As soon as the draft finished, the pursuit of undrafted free agents started in earnest Sunday night. At least seven players from Maryland, Morgan State or Towson signed with NFL teams on Monday.
Maryland had six players sign, including wide receiver Isaiah Williams with the Ravens. Offensive linemen Scott Burley (Woodlawn) and Edwin Williams signed with the Redskins, and linebackers Dave Philistine and Chase Bullock signed with the Cardinals. Defensive end Jeremy Navarre (Joppatown) signed the the Jaguars.
Terps linebacker Trey Covington was still weighing his options, agent Kevin Fitzpatrick said Monday.
Morgan State nose tackle Lonnie Harvey (Edmondson) signed a three-year deal with the Panthers.
Three more local players will receive free-agent tryouts. Defensive linebacker Dean Muhtadi and offensive lineman Dane Randolph (Wilde Lake) of Maryland will try out with the Packers. Towson's 6-foot-7 wide receiver Tommy Breaux will try to earn a contract in this weekend's minicamp with the Redskins.
It is always wise to give Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome the benefit of doubt when it comes to the draft. Very few executives can maneuver through the college draft as deftly as Newsome does.
But when the Ravens rolled out of the two-day draft without a speedy wide receiver, it begged the question, "What's up?"
Getting Michael Oher in the first round was still another case of a good player dropping. The Ravens were proactive, going up to get him. All well and good. Jared Gaither and Oher could form one of the best tackle tandems in the NFL before long. That helps everybody, running backs, quarterback, receivers.
No knock on the rest of the picks, either. If Newsome and Eric DeCosta picked them, they must bring something special to the table. I won't quibble over any red flags at this point.
But where was the vertical threat that will boost the passing game? Where was the wideout that's going to stretch the field?
Is he on somebody else's roster right now? Is he out on bail somewhere?
It would help to eliminate the options that aren't likely to materialize first.
Let's scratch Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals rejected a second-round pick from the Bears on Saturday (No. 49 overall), according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Seems like it'll take at least a first-round pick to pry him loose. Then you've got to sign him. Oh, and did we mention, he wants $8- to $10 million on a new deal? OK, forget him.
Let's not even entertain Braylon Edwards. Would the Browns trade a potential playmaker within the division? George Kokinis wouldn't. So he's out.
Don't even bring up Plaxico Burress. He's without a team right now, unless you consider his potential prison team. Shoot yourself in the leg in a crowded restaurant in New York City and you need time to reflect on things. He's not an option now, not until he's cleared all his legal hurdles. But keep him in mind.
So, who's the guy?
To listen to Newsome, the Ravens already have him. Got him in 2006, fourth round, out of Oregon. Name of Demetrius Williams.
He's fast, he's big, he's talented. He's scored three touchdowns in five starts and 32 games with the Ravens. Two of them went for 70- and 77-yard touchdowns.
The downside is he played only 16 games the past two seasons because of ankle issues. Staying on the field has been the hard part so far. Here's what Newsome said on Sunday about the lack of a wideout in the draft:
"I will again say this: We went to the AFC championship game with the guys that we had, and Demetrius was not healthy. We get a healthy Demetrius Williams back -- and he's working toward that -- then with the way we're going to be able to protect it, the way Joe [Flacco] can throw it, the way our running backs can run it, and the way we play defense and special teams, we'll be around at the end of December and January just with the team we have right now. I feel very good about that."
Newsome also alluded to the fact there will be more players who become available before the season, just as tackle Willie Anderson was last year. That makes sense, too. But anybody good enough to elevate a whole offense is going to cost a lot of money. And that starts trouble with an established group.
I have received some feedback about my column on the Ravens' top draft pick, Michael Oher, the offensive tackle from Mississippi. I went on the record earlier this week suggesting the Ravens select an offensive tackle, and support the decision the Ravens made yesterday.
I simply wanted to point out in this morning's column that the Ravens finally got a tough, physical bodyguard for quarterback Joe Flacco. If some people thought I was questioning his intelligence and were offended, those were not my intentions.
I watched Oher's interview on TV shortly after he was drafted, and was impressed with what he said. There was no flowery prose or Oher talking about himself in the third person. No one talked about his 40 time or how he could turn around the team.
Oher simply talked about becoming a Raven and getting a chance to play football. You could feel his passion in that brief interview, and you got the feeling that he wanted to play football right now. You left knowing that he was an offensive lineman who wanted to roll up his sleeves and get to work. I've always advocated building offensive and defensive lines when building a football team. That will never change.
Oher completes the building of an offensive line that is young, aggressive and extremely physical. He gives the Ravens power at the right tackle position they haven't had for years.
It was a good move by the Ravens to trade up three spots and grab him at No. 23 overall instead of waiting to see if he dropped to No. 26. Oher has overcome a lot during his life, and the kid has a great story.
Again, my intention was to point out how physical and aggressive he was as a player, how he could help the Ravens' passing game and that he could become Flacco's No. 1 bodyguard. There was never any intention to offend anyone, especially Oher and his family.
Creative Artists Agency, led by Tom Condon and Ben Dogra, had a second straight record day in the first round Saturday. A year ago, CAA represented six players in the first round, the most ever by one agency.
Saturday, CAA had seven of the first 15 picks in the draft, and nine of the first 19. The count included QB Matt Stafford (1), OT Jason Smith (2), WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (3), RB Knowshon Moreno (12), DE Brian Orako (13), CB Malcolm Jenkins (14), OLB Brian Cushing (15), QB Josh Freeman (17) and WR Jeremy Maclin (19).
Welcome to the Baltimore Sun's NFL draft blog. During the first day of the draft, we will blog the draft pick-by-pick. Here is the first round.
33. Detroit -- Louis Delmas, S, West. Michigan Free safety. Lots of production as a four-year starter (310 tackles, 12 interceptions).
34. New England (from K.C) -- Patrick Chung, S, Oregon Strong safety. Hitter with some return skills. Started all four years for Oregon.
35. St. Louis -- James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State. Value pick in the second round. Considered the top ILB in some circles, he was hugely productive as a college player (366 tackles)
36. Cleveland -- Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State. The second player chosen in this draft who comes from an NFL family (but not to be the last). His father Terry is a former player and coaches WRs for Atlanta. Best year was in 2007 (55 catches)because he played with a freshman QB last season.
37. Denver (from Seattle) -- Alphonso Smith, CB, Wake Forest Smith is just 5-9, 193 but he makes up for it with quickness and instinct.
38. Cincinnati, Rey Maualuga, LB, USC. Like Laurinaitis, he's a value pick in the second round. Compared to Ray Lewis as a big hitter and a presence in the middle of the defense.
39. Jacksonville -- Eben Britton, OT, Arizona. Huge, 6-6, 310. Can play both RT and LT but has just one season on the left side. Might be a year away from starting.
40. New England (from Oakland) -- Ron Brace, DT, Boston College Big guy (330 pounds), played alongside Raji at B.C.
41. New England -- Darius Butler, CB, Conn. Versatile cover corner who has slash potential. He has played QB and WR. Very much in the Patriot mold.
42. Buffalo -- Jairus Byrd, CB, Oregon. Son of former Charger DB, Gill Byrd, Jairus is a tough CB and has a nose for the ball.
43. Carolina (from San Francisco) -- Everette Brown, DE, Florida State . At his best, he might be a Dwight Freeney-type, right side edge rusher although not as dominant.
44. Miami (from Wash.) -- Pat White, QB/WR, West Virgina . A slash-type player who would seem to fit into the Dolphins' Wildcat offense in a bunch of ways.
46. Houston -- Connor Barwin, DE, Cincinnati Reminds some of Mike Vrabel, a high-motor defensive player who can also catch an occasional pass.
47. Oakland (from New England) (from S.D.) -- Michael Mitchell, S, Ohio
The Magical Mystery Tour continues out in Oakland. If you want to see Mitchell's name listed, try the phone book. Apparently rising on on his workouts. Seriously, even if you think the guy is a gem, don't you think you can get him on the second day?
48. Denver -- Darcel McBath, S, Texas Tech A little unusual for a safety, he's regarded more as a cover guy than a big hitter.
49. Seattle (from Chicago) -- Max Unger, C, Oregon Can have a long career in the NFL because he can play anywhere along the offensive line.
50. Cleveland (from T.B.) -- Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia. Improved as a senior but he was also playing with Matt Stafford.
51. Buffalo (from Dallas) -- Andre Levitre, OG, Oregon State. Considered a better run blocker than pass protector at this stage.
52. Cleveland -- David Veikune, DE, Hawaii. Nine sacks, four forced fumbles as a senior.
53. Philadelphia -- LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt. Fills a need with the Eagles who are thin at RB.
54. Minnesota -- Phil Loadholt, OT, Oklahoma Winner of the Big Guy Award so far, 6-8, 332 pounds.
55. Atlanta -- William Moore, S, Missouri A big DB at 222, he has the potential to be an intimidator in the secondary.
56. Indianapolis (from Miami) -- Fili Moala, DT, USC At 6-4, 303, Moala was quietly efficient but comes up with a couple of big plays a game. He had 10 TFL, 4 1/2 sacks and two blocked FGs.
57. Baltimore -- Paul Kruger, DE, Utah Kruger, who spent two years on a LDS Church mission, is 6-4, 265 and probably needs to put some muscle on to take on the OLs in the NFL if he is to play DE. In fact, he could wind up playing LB. Said that he believes he brings energy and heart to the game and describes himself as a guy who plays with emotion. Lost a kidney in an ATV accident when he was 13 and survived a stabbing during the winter of 2007 in a melee.
58. New England -- Sebastian Vollmer, OT, Houston. Has the size (6-7, 310) for a pro OT. His pass protection was rated higher than his run blocking.
59. Carolina -- Sherrod Martin, DB, Troy Smaller school prospect with sub-4.5 speed who may be able to play either CB or S.
60. N.Y. Giants -- William Beatty, OT, Conn. Played LT and helped Donald Brown rush for 2,000-plus yards.
61. Miami -- Sean Smith, DB, Utah Extremely tall for a CB at 6-3 and 214. For comparison, think former Eagle CB Bobby Taylor.
Welcome to The Baltimore Sun's NFL draft blog. Throughout the first day of the NFL draft, we'll be updating the first and second rounds, pick by pick. If you haven't already heard, the Detroit Lions have already made Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford the No. 1 overall selection, putting St. Louis on the clock. The Ravens currently draft 26th -- barring any trades.
Refresh your browser for the latest updates.
1, Detroit -- Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia. As expected the Lions started their rebuilding from the 0-16 disaster by taking the guy they hope will be their franchise quarterback. By now, everyone knows the risk inherent in taking a quarterback in the first round. If the Lions whiff on this pick, their rebuilding will be set back years. But really, what choice did they have? They could have tried to trade down and get multiple picks and go with veteran Daunte Culpepper as a place-holder, but there's risk in that approach as well. With the immediate success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco last year, there was pressure on the Lions to make a similar move. Here are some Stafford highlights.
2. St. Louis -- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor. When the Rams were the "Greatest Show on Turf," one of the building blocks was their great tackle, Orlando Pace, who is now with the Bears. Before you can throw, you have to protect. Pass protection is Smith's forte. He's 6-foot-5, 308 pounds, but along with size, he has terrific athleticism. In 2008, he did not allow a defensive end to beat him, according to draft expert Mel Kiper. Here's Smith, No. 72, at work.
3. Kansas City -- Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU. First surprise of the draft. At 6-foot-5, 296 pounds, he is projected more as an anchor against the run on the defensive left side rather than an edge pass rusher. Jackson does not have extraordinary speed. The Chiefs will have some explaining to do on this one.
4. Seattle -- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest. The Seahawks wasted no time in taking advantage of what they probably feel was a mistake by the Chiefs. Curry was the consensus best defensive player in the draft. Curry's strength is that he has no weaknesses. He can stop the run, cover in man-to-man and if he needs to, can be an adequate pass rusher and maybe even a good-to-very good rusher. He is not real tall -- 6-foot-1 1/2 -- but he has been tremendously productive and durable. He carries about 250 pounds in under 4.54 seconds.
5. Jets (from Cleveland). Mark Sanchez, QB, USC. -- Rex Ryan gets his quarterback. The Southern California signal-caller gets high marks for his leadership. Sanchez played a pro-style offense and can deliver the timing passes. He threw 34 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions last season. The Jets gave up their own first-rounder, No. 17, a second-rounder and three veteran players. Predictably, the pick was extremely popular with Jets fans in attendance. ESPN's Chris Berman said the Jets just sold 20,000 PSLs. Does Boomer know about the recession?
6. Cincinnati -- Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. The Bengals already have a quarterback, Carson Palmer. Now, they need to protect him. Smith is 6-foot-4, 332 pounds -- a giant even by NFL standards. He is a young player, a junior who made himself eligible for the draft, so he may have to mature a bit. He has been called a bit of a gamble because he doesn't always do things by the numbers. For instance, he didn't work out at the combine.
7. Oakland -- Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland. Al Davis is soooo predictable. Blinded by Heyward-Bey's 4.30 speed, the Raiders took the speedster higher than anyone else in the league would have even considered. They are howling in draft war rooms across the country. The Terps junior wideout hasn't shown great hands. But he's going to be rich.
8. Jacksonville -- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia. The fact that Monroe is the third offensive tackle to be chosen in the first eight picks illustrates how important that position is in having a successful offense. He's 6-foot-5, 308 pounds and was a starter for three years.
9. Green Bay -- B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College. At 6-foot-1, 334 pounds, Raji is a plugger, like the Ravens' Haloti Ngata. But what separates a great nose tackle from a so-so one is nimbleness and foot quickness. It remains to be seen whether Raji has that going for him.
10. San Francisco -- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech. Oakland's mistake could turn into San Francisco's stroke of luck. He doesn't have great size (6-foot-1) or blazing speed (4.55), but Crabtree has great hands and plays faster than the stopwatch says he should. Good route runner who can play the far outside as well as the slot. Enormously productive with 231 catches, 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns as a two-year starter.
11. Buffalo -- Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State. The Bills went for a pass rushing defensive end in the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Maybin. A typical tweener, he's a hybrid DE/OLB with good speed/size ratio. He runs a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash.
12. Denver -- Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia. Broncos fans are scratching their heads. This is the team that was able to take almost any running back and turn him into a 1,000-yard rusher. But that was under Mike Shanahan.
13. Washington -- Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas. Pass rushing defensive end who comes off the defensive right edge. It's definitely a tactical pick to compliment the offseason acquisition of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. The Redskins had just 19 sacks last year, and now they have superior inside push along with the threat from the right.
14. New Orleans --Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State With the 26th-ranked defense in the league, the Saints obviously needed to pay attention to that side of the ball. This is something of a coup to get the top DB on the board this deep in the first round.
15. Houston -- Brian Cushing, OLB, USC. Solid player who can play anywhere you need him at linebacker. Decent size, 6-2, 243, and decent speed (4.65). Has a lot of tools, including pass coverage ability.
16. San Diego -- Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois. First smaller-school player to be selected. Was a DL that obviously projects as a LB. Interesting pick because of his size (6-2, 253) and recognized grit. Has a reputation for playing hard on every snap. Can make impact plays, had eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss as a senior but that was the Mid-American Conference.
17. Tampa Bay (from Cleveland) (from N.Y. Jets). Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State. With a roster full of mediocre arms, the Bucs may have reached to get what was probably the best available QB on the board. A huge kid, 6-5, 248, Freeman probably will need a fair amount of seasoning and coaching with his footwork and delivery.
18. Denver (from Chicago) -- Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. Figures to project as a left defensive end but at 6-3, 272, he may have to get bigger. Hard to pigeon-hole this guy because he seems to be a little light for the left side and doesn't have the great quickness you want to see at right defensive end.
19. Philadelphia (from) Cleveland (from Tampa Bay) -- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri. The Eagles' Andy Reid is determined to prove he can win a Super Bowl without a Pro Bowl wide receiver. That's the only explanation. With the Cardinals' Anquan Boldin just waiting to be traded, the Eagles move up two spots to take a slot receiver who does not stretch the field and is not a particularly big target. Those boos you heard at Radio City Music Hall were obviously Eagles fans.
20. Detroit (from Dallas) -- Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Not a bad selection here. The Lions need everything so they got the best available QB and the best available TE. Can both catch and block. Good size (6-5, 263), OK speed at 4.80 and decent production (42 catches, 472 yards as a senior).
21. Cleveland (from Philadelphia) -- Alex Mack, C, California. The Browns have been collecting picks as Eric Mangini rebuilds the fanchise. The Mack pick reminds one of what Mangini did early in his Jets tenure when he took two offensive linemen in the first round, including center Nick Mangold.
22. Minnesota -- Percy Harvin, WR, Florida. Big-game performer with blazing speed (4.39). However, Harvin comes with the baggage of so-called "character issues." He failed the drug test at the NFL combine, which makes you wonder. If a player is ever going to be clean, shouldn't it be when his entire future is on the line. He's a tough kid and willing to take a hit but he is a gamble, especially for a franchise that took a shot on character with the infamous Love Boat incident.
23.Baltimore (from New England) -- Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. The Ravens pick one of the best human-interest stories of the draft. At 6-4, 309, he has prototypical size for a left tackle. Immediately after being drafted, he promised that "Baltimore got a great player." If you're a Ravens fan, you'll hear plenty about Oher's youth, how he came from a fractured family, was in one school after another and was finally taken in by a family who gave him the structure and support he needed.
24. Altanta -- Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi. He's a 25-year-old rookie who the Falcons hope will help strengthen a defense that lagged behind the offense.
25. Miami -- Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois. Particularly strong and solidly built for a corner at 5-11, 203. Figures to be strong at supporting the run and with 4.44 speed at least has the tools to turn-and-run. It's a move toward toughening the Dolphins in the mold of a Bill Parcells team.
26. Green Bay (from New England) (from the Ravens) -- Clay Matthews, LB, USC. Good pick for the Packers this late in the first round. Son of former longtime NFL LB of the same name and nephew of former OL Bruce Matthews. Was a walk-on at Southern California who started as a senior. Tenacious with good size/speed ration (6-3, 240, 4.62) and good production (65 tackles, 4 1/2 sacks).
27. Indianapolis -- Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut. Rushed for more than 2,000 yards as a senior and scored 33 TDs for his career. Good measuarables (5-10, 210, 4.46) and a decent pass catcher. Figures to be part of a one-two punch that is the fashion these days in the NFL.
28. Buffalo (from Philadelphia) -- Eric Wood, C, Louisville. The type of player a team hopes will play a decade in the middle of the line. Certainly has pro size (6-4, 304) but gets high marks for smarts and leadership. He was the team captain at Louisville.
29. N.Y. Giants -- Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina. So what do you think is going through Anquan Boldin's head about now. The Giants filled the hole left by the departure of Plaxico Burress with Nicks. Meanwhile, the veteran Pro Bowl player who figured to bring the Cardinals a first-round pick is being moved to the clearance table.
30. Tennessee -- Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers. Boldin is dissed again. Britt is bigger (nearly 6-3, 218) than quick. But for all the knocks on his game -- not great hands, not a great leaper, not a great blocker -- he still had more than 3,000 receiving yards during his career.
31. Arizona -- Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State. Cardinals take the player with the best old-school nickname in the draft. Typical Big 10 power runner at 6-1, 235. North-south guy who breaks tackles and believes the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. One would think that Edgerrin James' days are numbered in the Valley of the Sun.
32. Pittsburgh -- Evander "Ziggy" Hood, DT, Missouri. Obviously, there's a run on cool nicknames at the moment. Could develop into a decent pass-rushing DT.
With three offensive tackles being taken in the first eight picks, there is a good chance Mississippi OT Michael Oher won't be around by the time the Ravens pick at No. 26. I was hoping Oher might somehow slip to the Ravens, but that was wishful thinking anyway. Oher would be a good pick for the Ravens.
Oakland coach Tom Cable phoned Darrius Heyward-Bey minutes ago to tell him they would take him with the seventh pick. The room erupted when Roger Goodell made the announcement, and Darrius quickly pulled on a Raiders cap.
"I'll see you in Oakland," Heyward-Bey told Cable on his cell phone, then turned and hugged Devard Darling.
First-year head coach Rex Ryan is playing the right cards. As a rookie head coach, he knows he has a honeymoon for a year. Ryan has always been a gambler, so it was no shock he might trade up and do a deal with Cleveland to get USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick. Ryan, the former Ravens defensive coordinator, doesn't mind putting his neck out. Also, the trade shows how desperate the Jets are at the quarterback position.
While a party of 30 swirled around a home in Silver Spring Saturday morning, Vivian Heyward-Bey seemed relaxed and ready for the day her son learns his NFL destination. Unmoved by reports that Darrius might wind up in Oakland with the Raiders' seventh pick, Vivian kept her emotions in control.
Darrius credits his mother with his work ethic and character, and she said in her family growing up, there was little choice.
"I come from a family that has strong character," she said. "I lost my father five years ago at 92, and he was an upstanding man. As far as our family, we didn't get in trouble."
Vivian left open the possibility of joining Darrius in Oakland if that rumor becomes fact. But she said she's also equally prepared to let him go off on his own, too.
"Darrius made me feel very comfortable in what he thinks," she said.
Here’s the latest Anquan Boldin rumor making the rounds (of course, when it comes to draft day, it’s all speculation):
If the Ravens draft Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew -- which I would say is 50-50 at this point -- they would offer their second-round pick and tight end Todd Heap to the Arizona Cardinals for Boldin.
Pettigrew would have to get past the Detroit Lions (No. 20), Philadelphia Eagles (No. 21) and Buffalo Bills (trading up from No. 28).
One potential holdup is that the Ravens have been unable to negotiate with Boldin. According to profootballtalk.com, Boldin and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have not received permission to talk to a new team about a contract.
That means any team willing to trade for the disgruntled receiver would be at a disadvantage when it comes to reaching a new deal with Boldin. When the Ravens traded for quarterback Steve McNair a few years ago, they had agreed in principle on a deal with him before completing the trade.
Another team that could emerge in a trade for Boldin is the Tennessee Titans. According to Scout.com, the Cardinals are “gathering information” on Titans running backs LenDale White and Chris Henry. This could be the precursor for a deal that includes a second-round pick and one of those players.
Given the urgency of teams at the top of the draft to trade back, you can probably toss the draft value chart today. Ravens director of personnel Eric DeCosta said this morning the Ravens don't follow the chart, but use one of their own as a guideline.
For instance, last year when the Ravens wanted to trade out of the 8th spot to get Joe Flacco, they accepted less from the Jaguars than the chart indicated. DeCosta said it's the difference in genuinely wanting to make a trade or trying to follow an accountant-like process that may not work in your best interest.
In other words, if you really want to trade out, get the best deal you can and ignore the chart rather than take a player you really don't want. Now that the Lions have a contract with QB Matt Stafford, eight of the next nine teams are willing to trade out of their position.
It could get interesting as early as the fifth pick. That belongs to the Browns. Down the line, at No. 17, the Jets are exploring the idea of trading up to get QB Mark Sanchez. The lines of communication should be open because George Kokinis, the GM of the Browns, and Rex Ryan, coach of the Jets, are pretty familiar with each other from their days with the Ravens.
In that event, the Jets aren't going to give the value the chart suggests, and the Browns probably aren't going to ask for it.
Chances of Boldin staying in Arizona "pretty high"
Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves told the team's official Web site on Friday that the chances of wide receiver Anquan Boldin staying with the team are "pretty high.”
Graves made that assessment after receiving just one trade offer for Boldin. He declined to name the team but he said it wasn't close to what the Cardinals are seeking for the disgruntled wide receiver.
“Our priority has always been to extend Anquan at some point and we felt before doing so we had to at least explore opportunities a trade might present,” Graves told azcardinals.com. “We have done that and the process is still not over, but it looks as if him staying with us and at least the possibility of an extension seems more of a reality than a trade.”
According to ESPN, the Arizona Cardinals have lowered their asking price to a second-round pick for wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
The New York Jets, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles have all renewed their interest in the disgruntled receiver, ESPN reported Friday.
The Ravens talked to the Cardinals last week but they weren't willing to give up multiple picks, a league source said.
If the Cardinals have dropped their demands, they will likely deal with the Giants (45th overall selection), Jets (52nd) and Eagles (53rd) before the Ravens, who have the 57th overall pick.
Friday: Live chat with Jamison Hensley and Ken Murray
Baltimore Sun reporters Jamison Hensley and Ken Murray will answer questions on the Ravens and the NFL draft during a live chat on Ravens Insider Friday. Hensley will take questions noon-12:30 p.m., and Murray will chat 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best defensive tackles in the NFL draft:
1. B. J. Raji, Boston College: Great fit for 3-4 defense as 337-pound run-stuffer.
2. Peria Jerry, Mississippi: Disruptive force; could play 4-3 (tackle) or 3-4 (end) schemes.
3. Ziggy Hood, Missouri: Athletic tackle who gets good push into the pocket.
4. Ron Brace, Boston College: Overshadowed by Raji, is quick and disruptive.
5. Fili Moala, USC: Underrated, athletic force.
Ravens' needs: Kelly Gregg is expected to make a full recovery, and Haloti Ngata is Pro Bowl caliber. The Ravens don't have a need at the position, but a prospect with the right stuff could be worth a late-round pick.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best inside linebackers in the NFL draft:
1. Rey Maualuga, USC: Throwback with great explosiveness and speed.
2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State: Intangibles and instincts made him ultra-productive.
3. Darry Beckwith, LSU: Fluid player who can defend against the run and the pass.
4. Clint Sintim, Virginia: Better fit in 3-4, very physical and productive inside.
5. Jason Phillips, TCU: Undersized player with speed and athleticism.
Ravens' needs: The loss of Bart Scott and Ray Lewis' age make this a position of need. Tavares Gooden needs to step up in his second year, and Dwan Edwards will be back, so there is talent in the wings. The Ravens likely will have a shot at either Maualuga or Laurinaitis.
Former Ravens coach Brian Billick will be a draft analyst for the NFL Network this weekend. Here are some excerpts from this week's national conference call with the media:
What are your thoughts on the No. 1 overall pick?
Billick: The Detroit Lions situation has nothing to do with Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez and how good they are. The Detroit Lions were 0-16 and all that comes with it. If you take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick with the history that has been shown, if you're the Detroit Lions, can you survive that? You can't consider that when you make your evaluations and go forward, but it's silly to think you can do that in a vacuum. It's a very interesting pick.
Is there a risk in drafting a quarterback coming out as a junior?
Billick: As you see Mark Sanchez go up and down the board, and move up the board because people seem to think he's pretty good. That fact that he -- on the flip side of that -- has had the one year. The Akili Smith analogy, I think that's got a lot of people concerned. Obviously, whether he comes out as a senior or as a junior, if you have at least two full years and that much tape to evaluate ... that's kind of a bonus. So I think that extra year -- having two full seasons -- is a substantial difference. ... A lot of people who like Sanchez are a little nervous because of the one year.
Can you find running backs late in this draft?
Billick: Those second-day guys, you're all hoping there's a Terrell Davis out there someplace. What we're seeing more and more as a trend is a lack of willingness to take a running back early in the draft because I think this has clearly become a two-back running back league.
What’s your impression of this wide receiver class?
Billick: Now, the two guys you might see a level of productivity (from are) Jeremy Maclin and Percy Harvin because they also might give you some return capability. But I don't know if there's anybody in this draft that you're expecting to come in and have an 80- or 90-catch year. It's a much tougher transition position for wide receivers than probably -- other than quarterback -- any other position.
How would you rate Bill Parcells’ impact on the Miami Dolphins?
Billick: For me, the key to them right now is there’s one voice. There is one plan. It doesn’t mean it is total dictatorial. At the end of the day, he has a very clear vision for where this team is going, and everybody knows that. Everyone is going to chip in, but there’s that strength at the top, and I think that’s important. For other organizations, that can get diluted.
To get Gonzalez, the Falcons traded a second-round pick in 2010. That seems like a low price for a 10-time Pro Bowl selection. He caught 96 passes for 1,058 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and owns NFL career records for tight ends with 916 receptions, 10,940 yards receiving and 76 TDs receiving.
With the Falcons no longer in need of a tight end, the only team that stands in the way of the Ravens landing Pettigrew is the Philadelphia Eagles at the 21st pick. But most mock drafts have the Eagles selecting Knowshon Moreno, the running back from Georgia.
The Browns have scheduled a workout with Maryland receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey for tomorrow morning in College Park. They're not going to take him with the fifth pick, so that suggests they are close to pulling the trigger on a trade that sends Braylon Edwards to the Giants.
In that scenario, they get the Giants' 29th pick and would hope that Heyward-Bey might still be available. That would presume the Jets, Vikings, Dolphins, Ravens and Colts all pass on the fastest player at February's combine.
Todd McShay has his own mock draft at ESPN and often debates Baltimore's Mel Kiper Jr. about the draft. In a conference call with national media Tuesday, McShay spoke to a number of issues.
Do you expect the Lions to take quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first pick?
McShay: I'll be surprised if Detroit goes in any other direction besides Stafford. I think they've honed in on him. I know they're negotiating now with him. ... I think it will be Stafford and I think they are convinced that they need to get it done [contract signed] before the draft.
What do you expect the Jets to do about their quarterback situation?
McShay: They still have some deciding to do. They've only been around these quarterbacks for a short period of time. Kellen Clemens has upside and obviously has not played to his potential so far, but also has not had a whole lot of game experience. ... If Mark Sanchez starts to fall a little bit, if you can get a good deal to move up and get him, I think it would be a wise move. Otherwise, I'd ... go with a wide receiver. I would not take Josh Freeman and go through another developmental process with a quarterback that needs two to three years of developing. ... I wouldn't reach for a player just because I have a need there.
What teams might take Sanchez?
McShay: He could come off the board as early as Seattle at No. 4. Of all the players in this year's class, right now he seems to be the hottest moving up and teams are realizing as they meet with him and are around him more that he just has an infectious attitude. He loves the game. He's a gym rat. He has leadership skills and I think that's playing well with a lot of teams that are spending personal time with him. Seattle at No. 4 is a strong possibility. The next spot is Jacksonville at eight, if they're willing to trade out. I think the Jets are a possibility to trade up. Washington, you never know with Dan Snyder. He's met with him twice personally. ... If he gets past No. 8, I'd say San Francisco. Whether the 49ers take him or trade that pick, I don't see Sanchez getting out of the top 10 picks.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best safeties in the NFL draft:
1. Louis Delmas, Western Michigan: Physical playmaker who will be good in run support.
2. Patrick Chung, Oregon: Can play third receiver in the slot. Smart with good instincts.
3. Chip Vaughn, Wake Forest: Better in pass coverage than run support.
4. Rashad Johnson, Alabama: Good ball skills; had 11 picks in two years. Inconsistent.
5. William Moore, Missouri: Strong in run support, lacking in speed.
Ravens' needs: Intriguing position because the Ravens let versatile Jim Leonhard escape to the Jets. They have Dawan Landry coming off a cervical injury and Ed Reed now has a chronic neck problem. That could leave Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura playing in a pinch. They probably need to find a corner-safety somewhere in the draft.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best cornerbacks in the NFL draft:
1. Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State: His speed is the only knock; he’s got everything else.
2. Darius Butler, UConn: Not as physical as NFL likes, but he’s got speed, a good vertical jump and great athleticism.
3. Vontae Davis, Illinois: Skilled but inconsistent. Would’ve helped himself by staying in college.
4. Alphonso Smith, Wake Forest: Terrific ball skills and instincts help make up for his size (5-9).
5. Sean Smith, Utah: Versatile, 6-3 corner who, like Jenkins, might work better at safety.
Ravens' needs: Expect the Ravens to tap a corner somewhere high in the draft, although not necessarily in the first round. There are a lot of smallish corners who could play in the slot and work into a starting position. Even though the Ravens have numbers, you don't know whether Samari Rolle and Fabian Washington, two slightly built corners, can hold up over a full season.
Losses: WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, LT Stacy Andrews, S Dexter Jackson.
First-round projection: The Cincinnati Bengals will have several options, but the one that makes the most sense is getting a tackle to protect Carson Palmer. Alabama’s Andre Smith lost his luster at the combine, and he’ll have to mature quickly, but he would fill a huge hole left by the departure of Andrews.
Other scenarios: After losing Houshmandzadeh, the Bengals need receivers. Laveranues Coles, a free-agent addition, is a short-term answer. Sooner or later, the team has to get serious about rebuilding the defense. This could be the year.
Baltimore Sun reporters Jamison Hensley and Ken Murray answered readers' questions on the Ravens and NFL draft in a live chat at noon Wednesday. Click below to read a full transcript of the chat.
Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said Tuesday that he anticipates more conversations from teams regarding wide receiver Anquan Boldin as the NFL draft approaches this weekend.
“Quite a few teams have called, but we have no offers,” Graves told Arizona reporters at a pre-draft news conference. “Anything can evolve from this point through draft day.”
The Ravens are one of the teams that have shown interest in Boldin, according to a league source. But the Ravens aren't interested in giving up multiple draft picks for Boldin, the source said.
Graves denied reports they are asking for first- and third-round picks in return for Boldin.
“We haven’t specified what we’re looking for, or anything along those lines,” Graves said.
But a league source told The Baltimore Sun that the Cardinals' starting point has been picks in the first and third rounds. There has been talk around the league that the Cardinals could be dropping their asking price.
Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt reiterated Tuesday that the team prefers to keep Boldin,
who has two years remaining on his contract.
“We never said we were trying to trade Anquan,” Whisenhunt told Arizona reporters. “See, that’s been the perception that’s out there. All we’ve said was that we were willing to listen to offers.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best tight ends in the NFL draft:
1. Brandon Pettigrew, Oklahoma State: Best combination of receiver/blocker in the draft. He’ll be a terrific target in the red zone.
2. Jared Cook, South Carolina: Prone to make the tough catches, Cook has great potential in the passing game, not so much in the run game.
3. James Casey, Rice: Should make his mark as an H-back. Has good pass-catching skills. Is not a blocker.
4. Shawn Nelson, Southern Mississippi: Another prospect who figures to catch better than he blocks.
5. Cornelius Ingram, Florida: Big, strong tight end who missed the 2008 season with a torn knee ligament.
Ravens' needs: Todd Heap’s production was down last season, primarily because he was asked to help protect Joe Flacco. Because of that and his injury history, the Ravens are in the market for a tight end who can be a red-zone weapon.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best offensive linemen in the NFL draft:
1. Jason Smith, Baylor: Played in a spread offense, which means he’ll need to work on run blocking in the NFL. But the former tight end is very athletic and physical at 6 feet 5 and 309 pounds, with a mean streak.
2. Eugene Monroe, Virginia: Superb pass blocker who kept Branden Albert (Glen Burnie) at guard two years ago. Albert played tackle last season in the NFL.
3. Andre Smith, Alabama: His immaturity showed at the combine and in his workouts, but he may be the most skilled tackle in the draft.
4. Michael Oher, Mississippi: Projects as a solid left tackle, but work ethic questions surround him.
5. Eben Britton, Arizona: Projects on the right side, has quick feet, but could use some more weight.
Ravens' needs: They need a right tackle to work in behind Willie Anderson. They’ll probably go to the second tier, where they could find Phil Loadholt or William Beatty.
Losses: TE Kellen Winslow, WR Joe Jurevicius, OT Kevin Shaffer, LB Andra Davis.
First-round projection: The Cleveland Browns most likely will get their choice of the top receiver (Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree) or top pass-rushing defensive end (Texas' Brian Orakpo) at No. 5. They also could go for the third offensive tackle if they felt comfortable with Alabama's Andre Smith.
Other scenarios: Assuming the Browns trade Braylon Edwards, the need for a wideout will be even greater. The deal would likely bring them a second pick in the first round – the New York Giants’ at 29? – and a chance to get four of the top 50 players in the draft. That would go a long way toward the George Kokinis-Eric Mangini reclamation project.
Up next: Check Ravens Insider Thursday morning for a look at the Cincinnati Bengals' needs heading into the draft.
Boldin's price might be dropping into Ravens' range
Talk around the NFL is that the Arizona Cardinals are willing to lower their asking price for wide receiver Anquan Boldin to a first-round pick and a player.
This comes a day after a source told The Baltimore Sun that the Ravens would not trade their first- and third-round picks for Boldin.
The Ravens might be the only team willing to give up a first-round pick for Boldin. The Cardinals might be more inclined to trade Boldin to the Ravens because it would get him out of the NFC.
Joe Hortiz answered a few questions from The Baltimore Sun before working his first draft as the Ravens’ director of college scouting.
What’s the deepest position in this draft?
Hortiz: Offensive tackle is a pretty deep position. The question is how long it stays deep. There could be a run on them. There could be three or four in the top 10. So, all of a sudden, a position that’s deep to begin the draft might get thinned out.
With the talent that exits with the junior class, wideouts is a deep position, too. There’s also a good cluster of linebackers as a whole. Overall, the draft itself has depth. The board is kind of full in the middle.
Who is the best quarterback in the draft?
Hortiz: I’m going to be speaking out of both sides of my mouth here. [Mark] Sanchez and [Matthew] Stafford are both good players. They’re just different. Stafford has a really strong arm. So you could see him throwing the ball in the elements of the AFC North.
If you are in the AFC South, it might not be as big of a deal and you like Sanchez more because he is more accurate and has more awareness. It’s really dependent on where you’re at. I think Sanchez could play in any division, but I think Stafford will be better in the elements.
What’s your biggest ritual on draft day?
Hortiz: I eat a bunch of sunflower seeds. My mouth is sore after two days of the draft from all of the salt. I’m not a big workout guy, but maybe I should start that this year. Maybe I should start working out before the draft and get a two-hour walk in. I’m not in cardiovascular shape to start jogging yet.
First-round projection: The Pittsburgh Steelers have been abysmal in pass protection for the last few years. That has to change or they’re going to expose QB Ben Roethlisberger to even more pain. They need a quality left tackle, but it’s unlikely any of the top tackles will fall to them. An interior lineman may suffice. The best are centers Max Unger, Eric Wood and Alex Mack.
Other scenarios: There should be several decent cornerbacks available at the Steelers’ pick, and a few wide receivers that would help. Defensive ends who fit the 3-4 aren’t likely to be value picks here. The Steelers also might be able to move up to the 27th pick (Indianapolis Colts) if there’s a player they really want.
Up next: Check Ravens Insider Wednesday morning for a look at the Cleveland Browns' needs heading into the draft.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best quarterbacks in the NFL draft:
1. Matthew Stafford, Georgia: Exceptional arm strength, but he didn’t always show every week at Georgia, and that inconsistency should concern the Detroit Lions.
2. Mark Sanchez, USC: More accurate passer than Stafford and makes better decisions. He started only one season, and that’s a red flag, too.
3. Josh Freeman, Kansas State: Great arm, great size (6-6), great athleticism. But his consistency is not what it should be, and his mechanics are not good.
4. Pat White, West Virginia: Could be the steal of the draft if the right team gets him. White can play as a wildcat quarterback this year, as well as receiver and kick returner.
5. Rhett Bomar, Sam Houston State: Transferred from Oklahoma and rates as a project.
Ravens' needs: A training camp body is all the Ravens need. It's hard to imagine them investing a pick at the position when there will be a ton of undrafted quarterbacks available Sunday night.
Baltimore's Mel Kiper Jr. is in his 27th year of providing draft analysis for ESPN. Here are some excerpts from last week's national conference call with the media:
Will the foot injury to wide receiver Michael Crabtree make him the Adrian Peterson of this year's draft?
Kiper: I don't think the injury affected him that much because he was projected to go fourth to Seattle prior to that, long before anybody signed any free agents. Now he's projected to go fifth to Cleveland. So it's not a huge drop for him. At least he was able to save himself from dropping out of the top 10. He could [do] very well if he gets back to where he needs to be physically, which he will, and granted his speed question is going to be there lingering, but at the end of the day a lot of receivers in this league who didn't run great 40s, turned out to be very effective. ... He's potentially the best offensive player in this draft and for the Cleveland Browns, who need a wide receiver, he should be a real good fit there eventually.
Is Matthew Stafford going to be the No. 1 pick and will teams try to trade into the top of the draft?
Kiper: I would expect Stafford to go No. 1. I don't have any inside information on what Detroit's thinking ... obviously they want to have this guy signed before the draft if they can. To me, it would be the obvious pick. That's what they need. People say, well, since [Jay] Cutler's in the division with Aaron Rodgers, they have to. I think that decision should based be on how Stafford is as a player, not based on quarterbacks in the division.
In terms of trades, you just don't see any. It's not like the '90s, '80s and '70s where teams were moving up and down and around. The top five or six aren't going to be traded. It's just too expensive both from a financial standpoint and from a pick standpoint as to what you have to give up. Normally the activity starts around seven or eight. All the speculation is about Jacksonville at eight trading down. ... You figure to have a lot of activity in the middle of the first round. We always do. That eighth pick to Jacksonville, if the receiver's not there that they target, then that would be a space someone might jump in there to get [USC quarterback] Mark Sanchez you would think.
How do you project Sanchez?
Kiper: Had he gone back, he would have been battling [Oklahoma's] Sam Bradford to be the No. 1 pick overall. That's pretty guaranteed. With the talent they have – with Damian Williams, the great receiver there, emerging this season – they would have had him in place to be the No. 1 pick overall, or Bradford.
The fact that he comes out early, I thought he was the fifth-best player. I talked to some people … they were amazed when people had him down the line like they did at 17 to the Jets in an early projection. I have him 13 to Washington because I thought about putting him to Seattle and I was told not to. I still think Seattle is a possibility. And once you don't put him to Seattle, then you have a problem. I had him at Jacksonville and was told that they like him but they aren't going to take him. San Francisco, I've been told, they're not going to take a quarterback. Eight could be traded, 10 could be traded. That means someone can jump in there. ...
He's a hot guy right now because of the fact that he's what you want in terms of accuracy. And that's not just in the pocket, that's not just when he has all day to throw. He can roll right, he can roll left and throw accurately. His completion percentage was through the roof at around 66 percent this year. His touchdown-interception ratio was outstanding. He played through that knee injury early on and he didn't have a great supporting cast early on. ... I think when you look at what he was able to do this year with the numbers he put up, and the skill level he has and the football acumen, the smarts, the intelligence, the passion for the game, the enthusiasm for the game that he has, he's got a lot of Chad Pennington in him. He's got a little bit of Troy Aikman, in terms of accuracy. He's got a lot of good quarterbacks wrapped up in Mark Sanchez. That's why all the buzz seems to be about Sanchez right now.
What's Percy Harvin's status and is he dropping?
Kiper: Couple weeks ago I had him going to Tennessee at the 30th pick. At one point, I had him at No. 17 to the New York Jets. But he is different. He's not a wide receiver per say, but a jack of all trades. He's a Reggie Bush with the Saints -- not Reggie at USC, but Reggie with the Saints. And that's the kind of player he can be -- running back, receiver, return man. People talk about issues with Percy Harvin. The issue that's not positive is an injury. He played through in the [national] championship game. He made the one big play of that game that turned the tide and helped Florida to win it. And without him, they don't beat Oklahoma, in my opinion. He's got great value. Of course, Reggie Bush was the second pick overall and this kid will be in the late first round with those same type of explosive skills and versatility. Late first round, he's got outstanding value.
Durability with Harvin is an issue as it has been for Bush at the pro level. He's only 195 pounds and he's going to have to prove that he can stay healthy. If you can keep him on the field, he's going to put up a lot of all-purpose yards for you.
Ravens might have competition with Eagles for Boldin
Even after trading away one of their two first-round picks for left tackle Jason Peters, the Eagles could join the Ravens as teams looking to acquire Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin.
Asked Sunday if Philadelphia could still go after Boldin, Eagles team president Joe Banner told the Philadelphia Inquirer, "We're always looking for players that we think can make us better," Banner said. "I think we've proven many times that we'd be willing to do what it takes, whether it be a trade or do something with somebody's contract in order to get them here."
Banner added that the team would not rule out dealing its remaining first-round pick, the 21st overall.
"There are teams that start the year with only one first-round draft pick and they've traded them," Banner said. "If we made another trade with a first-round draft pick, we'd just be in the same position as them. I think we'll do whatever we evaluate to be the best move with any of the available players. . . . Some of the evaluation is about the quality of what we have at certain positions."
According to a league source, the Ravens also have shown interest in trading for Boldin.
Don't be surprised to hear that tight end Todd Heap and running back Willis McGahee as well as a draft pick are being offered to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for wide receiver Anquan Boldin.
It makes perfect sense. Heap and McGahee were in coach John Harbaugh's doghouse most of last season, and Harbaugh hasn't been enthused by either player's practice habits. If the Ravens could, they would fast forward the clock to get rid of McGahee after this season. The Cardinals have needs at both running back and tight end, and Heap knows the state of Arizona extremely well.
The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston and David Steele answered readers' questions on the Ravens and NFL draft during a live chat at noon Monday. Thank you to everyone who participated and please send any chat feedback to sports@baltimoresun.com.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best defensive ends in the NFL draft:
1. Brian Orakpo, Texas: Projects either as 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, with great strength and athleticism. He’s not as consistent as NFL folks would like for a top-10 pick.
2. Aaron Maybin, Penn State: Pure pass rusher with an explosive first step. May be at his best with his hand in the dirt. Didn’t play the run particularly well in college, but he’s full-speed all the time.
3. Robert Ayers, Tennessee: Showed up big in the Senior Bowl with three sacks and defensive MVP honors. Offers size and speed at 6-4 and 272 pounds. Only had three sacks last year for the Vols, though.
4. Tyson Jackson, LSU: At 296, Jackson is perfect as a 3-4 DE who can slide inside to tackle in a four-man front to rush the passer.
5. Everette Brown, Florida State: Projects to OLB in 3-4. A speed rusher at 265 pounds, he has 23 sacks in 25 starts.
Ravens' needs: They could use some new blood at end. Trevor Pryce will be 34 when the season starts, and the team cut Marques Douglas.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best outside linebackers in the NFL draft:
1. Aaron Curry, Wake Forest: Ideal outside backer in a 4-3 scheme. Solidified his status as the best at his position with a strong combine. Great character and work ethic.
2. Brian Cushing, USC: Athletic and versatile. Played DE, SLB and MLB for the Trojans. Good pass rusher and blitzer. Worked through a lot of injuries at USC.
3. Clay Matthews, USC: Three-down player with ability to rush off the edge. Terrific bloodlines. His father, Clay, played 19 years in the NFL and his uncle, Bruce, was a 14-time Pro Bowler.
4. Larry English, Northern Illinois: Intriguing pass rusher prospect. Collected 31.5 career sacks in college as a defensive end, but didn’t drop into coverage and wasn’t strong against the run.
5. Clint Sintim, Virginia: Another 3-4 outside backer with pass rusher ability. Sintim had 29 sacks at Virginia, including 11 last year.
Ravens' needs: It’s a great year to troll for "tweeners" who can play up or down on defense. The Ravens are always interested in players who can sack the quarterback.
Lacie DeCosta is the wife of Eric DeCosta, who is in his first season as the Ravens' director of player personnel after six years as the director of college scouting. She met Eric in 1998 while working as a marketing assistant for Ravens. They married in 2001. Since then, she has taken more than a passing interest in the NFL draft. She recently agreed to answer a few questions about that interest.
When did you start to pay attention to the draft and individual prospects?
DeCosta: The last few years, Comcast had snippets, about three to five minutes, on each prospect. In the weeks leading up to the draft, I'd sit and watch.
The year I started following it, we picked Mark Clayton [No. 22 in 2005]. After Eric came home from seeing Mark in Oklahoma, he kept bringing his name up. He had a fixation on Mark. I took an interest because of Eric's excitement. The morning of the draft, Eric was getting ready to go and he showed me his list. He said 'This is who we're going to get.' He had Mark at No. 7. I said, 'No way you get this guy.'
Lacie and Eric DeCosta (Photo coutesy of the DeCostas).
What do you remember about last year's draft?
DeCosta: Last year I was petrified because I knew they were going to pick one of those quarterbacks. I was petrified for Eric because [quarterbacks] define your career. When they missed on Matt Ryan, part of me was upset, but I knew they had a backup plan. Not many people knew about Joe Flacco, but I had a conviction about him through Eric. Eric was confident. He had taken Cam Cameron to Delaware on a rainy day, came home and said, 'This kid's incredible.'
What makes Eric a good evaluator of players?
DeCosta: He's very focused. He has a very competitive disposition. He wants to win and he'll do anything he can to do it. I think he's a good manager. He lets the scouts do their work and commends them for that. And he's very loyal.
Do you talk to him about taking the next step and becoming a general manager some day?
DeCosta: We do. Eric is happy where he is. It would take something that was the very perfect situation. He would do what he's doing as long as the Ravens wanted him. He's close with my family. There's a comfort level there for him, knowing if our daughter is sick, my mom can pick our other child up at school. You can't put a price tag on those things.
Also, he looks at Ozzie [Newsome] as his mentor. I don't think he'd stray from Ozzie unless he was forced out.
You've had some time to do some research. If you were making the pick, who would you take with the 26th pick this year?
DeCosta: I would pick Darrius Heyward-Bey. Everyone thinks we need a wide receiver. He went to McDonogh, he's a hometown kid. I think Baltimore would embrace him. It's a perfect fit.
Baltimore Sun reporter Ken Murray ranks the best wide receivers in the NFL draft:
1. Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech: A stress fracture in his foot and subsequent surgery created short-term paranoia. Even without a 40-time, Crabtree is the best receiver in the draft and should make the transition smoothly.
2. Jeremy Maclin, Missouri: Didn’t run as fast as expected at the combine, but he’s still fast enough. Has big-play ability as a receiver and kick returner. Good yardage after the catch receiver.
3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland: Knocked for his hands, Heyward-Bey tantalizes with his 4.3 speed. He has a lot to learn about the pro game, but he’s a willing and able student with high marks in character.
4. Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina: Makes big plays and tough catches. His speed is good, but not in the elite class. Big hands, strong body, physical receiver.
5. Percy Harvin, Florida: A combination running back/receiver at Florida, Harvin was injury-prone and has a rep as less than coachable. He could be in free-fall through much of the first round, even though he’s probably got top 10 talent.
Ravens' needs: They desperately need a big-play receiver who can stretch the field to take advantage of Joe Flacco’s strong arm. A speed receiver will help Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, too. Heyward-Bey has the size and speed, but is raw. They could go for Nicks or Rutgers’ Kenny Britt.
This will be a stellar draft if the top two picks -- quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice -- become the foundation for a strong offense. The Ravens are also high on linebacker Tavares Gooden (third round), who will replace Bart Scott in the starting lineup, and safety Tom Zbikowski (third round).
But it’s uncertain how the middle of the draft -- offensive tackle Oniel Cousins (third round), wide receiver Marcus Smith (fourth round) and guard-tackle David Hale (fourth round) -- will pan out.
Joe Flacco, QB, first round
Became first rookie to win two playoff games. Grade: A
Ray Rice, RB, second round
Multi-faceted back finished third on team in rushing and fourth in receiving. Grade: B-plus
Tavares Gooden, ILB, third round
Limited to four games because of a hip injury. Grade: INCOMPLETE
Tom Zbikowski, S, third round
Second on Ravens with 23 special teams tackles. Grade: B
Oniel Cousins, OT, third round
Caused fights in training camp but made little noise in regular season. Grade: C-minus
Marcus Smith, WR, fourth round
Made no receptions in five games. Grade: C-minus
David Hale, OT-G, fourth round
Subbed in at right guard and tackle at different stints. Grade: C
Haruki Nakamura, S, sixth round
Fourth on Ravens with 14 special teams tackles. Grade: B
Justin Harper, WR, seventh round
Sidelined all season with a knee injury. Grade: INCOMPLETE
Allen Patrick, RB, seventh round
Cut before regular season and picked up by Cleveland Browns. Grade: F
Mike Mayock serves as draft expert for NFL Network. He was a defensive back at Boston College and spent two years with the New York Giants (1982-83). Mayock has questioned the hands of Maryland wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and addressed that issue, among others, in a conference call with national media. Here are a few excerpts from the call:
Would Darrius Heyward-Bey be a risk pick in the top half of the first round?
Mayock: The only way he goes in the top half of the first round is if the Raiders pull the trigger [at No. 7]. He fits Al Davis' demographics for any pick: height, weight and speed, with an emphasis on speed. That's Al Davis. If Al doesn't take him, I think he does slide.
Is he a player the Ravens should look at if he falls to 26?
Mayock: The Ravens have to be looking for a wide receiver. He fits what they should be looking for, a vertical threat who could help Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams and Derrick Mason. [ Joe] Flacco has a huge arm. The only question [about Heyward-Bey] is, is he a natural catcher of the football? He makes a great catch one play, then double catches on an easy play. If I'm expending a first-round pick on a wide receiver, the most important qualifications at that position are great hands.
What's the difference between quarterbacks Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman?
Mayock: The bottom line for me is [identifying] guys that can process information and get the ball where it belongs 100 percent of the time. You don't have to have a big arm for me. I want consistency in the decision-making process. I want accuracy. Sanchez is the most accurate of the three. In the USC offense, you see him make every throw you can make at the NFL level.
If I've got a top 10 pick and my job is on the line at the quarterback position, I'm taking Sanchez. The quarterback position is the most important position in the NFL. You better beat the table and believe in the guy. I believed in [Matt] Ryan last year. I don't feel the same about Stafford.
Should the Browns trade Braylon Edwards or Brady Quinn?
Mayock: If it's up to me, nobody's off limits. If you're [Cleveland general manager] George Kokinis or [coach] Eric Mangini, why not? You've got a five-year window to mold the team any way you want. If you can off-load Edwards' contract and get significant returns, you've got to look at it. At quarterback, you've got to decide what you want to do. There are rumors they like Sanchez. You've got to be open for business, look to generate additional picks.
Where do you see Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith going?
Mayock: He very logically could be the pick at six [ Cincinnati Bengals]. I think the top three tackles are gone early. I'm convinced and I think the NFL is convinced that most of what we saw at the combine was more about immaturity than him being a bad kid. He needs to grow up and take things more seriously. He's a talented kid.
Let the trading begin: Eagles deal for Bills' Peters
Some of the dominoes are beginning to fall in relation to next weekend's NFL draft. One of the teams expected to be a mover in the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles, has filled one of their biggest holes.
The Eagles will trade the second of their two first-round picks — the 28th pick overall — and an undisclosed second-day selection for Peters, who steps in for Tra Thomas to protect Donovan McNabb's blindside. A free agent, Thomas signed with Jacksonville in the offseason.
The Eagles will attempt to sign Peters to a new deal before completing the trade.
Oh, I'm so tired of hearing about Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin. He has reportedly been on the trading block for about a year, and his name keeps popping up in Baltimore because Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron really likes Boldin. His name actually started re-surfacing in trade talks about a month ago, and the Ravens were listed as one of the teams interested in Boldin.
As draft day nears, we're going to hear more talk and rumors about a trade. I wouldn't give up a first- and third-round pick for Boldin. He's a good player and he could help the Ravens, but the Ravens have built through the draft, and should continue to do it that way. I'd still prefer to see the Ravens get a young receiver to develop with Joe Flacco. But even before I get a receiver, I still might opt for a right offensive tackle. If you can't protect the quarterback, you can't throw the ball.
Last year, the Ravens protected the quarterback, but they had to keep in a tight end or a running back to chip block, which hurt the passing game. If Boldin wants out of Arizona so badly and the Cardinals want to get rid of him, why not just wait and see what happens? The Ravens should be in no rush.
Oklahoma tackle Phil Loadholt visited the Ravens' complex in Owings Mills today as the team makes final preparations for the April 25 draft. Loadholt, who played left tackle for the Sooners, is in the second tier of tackles in this draft, but a shortage at the position could push him up, perhaps into the bottom of the first round, NFL Network's Mike Mayock said in a national conference call today.
"He's probably one of the fastest risers in this draft," Mayock said. "To be honest, I'm in disagreement with most people. I gave him a third-round grade. He'll probably go in the second round and maybe late in the first. He's long, he competes and he's a pretty tough kid. I think he's a right tackle only. When he faces elite speed and has to redirect his feet, he struggles."
Sept. 13, 1 p.m. -- vs. Kansas City
Sept. 20, 4:15 p.m. -- at San Diego
Sept. 27, 1 p.m. -- vs. Cleveland
Oct. 4, 1 p.m. -- at New England
Oct. 11, 1 p.m. -- vs. Cincinnati
Oct. 18, 1 p.m. -- at Minnesota
Oct. 25 -- BYE
Nov. 1, 1 p.m. -- vs. Denver
Nov. 8, 1 p.m. -- at Cincinnati
Nov. 16, 8:30 p.m. -- at Cleveland (Monday Night Football)
Nov. 22, 1 p.m. -- vs. Indianapolis
Nov. 29, 8:20 p.m. -- vs. Pittsburgh (Sunday Night Football)
Dec. 7, 8:30 p.m. -- at Green Bay (Monday Night football)
Dec. 13, 1 p.m. -- vs. Detroit
Dec. 20, 1 p.m. -- vs. Chicago
Dec. 27, 1 p.m. -- at Pittsburgh
Jan. 3, 4:15 p.m. -- at Oakland
It's the stretch run for draft prospects this week. Aaron Maybin, a premier pass rusher from Penn State and Ellicott City, is busier than most. His agent says that by the time Maybin hits Seattle on Friday, the Seahawks will be his 16th visit in a cross-country tour. No workouts or visits are allowed next week.
Maybin, who starred at Mount Hebron High, is scheduled to visit the Ravens today, although there's no chance he could fall to their 26th pick. This is an exercise for future reference. Somewhere down the road -- six years down the road if the NFL kills the salary cap -- Maybin will become a free agent. This gives the Ravens a frame of reference on the guy as he was coming out.
Maybin's father Mike won't divulge Aaron's itinerary -- because teams apparently have asked him not to -- but he did give a glimpse of the travel involved. Last week, Maybin started in Fort Lauderdale (guess who?) and went to a northeast team (Bills, perhaps, or the Patriots). After a trip to the West Coast, he came back to Baltimore. His last two stops before visiting the Ravens were in the Midwest.
Most mock drafts have Maybin going in the top 15, perhaps in the top 10. Based on what he's heard, Mike Maybin thinks Aaron could go in the top 5. Because he is the best pure pass rusher in the draft, that's possible. But remember that perspective is the hardest thing for draft prospects and their families to keep at this time.
The Ravens know who their 2009 opponents are and later today will find out when they play them as the NFL announces the 2009 schedule at 7 p.m. on the NFL Network. Yes, it's true, the NFL is having a "release the schedule" show.
We know the Ravens will face the following teams at home this year: Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Broncos, Chiefs, Bears, Lions and Colts. On the road they will face the Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Raiders, Chargers, Packers, Vikings and Patriots.
According to NFL.com, the Ravens' schedule for 2009 will be the fifth-easiest based on the 2008 records of the teams they will face. Those teams had a .438 winning percentage, going 111-143-2 last season. They will face five playoff teams, six with winning records, eight who were .500 or above and eight with losing records.
The world champion Steelers have the fourth-easiest schedule, facing teams with a .434 winning percentage (110-144-2). They will meet six playoff teams, six with winning records, eight who were .500 or above and eight with losing records. Ironically, the Steelers' schedule for 2008 was considered the hardest entering the season, yet they won the Super Bowl.
The most-difficult schedule entering the 2009 season? The Miami Dolphins, whose opponents had a .594 winning percentage last season (152-104). The easiest? The Chicago Bears at .414 (105-149-2).
Check baltimoresun.com/ravens throughout the day to see if the schedule has been released.
Darrius Heyward-Bey's stock keeps rising in the NFL draft. Maryland's speedy wide receiver worked out today in College Park for the Oakland Raiders, who hold the seventh pick in the April 25 lottery.
That means the Raiders either are interested in taking Heyward-Bey at No. 7 or trading down to get him. Interestingly, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock has penciled Heyward-Bey for the Raiders in the seventh slot in his mock draft. And at least one expert at CBS Sportsline has done the same.
Next on Heyward-Bey's docket is a trip to St. Louis next week. The Rams have the second pick, but have shopped the pick in an effort to move back in the first round. Because of the quality of offensive tackles Jason Smith and Eugene Monroe, it's likely the Rams will find a trade partner.
Previously, Heyward-Bey has been projected to go anywhere from the middle of the first round (17 to the Jets, 22 to the Vikings) to late in the round (25 to the Dolphins, 26 to the Ravens, 29 to the Giants). Tennessee, picking 30th, is still another team with a wide receiver priority.
Heyward-Bey, who ran the fastest 40 at the combine, in 4.3 seconds, apparently has impressed his suitors in workouts and visits enough that teams with serious interest are moving in.
Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey heads down the homestretch this month of his long journey into the NFL. Tomorrow he's off to Minneapolis to meet with the Vikings, who have serious interest. Next week he'll visit St. Louis. That trip suggests the Rams are at least entertaining thoughts of trading back from their second pick.
So far, that makes four official visits for the combine's fastest wide receiver. A recent mock draft by NFL Network's Mike Mayock sent Heyward-Bey to the Raiders with the seventh pick. Considering Al Davis tried to hire Mayock a year ago, the projection may have some merit, although no one else has projected Heyward-Bey that high. Most projections have him going between the Jets' pick at 17 and the Ravens' pick at 26.
There are a lot of teams looking for potential No. 1 receivers in this year's draft. The Eagles, Dolphins and Ravens already put Heyward-Bey through private workouts. The Bears still need help at the position, but don't have a first-round pick any longer as a result of the Jay Cutler deal.
According to Heyward-Bey, the visits are more meet-and-greet than anything else. Teams cannot work him out at their facility. The original purpose of visits was to check out medical issues, of which Heyward-Bey has none. In his case, it's a matter of team executives familiarizing themselves with him.
"They're showing me around the facility, I'm talking to the wide receiver coaches, general managers, player personnel guys," Heyward-Bey said. "They want to see what type of person I am. I have been asking more of the questions so far, how they do things, what they expect out of me if they draft me. It's just regular conversation. They're trying to get a feel for you."
Because Heyward-Bey is well-spoken, those visits have gone well. What's left to prove?
"That I'm a football player," he said. "That I can play at that level."
When the Bears turned over a king's ransom for disgruntled Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler this week, they removed themselves from the wide receiver market through the first round. That helps the Ravens, if, in fact, Baltimore is targeting one of the top receivers in the April 25 lottery.
Chicago gave up the 18th overall pick and a third-rounder this year, plus a No. 1 pick next year and quarterback Kyle Orton to get the self-centered and insecure Cutler. GM Jerry Angelo is betting the house that Cutler is a franchise quarterback who can take the Bears to the Super Bowl.
Was he scared into giving up all those picks because the Redskins' Dan Snyder was lurking in the background? Probably. Was Cutler worth it? Only if he wins a Super Bowl. Otherwise, it's a bad deal.
Denver won't be in the market for wide receivers, especially on the first day. The Broncos need a defensive overhaul, and now they need to find a quarterback of the future. If they elect to trade up to Seattle's fourth pick or Cleveland's fifth, they could probably land Mark Sanchez. If they don't trade up, they could wind up with Josh Freeman.
The Broncos and Eagles are the top teams that appear to have an interest in trading into the top 10. Denver needs defense, the Eagles could use one of the elite offensive tackles. But after the top 10-12 picks come off the board, most teams are going to look to trade back for better value. That's because they'll be drafting second-round talent by the middle of the first round. The value is better in the second and possibly third rounds.
One more point on the Bears. They had scheduled a workout with Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey for next week, but have cancelled it.
Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome reiterated today that Matt Stover could still work into the team's plans if it is unable to find his replacement this summer.
At the Ravens' draft luncheon, Newsome declined to say whether he would invest one of the team's six picks on a kicker this month. But he said his comfort level lies in the fact he's got two of the league's top special teams gurus on the staff in John Harbaugh and Jerry Rosburg, placing an emphasis on their expertise.
"We've got [Steve] Hauschka here for a reason," Newsome said at one point.
As a rookie last season, Hauschka joined the Ravens after getting cut by the Vikings. He spent six weeks on the practice squad, but kicked a 54-yard field goal in Houston against the Texans in Week 9. Two weeks later, he missed a 53-yarder against the Eagles.
Primarily, Hauschka handled kickoffs for the Ravens.
Stover, 41, converted 27 of 33 field goals, and was 4-for-4 in the postseason. His contract expired after the season and the Ravens have not made an offer. Newsome indicated in February that the team wanted one player to attempt field goals and handle kickoffs.
"We have not removed Stover from our mind," Newsome said today, and said circumstances could bring him back to the team this summer.
In little more than an hour, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome will meet with the Baltimore media to talk about the 2009 college draft and the team's prospects. Of course, he will speak in generalities and divulge little about the Ravens' plans.
But everybody in the NFL does it. Meets the media, that is, to drum up interest. As if there isn't enough already.
Newsome has done a good job patching holes with veterans in the offseason, especially in the secondary, where the Ravens lost Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle and Jim Leonhard. Getting Domonique Foxworth to start and Chris Carr to play nickel were coups, and removed the need to take a corner with the 26th pick in the draft.
Wide receiver is another issue, however. Unless the team can sign Torry Holt, cut by the Rams, there is a desperate need to upgrade -- or at least improve the depth of -- the receiving corps.
Newsome espouses the theory of taking the best player on the board when the Ravens pick, regardless of position. He could easily do that, although passing on a receiver at this point may be difficult. Especially if Maryland's Darrius Heyward-Bey, with his 4.3 speed and prototypical size, somehow drops to their pick.
Then there's the prospect, however unlikely, that tight end Brandon Pettigrew could slide to the Ravens. He ran a slow 40 in the combine, but is the best combination receiver-blocker at his position.
Don't expect much of importance to be passed along today, but at least the Ravens will speak to the issue at hand.
Welcome to The Baltimore Sun's Ravens game story database. Use the search prompts below for access to Baltimore Sun stories for every game in Ravens history.
Billick: The Detroit Lions situation has nothing to do with Matt Stafford or Mark Sanchez and how good they are. The Detroit Lions were 0-16 and all that comes with it. If you take a quarterback with the No. 1 overall pick with the history that has been shown, if you're the Detroit Lions, can you survive that? You can't consider that when you make your evaluations and go forward, but it's silly to think you can do that in a vacuum. It's a very interesting pick. 
Do you expect the Lions to take quarterback Matthew Stafford with the first pick?
Kiper: I don't think the injury affected him that much because he was projected to go fourth to Seattle prior to that, long before anybody signed any free agents. Now he's projected to go fifth to Cleveland. So it's not a huge drop for him. At least he was able to save himself from dropping out of the top 10. He could [do] very well if he gets back to where he needs to be physically, which he will, and granted his speed question is going to be there lingering, but at the end of the day a lot of receivers in this league who didn't run great 40s, turned out to be very effective. ... He's potentially the best offensive player in this draft and for the 
Would Darrius Heyward-Bey be a risk pick in the top half of the first round?
