What happens behind the scenes during the offseason is always compelling, and the latest episode of "Ravens Wired" gave viewers a compelling look inside the Ravens' draft room.
Here are some things we learned from "Ravens Wired" about the Ravens' decision-making during the draft:
The Ravens wanted Nate Wiggins badly despite their need at offensive tackle.
Head Coach John Harbaugh and General Manager Eric DeCosta both loved first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins, even though offensive line was a bigger need.
The Ravens doubted Wiggins would still be available at No. 30 when the first round began. However, the draft started with an unprecedented 14 straight offensive selections, a development that pushed defensive players like Wiggins farther down than expected.
With Wiggins still available, Harbaugh had anxious moments waiting for the Cowboys to pick at No. 29.
"Corners are hanging on. I just don't want to get my hopes up," Harbaugh said. "Because then I'm going to be shattered into a million pieces."
DeCosta was on the phone fielding calls about potential trades, but he also hoped the Cowboys wouldn't take Wiggins one pick before Baltimore was on the clock. He correctly anticipated that Dallas would take offensive tackle Tyler Guyton of Oklahoma, a player that was widely linked to Baltimore as a possible pick.
"If they take Guyton, I'm going to pick," DeCosta said to another team. "But if they don't take Guyton, call me back."
Once the Cowboys took Guyton the Ravens took Wiggins and celebrated.
Baltimore may have traded back if Roger Rosengarten was gone.
Roger Rosengarten is competing for the starting job at right tackle and looks like a great value pick at No. 62. However, if someone had selected Rosengarten before the Ravens, they would have strongly considered trading down.
DeCosta received at least one trade offer that was tempting. It was pick 62 for picks 72 and 129, which belonged to the New York Jets and General Manager Joe Douglas, a former Ravens executive who worked with DeCosta. So, essentially, it was an extra late fourth-round pick for moving back 10 spots. The trade was in the Ravens' favor.
"Honestly, if Rosengarten's gone, I'd do that in a heartbeat," DeCosta said after hanging up the phone. "But I'm not going to get Rosengarten there."
The Kansas City Chiefs, who also coveted an offensive tackle, also called DeCosta wanting to trade up for Baltimore's pick. Rosengarten was Kansas City's likely target.
T.J. Tampa was nearly the Ravens' third-round pick.
The Ravens ended Day 2 of the draft by taking outside linebacker Adisa Isaac in Round 3. However, DeCosta was already thinking about cornerback T.J. Tampa of Iowa State, who the Ravens took in the fourth round with pick No. 130.
Again, DeCosta got more trade offers from the Chiefs. They offered picks No. 131 (fourth round), 211 (sixth round), and a fourth-rounder in the 2025 Draft for pick No. 93. DeCosta turned it down because "We got those kind of picks already."
"I just think Adisa has a chance to pop," DeCosta said. "He had nine sacks this year and he was way more productive."
Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti encouraged DeCosta to take him.
"There's no really no right or wrong answers[add]," DeCosta said after taking Isaac. "We could've taken a corner or a wideout – Tampa. For all we know Tampa might be there in the fourth round."
DeCosta was right. He began the fourth round by taking wide receiver Devontez Walker (No. 113), then grabbed Tampa, who was expected to go much higher.
"Honestly, I think you're going to be a steal for us," DeCosta said when calling Tampa.
