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Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome had just finished talking about Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith when a Sun reporter asked him about Randy Moss joining the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick: "It's the perfect storm," said Newsome. "You have a great quarterback already and then you add guys like (Donte') Stallworth and Moss, you got a pretty good combination. Bill and Randy are going after a Super Bowl. I don't foresee them having any problems working together."
Le'Ron McClain, one of two fourth-round picks by the Ravens, was considered one of the two best fullbacks in the draft. Of course, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome would like him because he is from Alabama, Newsome's alma mater. McClain is huge at 6 feet, 265 pounds. He is strong and could become a dominant lead blocker. He has enough athletic ability to also become an H-back. He also catches the ball well. The drawback is that he runs upright and needs some work on his technique. But overall he'll be a good addition for the Ravens, especially inside the red zone.
I like this pick for one reason, and one reason only. Marshal Yanda is an offensive lineman from Iowa and his head coach is Kirk Ferentz. When Ferentz coached here with the Ravens, he was generally regarded as one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL, and he has one of the best offensive lines in college football every year. There is no way the Ravens didn't get all the inside info on Yanda from Ferentz. He and Ozzie Newsome remain very close and often trade e-mails. Often in the past I have criticized Newsome for not drafting offensive linemen, and it has come back to haunt the Ravens. But in the past two or three years, the Ravens have picked up some good linemen. It will pay off. Yanda could eventually become the starting right offensive tackle, allowing the Ravens to move Adam Terry to the left side once Jonathan Ogden retires in another year or two.
Yamon Figurs is an intriguing third-round pick. The guy is a burner and has the speed to score every time he touches the ball. He has excellent acceleration. The knock on Figurs is that he is raw and needs some toughness. He also has been known to drop some balls, which is usually the problem with most speedsters (Remember Patrick Johnson?). But he could become a factor because he returns punts and kicks. If B.J. Sams doesn't fully recover from a broken ankle a year ago, Figurs could become the guy to replace Sams. When Sams went down last season, his absence caused big problems for the Ravens. At least they found a possible replacement in the draft.
I do have one question. Figurs' nickname is Yo. What's up with that, yo?
The Ravens selected Kansas State wide receiver Yamon Figurs in the third round with the 74th pick overall. Figurs had the distinction of being the fastest player at the NFL Scouting Combine in February with a 4.30 40-yard dash. Figurs' most immediate impact will likely be as a return specialist. He averaged 12.2 yards on punt returns as a senior. He is not particularly big, though. He's listed at 5-11 and 175 pounds. Figurs is a key addition with current return man B.J. Sams possibly becoming an unrestricted free agent after next season.
Later in the round, the Ravens traded three second-day picks, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-rounders (No. 101, No. 166 and No. 203) to Jacksonville for another third-rounder, the 86th overall. With that selection, they took Iowa guard-tackle Marshal Yanda, a player that could develop into a tackle and more immediately play at guard, GM Ozzie Newsome said.
The Ravens traded their second-round selection, No. 61, to Detroit for a third-round selection, No. 74 overall, and a fourth-rounder, No. 101. For a while, the Ravens now had seven second-day picks but they traded three of them to Jacksonvilleto get an extra pick in the third round (No. 86).
Two local players were taken in the second round of the draft.
Maryland cornerback Josh Wilson, who has great speed, was taken at No. 55 by Seattle and will have every chance to play nickel back as a rookie. Since the Seahawks didn't have a first-round pick, Wilson is Seattle's top draft pick.
The Eagles grabbed former Gilman School star and Notre Dame DE Victor Abiamiri at No. 57.
The round began with a handful of trades and surprising picks.
Earlier in the round before drafting Abiamiri, the Eagles -- with a pick obtained from Dallas -- selected Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb as the No. 36 overall. That has to stun Philadelphia fans because he's now the fourth QB on the roster following the signing of A.J. Feeley and the trade for Kelly Holcomb to back up Donovan McNabb, who's rehabbing a knee injury.
Then, San Diego traded four draft picks to Chicago to move into the No. 37 spot and used the pick to draft Utah safety Eric Weddle. Weddle is an all-purpose defensive back who brings a lot of versatility.
Miami, with the No. 40 pick, took quarterback John Beck, who was prolific at BYU but will be 26 when the NFL regular season starts. He spent two years on a Mormon mission. The Dolphins' acute problem at the moment is selling their fans on their first-round selection wide Ted Ginn, Jr. New coach Cam Cameron tried to rationalize the pick over fan boos at a draft party by lauding Ginn's punt return abilities.
Atlanta appeared to land two quality players in Texas guard Justin Blalock at No. 39 and Arkansas cornerback Chris Houston at No. 41. Blalock was considered a first-rounder in some quarters and Houston is a burner with sub-4.4 speed.
With the No. 45 pick, Carolina selected USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett, an interesting selection because he's similar in style to former Trojan and current Panther Keyshawn Johnson. Both are tall, physical receivers. On the ESPN telecast, Johnson -- who was working as a commentator -- promised to mentor the second-round pick.
The first I-AA player taken was Hampton linebacker Justin Durant taken by Jacksonville with the 48th selection. At No. 49, Cincinnati took Kenny Irons, an Auburn running back who, in pre-Willis McGahee days, was mentioned as a player the Ravens might consider.
Tennessee took the speedy Chris Henry from Arizona at No. 50. Henry wasn't especially productive in college but he flashed at the NFL scouting combine in February and, at least in that regard, is suspected of being a workout warrior.
Cleveland appears to have gone out on a limb to trade a handful of picks to Dallas to move up and take Nevada-Las Vegas corner Eric Wright at No. 53. Wright was arrested on rape charges but charges were not filed when he was at USC before transferring to UNLV.
No. 1 Oakland
The inscrutable Al Davis fooled everybody. He did what most observers have been saying he should do by taking the top-rated quarterback in the draft, LSU's JaMarcus Russell.
Now the question becomes, how good will this be for Russell's career? The pressure to start him quickly will be immense and the prognosis for success with a team as lousy as Oakland is poor. However, "Just win, baby" Davis is likely to look at how well Vince Young performed with struggling Tennessee last year and expect his rookie to do the same.
That the Raiders took so much time on the clock is indicative that there could be a lot of trade talk, a lot of jockeying through the first round.
No. 2 Detroit
The Lions' Matt Millen couldn't have wanted to have to make this pick and trading down is what made all the sense in the world. Everyone knows the history here -- Detroit took wide receivers in three of the last four years and only one has panned out. And here come another one, Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, the consensus best player in the draft. It's Millen's worst nightmare. This doesn't mean the Lions won't still trade Johnson. In fact, if they don't, Millen will be hectored by the second-guessers.
No. 3 Cleveland
The Brady Quinn slide is officially on. With Cleveland passing up the Notre Dame quarterback and a Ohio native in favor of left offensive tackle Joe Thomas of Wisconsin, Quinn's next likely stop is Washington at No. 6, maybe even Minnesota at No. 7. Browns draft-picker Phil Savage went with the safe pick, Thomas, which is good news for QB Charlie Frye and former Ravens running back Jamal Lewis. ESPN played the pathos card by showing a photo of 4-year old Brady Quinn in a Browns helmet and jersey.
No. 4 Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers addressed offense in free agency and it made all the sense in the world to go after defense, ergo Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams. NFL people generally agree that one of the biggest impact players a team can have is a big time pass rusher and Adams, even if he has some deficiencies as a run defender, is the best chance for a team to immediately upgrade its pass rush.
No. 5 Arizona
The Cardinals actually have a pretty stellar roster of skill players in QB Matt Leinart, RB Edgerrin James and their flashy wideouts, so they went for some beef to support that talent, Penn State OT Levi Brown. Draft experts talk about value, meaning getting the best player available regardless of apparent team needs. Brown may not be a "value" pick but he is the best fit for the Cardinals.
Ravens note.
Director of College Scouting Eric DeCosta, an avid runner, said at the team's pre-draft press conference that he might start his draft-day run at 3 a.m. to start burning off the nervous energy. Actually, he started running today at 5 a.m., then when he arrived at the Castle in Owings Mills, ran a second time with the club's salary cap guru, Pat Moriarty, for another 45 minutes.
No. 6 Washington
LSU safety LaRon Landry should be paying for lunch for his brother for a long time. LaRon, as the No. 6 overall, will make millions more than his older brother, Dawan, a fifth-round selection of the Ravens a year ago. The Redskins can only hope that LaRon is as productive as his brother, who led NFL rookies in interceptions in 2006.
No. 7 Minnesota
So now maybe Brady Quinn goes to Miami at No. 9? The comparisons to Leinart, who slipped to No. 10 a year ago, are impossible to ignore. The Vikings went with Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson, the consensus best ball carrier in the draft whose biggest drawback is an injury history. That a pick as high as this is considered something of a gamble tells you everything you need to know about the uncertain nature of the NFL draft.
No. 8 Atlanta
The dropping Brady Quinn probably affected the Falcons' draft pick here. If someone had taken Quinn among the top seven, Atlanta might have had a shot at safety Landry or offensive tackle Brown. With both off the board, they went with a pass rusher, Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson. If Quinn doesn't go right here to Miami, he'll go from Matt Leinart comparisons to Aaron Rodgers territory. Rodgers dropped all the way to Green Bay at No. 24 two years ago.
No. 9 Miami
So do you really think Brady Quinn could slide to No. 29 and the Ravens? OK, that's not realistic but someone is going to get Brady Quinn who had no idea they have a shot at him. By taking Ohio State speedster Ted Ginn Jr., the Dolphins delivered the shocker of the draft. Ginn is sort of a poor man's Reggie Bush ... actually sort of a destitute pauper's Reggie Bush. First of all, he's a wide receiver and not a running back. But he has Bush-type blazing speed and has a few extra dimensions as a kick and punt returner, but he's also been a little fragile. In the long run, this pick will hurt Miami's future more than it bruised Quinn's pride.
No. 10 Houston (from Atlanta)
If Ginn was a risky pick at No. 9, Houston's selection of Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye is a quality selection at No. 10. For the second year in a row, the Texans used a first-round pick on a defensive lineman. And Okoye might actually help last year's No. 1 overall, Mario Williams, be a better defensive end. Okoye brings character to a locker room despite being just 19 years old. He fast-forwarded his way through high school and graduated from Louisville in 3 1/2 years with a degree in psychology. He should play for more than a decade. Oh, one more thing -- not one of a bumper crop of cornerbacks have not been taken yet. The run on that position should develop soon and it may impact the Ravens, who believe you can never have enough good corners.
Quinn update.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has spirited Brady Quinn from the infamous Green Room, where top draft picks await their selection. In 2005, Aaron Rodgers waited hour after hour watching dollars float away with each team that passed him up. Quinn is being spared that embarrassment.
No. 11 San Francisco
The 49ers went with the first linebacker to be taken in the draft, Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis is built solidly, he's fast and, just as importantly, he was a productive player in college. This isn't a flashy pick but it's a safe one for a team still rebuilding.
No. 12 Buffalo
Obviously, the offseason trade of Willis McGahee to the Ravens influenced the Bills' selection here of Cal running back Marshawn Lynch. In a year when "character issues" are front and center, Lynch is the first player picked who has had serious red flags on his resume. At the combine, he had to explain about a shooting incident in which he was in a car that came under fire. He said he wasn't the intended target and that the shooter even called his mother to apologize -- odd as all that sounds. The Bills have been adamant about the issue of character and it could be argued that they let McGahee go because of attitude issues. Hmmm.
No. 13 St. Louis
The Rams get a big (6 feet 6, nearly 300 pounds), fast (sub-5.0 40-yard dash) and versatile defensive end in Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker.
No. 14 N.Y. Jets (after trade with Carolina)
The Jets gave up their own first-round pick, (the 25th overall), a second and a fifth in exchange for the Panthers' selection right here and a sixth-rounder. For their efforts they get cornerback Derrelle Revis from Pitt. Cover corners-- if there is such a thing in the league considering the rules that hamstring pass defenders -- are still mighty important, and Revis is considered one of the better ones.
No. 15 Pittsburgh
One of the Ravens' main rivals in the AFC North went defense in the first round, selecting Florida State outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons. He's an active, sideline-to-sideline linebacker who steps onto the Pittsburgh roster just as longtime Baltimore nemesis Joey Porter has left Steeltown for Miami.
No. 16 Green Bay
Little kids in Green Bay reacted to the selection of Tennessee DT Justin Harrell like they had just been sentenced to a whole school year of Brussels sprouts for school lunch. Yuch! The usually optimistic little football village went absolutely vicious. So where is the help coming from for the aging Brett Favre? The loudest sound in Green Bay, other than the boos for the pick of Harrell, is the clock ticking on the great No. 4's career.
No. 17 Denver (after trade with Jacksonville)
The Broncos' moved up four spots from No. 21 in a trade with Jacksonville and gave up a third- and sixth-rounder to pick Florida defensive end Jarvis Moss. Moss (6-6, 250) is one of those swing edge guys who is big enough to play DE and athletic enough to play OLB. But he is the fourth defensive end to go so far in the draft, making the position the popular one.
Ravens thought. The next likely team to take Brady Quinn is Kansas City at No. 23. So is it out of the question that the Ravens swap with Dallas at No. 22 (assuming Jacksonville, now at No. 21, also snubs Quinn)? The problem is that Baltimore doesn't have a lot of ammunition with no third- or fourth-round pick for the purposes of trading. The Ravens have two compensatory picks in the fourth round but those are not permitted to be traded.
No. 18 Cincinnati
The Ravens' other threat within the division, besides Pittsburgh, got a great value pick in Michigan cornerback Leon Hall. Considered by some to be the top corner in the draft, Hall has speed in the 4.4 range and is big enough (5-11, 193) to support the run. It's also noteworthy that a team that has made a bad habit of taking guys of dubious character have gotten a player in Hall who is considered a solid citizen. This is a very good pick for the Bengals.
No. 19 Tennessee
The selection of Texas safety Michael Griffin by the Titans definitely skews the draft toward defense. Until now, 12 defensive players have been picked, including the last seven. Only five skill players, a quarterback, two receivers and two running backs, have been chosen.
No. 20 N.Y. Giants
The defensive trend continues with the Giants taking Aaron Ross, Texas cornerback.
No. 21 Jacksonville (after trade with Denver)
With the pick that the Jaguars got from the Jets, they took Florida safety Reggie Nelson -- that's three DBs in a row and the ninth straight defensive player. Value is beginning to build on the offensive side. Dallas is probably listening to some trade offers from teams looking to trump the Chiefs on Quinn.
No. 22 Cleveland (after trade with Dallas)
The Charlie Frye era in Cleveland is over -- maybe. In a weird turn of events, Cleveland, which passed on Quinn at No. 3 overall, grabbed local guy Quinn here after a trade with Dallas. Phil Savage couldn't have engineered this one any better, getting both the top offensive lineman in the draft and now the quarterback they wanted. The price was steep, though, with Cleveland sacrificing its second-round pick this year and its first-rounder next year. This is fraught with risk, though, because if Quinn doesn't make the grade, this deal will put the Browns back for years. And if this was a bittersweet day for Quinn -- whose smile, while he held up the Browns' jersey with No. 1 on it, was incredibly forced -- how do you think Frye is feeling about now? Savage felt he had to move up to get Quinn and the Ravens were a team that had him worried.
No. 23 Kansas City
The Chiefs' top need going into the draft, some felt, was at wide receiver, and that's exactly the position they filled. LSU's Dwayne Bowe is big and strong (6-2, 220), has shown the courage to challenge between the hash marks, and he blocks downfield. He may not be a game-breaker but can move the chains and challenge corners to bring him down.
24. New England (from Seattle)
The Patriots took the a player with the most serious "character" issues, Miami safety Brandon Meriweather. Meriweather tried to stomp on an opposing player in the Hurricanes' brawl with Florida International and he returned fire in a shooting incident where his actions were deemed justifiable. But it's hard to imagine Pats coach Bill Belichick tolerating Meriweather getting even a little out of line.
25. Carolina (after trade with Jets)
This pick is the one the Panthers got from the Jets in a trade earlier in the draft. Carolina's linebackers are adequate to good but the group is a little thin. Miami outside linebacker Jon Beason gives them some quality depth. Just a note: Ravens LB Ray Lewis, another Hurricane, was taken with the No. 26 pick overall in the 1996 draft with a selection that was also acquired in a trade.
No. 26 Dallas (after trade with Philadelphia)
It's unusual for divisional rivals to deal with each other on draft day but the Eagles swapped their first-round position here for three Cowboy picks in rounds two, three and five. If the guy the Cowboys drafted, Purdue defensive end Anthony Spencer, wreaks any havoc on Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb, you can be sure the Eagles will get an earful from their fans.
No. 27 New Orleans
Last year, the Saints hit the jackpot with wide receiver Marques Colston in the seventh round. This time, they went for a receiver in the first round, Tennessee's Robert Meachem. They can only hope that their judgment is nearly as good when they're actually trying to land a blue-chip wideout. Even though New Orleans signed a tight end in the offseason, the top TE in the draft, Greg Olsen, was available here. It's surprising they didn't grab him.
No. 28 San Francisco (after trade with New England)
After trading with New England and moving one slot ahead of the Ravens, the 49ers took Central Michigan offensive tackle Joe Staley. Staley was considered a person of interest in the Ravens' draft plans.
No. 29 Baltimore
It's the least glamorous position in all football. Offensive guard. But the Ravens got arguably the top player at the position in Auburn's Ben Grubbs. Grubbs is listed at 6-3, 315 pounds. After selecting Grubbs, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said that the rookie, along with last year's second-rounder Chris Chester will be competing for jobs along the interior offensive line. "We just told (offensive line coach) Chris Foerster, 'Let's put the best five guys on the field,'" Newsome said. The Ravesn GM also said that Grubbs was the highest rated player on the team's draft board and that it was a fortuitous circumstance that the position also happened to be an area of need for the team. Newsome said that the Ravens considered Quinn but didn't have enough ammunition for a trade without tossing in next year's first-rounder -- something the Ravens were extremely reluctant to do. Right after being drafted, Grubbs said it "was a dream come true." When the telephone caller ID came up Baltimore, Grubbs said he started shouting in jubilation. Grubbs is a former tight end and defensive end so he should be especially athletic for an interior lineman. Much chuckling was going on, both by Newsome and Grubbs, over the fact that the Ravens general manager is an Alabama alumnus and Grubbs is from arch-rival Auburn.
No. 30 San Diego
The Chargers took the fourth LSU player of the first round, wide receiver Craig Davis.
No. 31 Chicago
The Bears got a quality pick late in the first round in Miami TE Greg Olsen, who has the type of size (6-5, 255) and speed (4.5) that presents matchup problems for defenses. Potentially, he's too fast for many linebackers and too big and physical for safeties in coverage.
No. 32 Indianapolis
The Colts finished the longest first round in the history of the NFL draft (6 hours, 8 minutes) by picking another receiver for Peyton Manning, Ohio State WR Anthony Gonzalez.
-Bill Ordine
Ravens left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden promised and he delivered. He said he would make a decision about retiring before the draft, and last night told The Sun even before he spoke with the Ravens. Ogden said he will return for at least another season, and that's great news for the Ravens. Instead of entering the 2007 season with two question marks at the tackle positions, the Ravens only have to worry about third-year right tackle Adam Terry. Ogden played extremely well last season, and his return definitely puts the Ravens back in the position to challenge for a title.
"I'm very happy," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "He played extremely well last year. He still has a thirst for another championship as well as I and the rest of his teammates. I'm happy he is going to continue his career as a Raven."
Don't be surprised if the Ravens trade down on draft day in the first round to pick up an additional third-round pick. The Ravens really like USC center Ryan Kalil and there are some who think he might be available in the second round. If that's the case and the Ravens can make a deal, they might drop back. When you're drafting No. 29 overall like the Ravens, you're basically drafting in the second round anyway. -Mike Preston
While the Ravens are downplaying the fact that they aren't trying to replace Pro Bowl middle linebacker Ray Lewis, they would love to find a prospect. Out of respect, and rightfully so, the Ravens won't dare approach the subject about Lewis having little time left with the team. But at the end of the season, when the coaching staff had their evaluations, the lack of impact plays made by Lewis in 2006 was one of many subjects that were discussed. Lewis is still a good player and he has done a lot for the Ravens, but they really need to start searching for his successor. As the old saying goes, there is nothing wrong with preparing for war in time of peace. - Mike Preston
It was nice to see the Ravens give defensive coordinator Rex Ryan an additional year on his contract. Ryan most likely won't be around after next season, but at least the Ravens gave him something for having the NFL's best defense in 2006. Plus, if he doesn't get hired as a head coach, at least he is under contract and can't leave to take another job as another team's defensive coordinator. Plus, Ryan admitted to being antsy about not having the second year. The Ravens are at least attempting to take care of business and not trying to have a divided locker room in 2007. Next up, Terrell Suggs.
Right out of the gate in contract negotiations, Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Terrell Suggs has told team officials he doesn't want a lot of incentives like he had in his rookie contract. Suggs has told the Ravens he wants more guaranteed money, and his agent has pointed out that Suggs would have had more sacks a year ago, but he drew more double teams than his counterpart on the other side, Trevor Pryce. The Ravens started negotiations with Suggs recently and he has one year left on his current deal. - Mike Preston
Draft day is less than two weeks away, so there is going to be a lot of speculation about possible trades. Within the last several days, three or four teams have inquired about disgruntled Ravens receiver Derrick Mason. Mason basically said he wanted more action at the end of last season, and he suggested it might be time to move on. The Ravens should be able to at least get a third-round pick for Mason, but the Ravens are in a wait-and-see mode as far as trading him. This could go on right up to draft day. - Mike Preston
Keep an eye on USC center Ryan Kalil. The Ravens like him, and he would be a nice second-round pick. For years, the Ravens have watched current center Mike Flynn struggle, but have not made any improvements, partially because he is a favorite of head coach Brian Billick. There have been concerns about Kalil's size, but he eased most of those in the Senior Bowl. Kalil has a good initial pop and never lets up. He uses leverage well and has decent footwork. He has good athleticism. Only drawback is that he'll struggle against bullrushers. - Mike Preston
It's a good sign that the Ravens will begin negotiations with Pro Bowl outside linebacker/defensive end Terrell Suggs. He has one year left on his contract, and you really would like to sign him to an extension before the season begins. A new contract takes a lot of pressure off the player and it's not something the Ravens want to deal with if they're going to make a serious push for a championship. In previous seasons, failure to re-sign players became a big issue in the locker room. - Mike Preston
Tennessee offensive tackle/guard Arron Sears is expected to visit the Ravens Wednesday. Sears has the potential to be a first-round draft pick, and was on the All-SEC team last season. - Mike Preston
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