time tight end Todd Heap will be the newest member of the team's Ring of Honor when he gets enshrined during a game this season.
The decision to put Heap alongside his old teammates like Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden was met with praise from the media.
"If there is one player in Ravens history who deserves this recognition, it's certainly Heap," wrote ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Heap spent 10 years in Baltimore and was the go-to threat in the passing game. He holds the Ravens franchise record for receiving touchdowns (49) and is second in career receptions (467) and receiving yards (5,492). He was a tough player throughout his career, and Hensley noted that Heap paid a price for his induction.
"He took so many hard hits that he doesn't remember how many concussions he's had in his career," Hensley said.
"There have been other players who sacrificed and fought just as much as Heap, but Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs all have Super Bowl rings to show for it. Heap was drafted by the Ravens one season after their first championship and was released two seasons before their second one."
2015 Mock Draft Released: WR To The Ravens
It's never too early to toss out another mock draft.
After all, the draft is a few days old, so it's already time to do a little speculating on what next year's draft could look like.
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke released his first mock draft for next year, and he has the Ravens taking Arizona State wide receiver Jaelen Strong with the No. 21 pick.
"He's just the start of a 2015 receiver class definitely worth keeping tabs on next year," Burke wrote. "Don't sleep on Strong, off a 77-catch debut following a transfer in from JUCO. His 6-4 height certainly will appeal to NFL teams, as will his ability to take advantage of that size by going up and getting the football. Strong does not have the physicality of a Mike Evans, but he is plenty capable of overpowering cornerbacks."
Mark down that name. It will be interesting to see if he's even in the conversation for the Ravens next year.
Quick Hits
- Get ready to see a lot more of Joe Haden. The Browns cornerback got a five-year extension with the team Friday worth $68 million, meaning he'll be matching up against players like Torrey Smith and Marlon Brown for the next several years. [NFL.com]
- @89stevesmith Sure is nice to be stress-free... Be very careful what u wish for.... #iceupson #agent89 [Twitter]
- Hensley names defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins out of Virginia Tech as one of the undrafted free agents who could make the 53-man roster. [ESPN.com]
- This season won't be rookie wide receiver Michael Campanaro's first time playing at M&T Bank Stadium. The Baltimore native also played the state championship game there in 2007 and he tweeted this picture from the game. [Twitter]
