The bad news about Heyward-Bey is that he might not be around by the time the Ravens pick at 26 in the first round. It appears that if he's there, it's a done deal and the Ravens will pick DHB.

Terp fans might note that some mock polls have as many as five Terps being drafted: DHB, Williams, Barnes, Foukou, and Gronkowski. (Where's Philiston?) It may not happen (I personally think Gronkowski does not have very good hands), but when was the last time 5 Terps were drafted?

Please, DHB, cancel that trip to St Louis..You dont want to go out there, trust me.

Ozzie assured last year's successful draft by the excellent off-season manuevers. He has done the same thing through this off-season allowing, as he stated, the Ravens to be able to select the BPA when they're ' on the clock ' . We all realize full well that in the draft it's about quality over quantity. He has dramatically increased the chance of the Ravens selecting an impact player in the 1st and 2nd rounds!! Last year I was ecstatic when I saw Flacco reach down and put on the Raven hat while he talked on the phone, ...and was dumbstruck yesterday to read the Ravens resigned Rolle. We are truly fortunate to have Ozzie as our G.M.. I have supreme confidence in their efforts in the upcoming draft, and am excited to see how it all unfolds. I wish to hell I could be in that ' war room ' when they do their thing!

There's a lot of hype around Darrius Heyward-Bey, but I'm not buying any of it. Sure he's fast, but he lacks the consistency or hands a NFL receiver requires. I think it's very foolish for NFL GM's to fall in love with workout warriors with spectacular 40 times. History has proven that most guys like DHB fail in the NFL. I don't think Ozzie will go for this one.

Hakeen Nicks is the exact kind of receiver the Ravens have craved through their existence just like Joe Flacco was the kind of quarterback they've always needed. He's big, he's tough, he catches passes in the middle of the field, he has arguably the best hands in the draft and he put up big time numbers in big time games on a mediocre North Carolina team. Nicks will be a stud. I hope DHB isn't left at 26 so the Ravens aren't tempted by the home town hype.

DHB will not be there when the Ravens pick. I would fully expect the Ravens to pick 2 wide receivers with the 1st and 2nd round hoping that they hit their homerun with one of those picks. You could see Nicks or Britt both drafted by the Ravens. Now that we have the secondary set with Carr and Rolle as the nickel and dime backs, they need to take a gamble and get some weapons for Flacco. You could also see them draft a right tackle since Pace went to the Bears. I would be very surprised if the Ravens count on Demetrius to be the big receiver to stretch the field since he has not played for two years. Clayton and Mason are both slot type receivers and are not that deep threat they are looking for. I would love to see them trade up to get Crabtree but I am sure they will need to give up way too much. If Newsome truely believes we are one player away, I would not be surprised to see something big happen at the draft. Maybe even trading for Boldin since he requested a trade with the Cardinals. He is worthy of a first round pick for sure.

People say DHB can't succeed because his hands aren't the greatest. I'm sorry, but with that size and speed I beg to differ. My prime example is T.O. without the attitude. How many passes does T.O. drop? Those get forgotten as soon as he breaks the big one.

It'll be interesting if DHB goes to STL. Isn't that where Boller went?

Tom, it was bit of a "Kool-aidy", but I basically agree. Newsome and company have made some smart moves in free-agency. I like our position going into the draft as well. Shoot, pass the koo-aid--I've always been a Newsome fan. Some of the criticisms over the years for individual picks or signings are legitimate of course, but what team never misses on guys? I think the few vocal fans who regularly attack the guy must be seeing through a warped lens--only seeing shortcomings in their own team and only strengths in all the others. Not saying they aren't passionate fans, they just have trouble with wide-angle views. The Ravens are pretty talented, and they didn't get that way by accident.

Let's not forget that the Ravens could get a great TE at #26, if the WR's aren't what they want at that spot.

DHB is fast, but i think after showing his speed in the combine everyone's hyping him up so much he might not last long enough for us to pick him up. espn is also saying Nicks might be a better pick for us (or at least a back up pick). I just think it would be sick to see DHB just because i think since he grew up in MD & played for the terps, he would play better here rather than anywhere else.


I doubt we're gonna pick up another TE since we just picked up L.J., who I hope does better here, cause I've heard nothing but terrible things from Eagles fans & his past performance

In sort of a weird up is down and down is up world many fans repeat cliches that they hear from draftniks and NFL commentators and turn them meaningless.
Yes speed isn't the only thing that is important in football. Yes guys who are not fast can flourish in football doing certain things.

However, (1) Jerry Rice was not slow at 6'3 210 which he played the bulk of his career at. 4.5 in the 40 is not slow.
(2) Speed is the most important game changing element in football. The momentum and direction of a game can change in a blink of an eye when a guy like DHB turns a small mistake by a DB into a big mistake. Speed does that, and to ignore the importance of speed in football is pretty dumb.
On every play that DHB lines up in the NFL teams will roll a safety to that side just in case a CB makes a small mistake. He will occupy two DBs on every play. No matter down or distance, no matter what formation he lines up in.
You will not see that done for either Crabtree or Maclin.

Wow, I never knew that Heyward- Bey's travel itinerary keeps him busy. That's pretty interesting...