The Ravens have finally selected an offensive player in the 2017 NFL Draft.
After opening the draft by taking defensive players with their first four picks, the Ravens took San Diego State guard Nico Siragusa in the fourth round with the No. 122 overall pick.
"I had no idea [the Ravens were interested]," Siragusa said on a conference call after getting picked. "I'm going to wear my hard hat every day. I'm going to be a good people mover, explosive offensive lineman, I'm going to be great in the locker room."
Siragusa, who has no relation to former Ravens defensive lineman Tony Siragusa, said he's been asked his entire career if he's Tony's son. He joked that he needs to get a picture with Tony once he gets to Baltimore.
"Just being a football player, everybody thinks you're Tony's son," Siragusa said. "Hopefully one day we can take a picture or something, and we can be like, 'You are not the father!'"
Even though he's not related to the massive former Raven, Nico also brings imposing size to the field. He's 6-foot-4, 319 pounds, and he earned third-team All-American honors after starting every game at left guard last year for the Aztecs.
Siragusa started 41-straight games at left guard over the last three seasons, and he also saw action at right guard during his freshman year.
He is a downhill blocker who paved the way for San Diego State's dominant running attack. With Siragusa in front of him, running back Donnel Pumphrey set the NCAA record with 2,133 rushing yards last year.
"I take great pride in that," Siragusa said. "That's something I'm going to tell my grandkids about."
Siragusa fills an immediate need on the roster, as the Ravens have two open spots on the offensive line after free-agent right tackle Rick Wagner signed with the Detroit Lions and the team traded center Jeremy Zuttah to the San Francisco 49ers.
Adding Siragusa gives the Ravens some versatility. He could compete for the starting left guard spot, which would free up last year's starter Alex Lewis to play right tackle. Siragusa also expressed confidence that he could step in at center.
Siragusa doesn't have any experience at center, but joked that he did take some reps there in intramural football.
"Man, I'm in the NFL, I'll play whatever," Siragusa said.
Head Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens will give Siragusa a chance at center, and he will compete with John Urschel and Ryan Jensen for a starting job. The Ravens also have other young players like Stephane Nembot, De'Ondre Wesley and fifth-round pick Jermaine Eluemunor who will challenge for the right tackle spot.
The final rotation is still very much in flux at this point, but the Ravens like what Siragusa brings to the mix.
"He fits what we're looking for," Harbaugh said. "We're going to put him in there at left guard, have him work at center, put that line out there and see how this shakes out. Alex Lewis has some position flexibility as well, and we're going to have some guys competing in there for some different spots and we have to find our best five players."
