Eric DeCosta's first draft is in the books.
The General Manager closed out the 2019 NFL Draft by selecting Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley with pick No. 197.
"This was kind of a sleeper pick for us," DeCosta said. "We brought him in for the local pro day. We worked him out and fell in love with the kid."
McSorley, 6-foot-0 and 202 pounds, is a dual-threat quarterback who could be a good fit behind starter Lamar Jackson. He was a three-year starter at Penn State who threw for 9,899 yards and 77 touchdowns in his college career. He also rushed for 1,697 yards and 30 career touchdowns.
McSorley will join veteran Robert Griffin III as options to backup Jackson. The Ravens also indicated that they could find creative ways to get McSorley on the field both on offense and special teams, similar to what they did with Jackson last year before he became the starter.
"It's just going to be really fun to create different opportunities for these guys to get on the field in different ways," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "We see him fitting in as a quarterback, first of all. That's what we told him. We told him six weeks ago that you're going to be a quarterback and that's where it begins.
"But it shouldn't be limited to that. I think he can go out there and line up and do some other things, just like [Griffin] will be able to do."
A potential comparison for McSorley is Saints backup quarterback Taysom Hill. He's used in a variety of roles – quarterback, receiver, running back and special teams – and the Ravens like that McSorley's athleticism gives them versatility to put him in similar roles.
"You've seen what the Saints have done down there with their third quarterback, and that's something that we'll have a chance to do too," Harbaugh said.
McSorley, who grew up in Ashburn, Va., was clearly emotional when he received the call from the Ravens. He told Baltimore reporters that he was up late Friday thinking about the possibility of getting drafted, and the emotion poured out once he received that call.
"To get that call is something I've been dreaming about for a long time," McSorley said. "To be able to get it from an organization like Baltimore, to be able to play not too far from home, to have an organization with the front office and coaches they have, I'm super excited."
McSorley was a highly productive player in the college ranks, but he slid to the sixth-round partly because he doesn't have the ideal size of an NFL quarterback. He was actually asked to work out at receiver and defensive back at the combine, but he stressed that his focus is to become a quarterback at the next level.
Jackson went through similar questions last year, and McSorley pointed to him as a bit of inspiration for the way he's proved people wrong by having success as an NFL quarterback.
"He's a great player," McSorley said. "A lot of people said he might want to change positions and he stuck to his guns and he ended up leading them to the playoffs last year, and I think he's a tremendous athlete, dynamic player, and great leader, and I'm looking forward to being able to learn from him."
The Ravens carried three quarterbacks on the active roster throughout last season, and adding McSorley indicates they could go that route again in 2019.
"He's a very versatile athlete we can do a lot of different things with, and we think his skillset really does fit what we're trying to accomplish on offense," DeCosta said. "He was very excited and I think relieved to be picked, and this is a really good spot for him."
The Penn State quarterback capped off Baltimore's draft class after a standout college career.
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) throws against Purdue during the first half of an NCAA college football game in West Lafayette, Ind., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley looks for a receiver against Kentucky during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Penn State's Trace McSorley (9) during third quarter action of the Nittany Lions game with Illinois. No. 10/9 Penn State defeated Illinois, 63-24, Friday night in Memorial Stadium in the Big Ten football opener for both teams.
Photo by Mark Selders
Penn State's Trace McSorley (9) during third quarter action of the Nittany Lions game with Iowa. No.17 Nittany Lions defeated the No.18 Hawkeyes, 30-24 on Oct. 27, 2018 in Beaver Stadium.
Photo by Mark Selders
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) drops back to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
North quarterback Trace McSorley of Penn State (9) before the start of the Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) runs in for a touchdown in front of Maryland's Antwaine Richardson (20) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State's Trace McSorley (9) during fourth quarter action of the Nittany Lions game with Ohio State. The Nittany Lions fell to the Buckeyes 27-26 in front of a record 110, 889 fans in Beaver Stadium on Sept. 29, 2018.
Photo by Mark Selders
North quarterback Trace McSorley of Penn State (9) looks to pass during the first half of the Senior Bowl college football game, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley looks for a receiver against Kentucky during the first half of the Citrus Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley looks to pass against Rutgers during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Piscataway, N.J. McSorley connected with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a touchdown on the pass. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) warms up before an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) throws a pass against Wisconsin during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) warms up on the field before the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) takes off running against Iowa during the second half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018. Penn State won 30-24. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
FILE - In this Sept. 23, 2017, file photo, Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) runs with the ball as Iowa defensive lineman Cedrick Lattimore defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, in Iowa City, Iowa. The 17th-ranked Nittany Lions begin the three-game gantlet of Iowa (home), Michigan (road) and Wisconsin (home) and will need to keep their offense chugging to get through it. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) throws a pass against Kent State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley celebrates following the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. Penn State won 38-31. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley drops back to pass during the first half of the Big Ten championship NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) looks to throw a pass against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) reacts in the end zone after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Bloomington, Ind. Penn State won 33-28. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) takes off running against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley throws to a receiver in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland in College Park, Md., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) against Washington during the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley throws a pass against Ohio State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Penn State 39-38. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) scores a touchdown by running during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Northwestern in Evanston, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Penn State won 31-7. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) scrambles out of the pocket against during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Appalachian State in State College, Pa., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. Penn State won 45-38 in overtime. (AP Photo/Chris Knight)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley drops back to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley warms up before the start of an NCAA college football game against Iowa Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Penn State quarterback Trace McSorley (9) calls out to his offense before a snap in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Michigan at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. Michigan won 49-10. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)
