Ravens Were Going To Draft RB Terrance West
It would have been a heartwarming story.
The Ravens and Baltimore bred Terrance West seemed like a match made in heaven. The Towson running back came up from the rough streets to become a star at local Towson. The Ravens were targeting a new, young ball carrier in the draft.
But with the Ravens' selection at No. 99 overall coming up, the Cleveland Browns traded up to pick No. 94 to snag West. The Ravens ended up selecting tight end Crockett Gillmore at No. 99 and added running back Lorenzo Taliaferro in the fourth round.
So would the Ravens have drafted West had the Browns not leapfrogged them?
West says yes, and he has proof.
"[The Ravens] texted my agent and told him they were going to take me," West told The Cleveland Plain Dealer. "The Browns came up before them and I'm here now. It's all about the Browns, man."
Cleveland Browns General Manager Ray Farmer, who gave up a fourth- and sixth-round pick to move up and get West, said he didn't think West would last until their pick in the fourth (which was sixth in that round, No. 106 overall). Farmer had an "inkling" that teams with compensatory picks might take him.
West, who grew up a Jamal Lewis fan, said he's just fine with the Browns moving up to snatch him before the Ravens were on the clock.
"It didn't really matter," West said. "I'm looking forward to [playing the Ravens twice a season]. Can't wait [but] I'm going to look at every game as the same."
The Ravens couldn't have easily moved to get West any earlier because their second third-round pick was a compensatory pick, and thus not available to trade. General Manager Ozzie Newsome was asked on draft weekend whether West was on their radar, and whether he was surprised by the Browns' move.
"We like Terrance," Newsome said. "He was a guy that we had as a draftable player, and we'll just be playing against him twice a year now."
Remaining Offseason Priorities
Newsome said the Ravens weren't done making moves this offseason just because the draft is over.
Baltimore will still add some players, and Bleacher Report's Jayson Marcum took a crack at ranking the priorities.
At No. 3, he says it's re-signing wide receiver Torrey Smith to a long-term deal. Smith is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and was the Ravens' most productive receiver last season. Owner Steve Bisciotti expressed the desire to do so earlier this offseason and Smith has said he wants to stay.
At No. 2, it's adding more depth to the offensive line. The Ravens have three tackles with NFL game experience in Eugene Monroe, Rick Wagner and Jah Reid.
And at No. 1, it's bolstering the cornerback position.
"As of now, Asa Jackson, Chykie Brown, Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb are the only cornerbacks with any NFL experience on the roster," Marcum wrote. "Webb and Smith are two solid starters, but there's not much behind them. Brown and Jackson combined to play just 39 defensive snaps in 2013."
Marcum listed free agent veteran cornerbacks Asante Samuel, who was cut by the Atlanta Falcons, and Jabrari Greer as options.
Signing Eric Winston Still An Option?
Speaking of adding more depth to the offensive line, a reader asked ESPN's Jamison Hensley for his forecast of the chances the Ravens sign free agent offensive tackle Eric Winston.
Winston has been a popular name amongst Ravens fans because he played six seasons with new Ravens Offensive Coordinator Gary Kubiak in Houston and Baltimore could need help at right tackle. Winston, 30, has bounced between Kansas City and Arizona the past two seasons and is still on the market.
"I thought the chances were higher before hearing general manager Ozzie Newsome after the draft ended," Hensley said.
"He talked about the importance of letting young players fail on the field. What he means is the Ravens need to find out whether their draft picks can play before replacing them with an experienced player. Based on this, it sounds like the Ravens are giving Rick Wagner, a fifth-round pick from a year ago, a chance to win the right tackle job."
The Ravens want to see how Wagner, Reid and undrafted tackle James Hurst perform this summer during organized team activities and minicamp.
"The risk, of course, is losing out on a veteran free agent like Eric Winston, who played under Kubiak for six seasons and is a fit for zone-blocking schemes," Hensley said. "Another team could sign him if the Ravens choose to wait. But the Ravens likely won't sign another significant free agent until after June 1, so it won't [cost] them a compensatory pick."
Raven Among Most 'Intriguing' Draft Picks
Who was the most “intriguing” pick in the NFL Draft's fifth round?
That honor goes to Ravens rookie center/guard John Urschel, according to NFL.com's Mike Huguenin.
Urschel got the nod because of his smarts. He already earned his Master's degree in math from Penn State, while holding a 4.0 GPA, and is working on getting a Master's in math education with the ultimate goal of becoming a Ph.D. He has already had multiple academic papers published.
"For some reason, we're thinking he won't find the Ravens' playbook all that complicated," Huguenin wrote.
Urschel's intelligence could be part of the reason why the Ravens are converting him to center after he played guard throughout his college career.
Third-round pick Crockett Gillmore was also named on the list in the write-up for New York Giants second-round pick center Weston Richburg. Gillmore and Richburg both grew up in Bushland, Texas, a tiny town of just about 200 people near Amarillo. Neither received college offers from schools in Texas and both went to Colorado State.
Quick Hits
- First-round pick C.J. Mosley is an example of the new breed of inside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Inside linebackers need to be faster to be able to cover and make tackles sideline-to-sideline in pass-heavy spread offenses. [ESPN]
- Quarterback Joe Flacco helped his younger brother, Mike Flacco, get ready for the draft by working with him for a few months on route tips and by providing tape of Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta. Mike is now trying to make the San Diego Chargers roster as an undrafted rookie tight end. [CSN Baltimore]
- Here's a crack at predicting the Ravens' offensive and defensive depth chart. Hensley lists Mosley and third-round safety Terrence Brooks as starters and second-round defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan as a top backup. [ESPN]
- Morgan State cornerback Joe Rankin was among the tryout candidates at Ravens rookie camp, according to The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson, who also gives a more extensive list of the tryouts. [The Baltimore Sun]
- Rookie second-round defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan got his best advice from fellow Florida State product and Maryland native Darnell Dockett. Dockett is a three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for the Arizona Cardinals. [CSN Baltimore]
