Why Did We Back Out Of The 1St Round?

[Ray Ray Ravens]

I think its because the patriots took Hightower. Anyone think this is why or was this the plan the whole time.

[Crabcakes&Football]

The fallout from the previous 28 picks left a lot of highly rated guys left on the board. They probably had at least 4 guys they would have been thrilled with left on the board and pick up an early 4th on the way. With the way the last 4 picks of round 1 turned out, I think it was a gutsy call that will work out fine.

[rlh445]

Looks like those jerk Patsies got Hightower so I guess the FO decided to say, 'let's just get more picks for the next round,'.

[Cville-Raven]

It's because there was hella reaching , guys were still going to be available in the second.

[SideStep77]

Look who is still available in the 3rd round. Konz, Upshaw, Hill, etc. Having the #3 pick I think this puts us in good position to get at least one of these guys. GG FO.

[AlaskanRavensFan]

I really hope we are able to get Upshaw with that 2nd round pick we got. I know pass rusher is not our greatest need necessarily, but if we have Suggs and Upshaw teams won't just be able to double team Sizzle all day.

[AsianRice]

Extra picks are good since Hightower was stolen; tomorrow is going to be big for us. Ozzie will swing his wand.....

[tonyg6996]

If we could end up with Cordy Glenn or Upshaw (one of them will likely be there), this would be yet another genius draft move by Oz. I guarantee you we weren't going to take any of the players chosen with the final 4 picks.

[ghost1986]

I wasted so much. I could've finished writing my Arabic skit, but I stayed glued to the TV waiting for us to pick and I saw the Vikings had our pick. The Cheatriots just stole our man. I'll hate them for the rest of my life. I feel like Ralphy from Christmas story when he was feeling dejected thinking he wasn't going to get a Red Rider bb gun for Christmas. Only difference is, I know we're not getting our Red Tide LineBacker for Christmas. To heck with Belichik and the horse he rode in on.

[Ravenslifer]

Basically the front office felt there were 5-6 highly rated prospects still on the board they would have taken at 29, so they moved back, picked up an extra fourth round pick that might as well be a third rounder it's so high, and are still confident that a player they want will be there. I look at the 4 picks that went - Harrison Smith, AJ Jenkins, Doug Martin, David Wilson, and say "I don't think any of those 4 guys would be the 29th-36th BEST player on the Ravens' board. I think it's possible that 2-3 guys who are in the top 30 on the board are still there, and we will get one of them, plus the 4th round pick is so high it might as well be a late third. It's basically hedging your bet and guessing that the guy(s) you want will still be there by figuring you have a good idea of who the teams ahead of you will take. I say good move.

[rlh445]

The one thing I don't understand is the, 'might as well be a third round pick,' thing. It's NOT a third round pick, it's a fourth, lol. Maybe I just don't get drafts.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='rlh445' timestamp='1335497895' post='1059664']
The one thing I don't understand is the, 'might as well be a third round pick,' thing. It's NOT a third round pick, it's a fourth, lol. Maybe I just don't get drafts.
[/quote]

It's the 3rd pick in the 4th round, and people are always reaching for prospects (Tannehill, Weeden, Jenkins, those runningbacks were all reaches in the first to me). Which means that a guy who OUR draft boys rate as a late third rounder will no doubt be there in the early fourth round for us. Basically if there are 2-3 guys we'd consider with that late third round, chances are we might now be able to get both.

[Fricknmaniac]

As much as it annoyed the hell out of me that I didn't get to see the Ravens draft someone tonight after waiting for 3 hours to see it happen, I just have to keep telling myself, In Ozzie We Trust.

Either way, you know the Ravens moved out of the first round because it's the right move. And we know it's the right move because Ozzie made it.

Who knows, maybe there will be enough of the people we want still available at 35 that Ozzie might try and trade for an additional pick in the range. Give up the late 2nd round and early 4th round pick and end up getting some damn good value for our first two picks.

[Sizzlebshu]

Here is the better question Why couldnt we get more. Hell I woulda been happy with the Vikings 2nd, 4th and a swap of picks

[tonyg6996]

[quote name='rlh445' timestamp='1335497895' post='1059664']
The one thing I don't understand is the, 'might as well be a third round pick,' thing. It's NOT a third round pick, it's a fourth, lol. Maybe I just don't get drafts.
[/quote]
How much of a difference is there between the 32nd pick and the 35th pick?

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='tonyg6996' timestamp='1335498523' post='1059716']
How much of a difference is there between the 32nd pick and the 35th pick?
[/quote]

Not much. You can even look at this draft. Who did we pass on - AJ Jenkins and 2 running-backs. I have a VERY hard time believing ANY of those guys were considered first round prospects by the front office. Meaning there are at least guys with first round grades on them that are still waiting to be picked.

[rmw10]

I'm glad we traded back. We got an extra pick when there's still plenty of value on the board. I like Hightower, but feel he'll just be a solid player, who never does anything great, but nothing bad either. I dont think he'll be a playmaker necessarily. Might as well move back!

[Free Agent]

My guess is we moved out because the Pats took Hightower. I was mad that we moved out since Upshaw was still there, but now it looks like we may get him anyway.

[mhead66]

Tandon Doss
LeRon McClain
Dennis Pitta
Jarret Johnson
Ed Hartwell
Brandon Stokely
Ed Mulitalo

[b]All players drafted by Ozzie in the 4th round[/b].

Obviously, the FO saw that the players on their target list would be still available when they traded down 5 picks, and we [b]gained[/b] an extra player, potentially similar to those on this list.

Excellent move, by an excellent GM.

[Ravenslifer]

For those still complaining about our "pathetic" fourth round pick, Stokley, Mulitalo, JJ, Jason Brown, LeRon McClain, Dennis Pitta, and Tandon Doss were all fourth rounders. And none of them were picked higher than 10th in the 4th round. This is the 3rd pick in the fourth round. Who was the fourth pick of the 4th round for Cinci last year - a guy who will probably be their starter at guard this year.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Well played. I think we still get Upshaw and maybe trade our second an third or second and one of our 4ths with a another team that has an early second round pick and take hill (hopefully) or someone else they had rated as a first rounder.

Basically we're gonna end up with 2 first round talents for the price of one. Man I love our front office.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

Man I'd love to package our late 2nd round pick with our original 4th rd pick to get another top 10 2nd rd pick. That'd mean in theory we gave the Vikings our 29th pick for two 1st rounders and switch picks with the vikings in the 4th rd (jumping from the end of the 4th to the third pick).

That's nothing to complain about, that's brilliance.

[lgcs27288]

As long as we dont draft Konz with our first pick. We will hopefully choose Reuben Randall, Upshaw, or Cordy Glenn. Im still not sold on Hill.

[hey_hernandez]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' timestamp='1335499143' post='1059765']
Basically we're gonna end up with 2 first round talents for the price of one. Man I love our front office.
[/quote]

So, like 2010? How'd that turn out?

[reediddy]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' timestamp='1335499482' post='1059781']
Man I'd love to package our late 2nd round pick with our original 4th rd pick to get another top 10 2nd rd pick. That'd mean in theory we gave the Vikings our 29th pick for two 1st rounders and switch picks with the vikings in the 4th rd (jumping from the end of the 4th to the third pick).

That's nothing to complain about, that's brilliance.
[/quote]

I agree, Oz mentioned that in his press conference I believe. It was either our fourth round involved, or the one we got from Min, maybe both. Either way, with all the guys that slipped out of the first round, there's a high chance we could get Upshaw at 35 and then trade our other second rounder with the fourth and move up to get Cordy Glenn, depending on how low he falls. That's beautiful, brilliant, exceptional, etc etc. Of course there's a bit of disappointment because we waited so long to pick, plus we saw how much the other teams in our division upgraded, but at the end of the day I still think Oz made the best decision!

[chesapeakeaviator]

It was a good move. It was the right move, given the circumstances.

The circumstances being those filthy little weasels traded up. Of course they did.

Once that happened, this was literally the best move we could have made. I thought an earth 4th rounder was a LOT for the Vikings to cough up just to move up like six spots and get--Harrison Smith? After his performances in ND's big games against Michigan and USC? Oh well... I'll take it!

[Sizzlebshu]

No one is questioning trading out as the right move, but the deal we got. I think we could have at least gotten a pick swap thrown into that deal

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='Sizzlebshu' timestamp='1335501236' post='1059854']
No one is questioning trading out as the right move, but the deal we got. I think we could have at least gotten a pick swap thrown into that deal
[/quote]

Not really. The trade value chart lists our 29th pick as being worth 640 points, and their 35 being worth 550 and 98 worth 108 points - so their deal actually gave us picks technically worth 18 points greater than the value of our 29th pick. I think a lot more GMs are going to be more careful with their picks these days since the rookie salary cap means it will be cheaper to keep your rookies than sign free agents. We fleeced Denver because they wanted a quarterback, and New Orleans gave up a first rounder to New England because they were so low in the draft they HAD to in order to pick up Ingram. We moved just 6 spots.

[lgcs27288]

Lol I dont know about you guys, but when we traded with the Vikes and they got Harrison Smith, I was like "Yeah take that NE!" Just cause I knew they were targeting him

[Bltravens]

Did anyone else see Upshaw pacing around back there? Looking angry as all hell. Bet that dude is straight pissed and goes HAM on the first RT he sees.