[News] Ravens Could Draft More Than One Cornerback Early

[BigUgly]

If somehow Malik Hooker fell to us, we could solidify the backend of our D, and then add corner depth in the 2nd, even trading up to do so if need be. Of course, that strategy would require that edge rushers on the roster develop, an d possibly mean fitting in Doom for another year.

Regardless, if we don't grab a corner in the first 2 rounds, we'll be in trouble.

[BigUgly]

13 hours ago, Saxxin said:

O-line is a bigger need. We have two good backs. Use them more.

It is relatively easier to acquire quality O-Line talent later in the draft or via free agency than trying the same approach to nab a quality CB, edge rusher or other "playmaker".  The only exception is left tackle, which we wisely addressed last season

 

Case in point:  Yanda, 3rd rounder; Wagner, 5th, Jah Reid, 3rd (hey, he starts for KC), Jason Brown, 4th.

What's really killed us is the over-investment in failed defensive players, especially at LB and safety.  I know that many of these guys are also targeted as special teams players, but the likes of Elam, Brooks, Arthur Brown and John Simon haven't helped us (though Simon has helped the Texans)

[zing21042]

  12 hours ago, MadStorkSociety said:

Well, Ozzie was a TE, so he would know. But that would give us a few TE's for trade bait.

 

  12 hours ago, MadStorkSociety said:

Well, Ozzie was a TE, so he would know. But that would give us a few TE's for trade bait.

Agree. Hate to say it but I think Pitta is going to be playing somewhere else next season. 

Agreed. TEs are only as good and prolific as their QBs permit. No one knew of Ed Dickson until Pitta got hurt. He shined to the point that he got a better (3 year, $6,100,000 contract) with the Carolina Panthers. Pitta got all the attention this year because he was the only one Flacco would throw the ball to; Flacco ranked near dead last on passes over 20-25 yards this year. Also, look at Brady and the Patriots. His key TEs are out of the league championship game. In comes a nobody and becomes the bell of the ball...because of Brady.

Is Pitta an asset to the Ravens? Of course. So was Tod Heap and we seem to have moved on from him pretty well. Is Pitta worth $7.7 mil next year..........not on your life. I admire the h3ll out of the guy...but business is business. We have a half dozen other TEs that can step up and do the job. Pound for pound, that money can be better spent elsewhere. Just not sure how much money that is. In one case I saw $3.3 mil in cap savings but I also saw that after restructuring, Pitta no longer has guaranteed money in his contract. Either way, move on.

The problem is that line management feels that if they get rid of Pitta, they take away Flacco's only claim to fame. Ask yourself what our passing game would have looked like in 2016 without the Flacco-Pitta love fest? That was not Pitta, that was Flacco not being able to see beyond 10 yards down field. Buy Flacco some glasses and the TE position becomes a lost less valuable than $7.7 mil.

Anyway, JMHO.

[Crusader]

If somehow Malik Hooker fell to us, we could solidify the backend of our D, and then add corner depth in the 2nd, even trading up to do so if need be. Of course, that strategy would require that edge rushers on the roster develop, an d possibly mean fitting in Doom for another year.

Regardless, if we don't grab a corner in the first 2 rounds, we'll be in trouble.

Man I hope so. He just looks like a Raven playing.

[Chuckx999]

The secondary can force the QB to hold the ball long enough for the pass rush to get to him. You just need 3 good CB's good safety plus 2 fast LB to cover all the receivers. We had 1 good CB , 1 safety and 2 good LBs that can cover but one of the good LB is getting OLD.
It can be done, we just don't have the players.
So drafting up to TWO good CBs in the 1-3 rounds of the draft will be necessary. Cut 4-5 old guys for cap space and get 1-2 free agents for other positions. Draft for real needs NOT best guy on the board. That just hasn't worked the past 5 years.

[Derrel]

Maybe Ozzie and DeCosta can hire some consulting help this year. Their last 5+ drafts have been bad. Maybe the Steelers could help us out. Likely end up with another Perriman type guy.

[Maurice0094]

I believe this years cb crop could be the deepest in the last two years. I wouldn't have a problem them taking 2 in 1st and 2nd rd or 3rd and 4th rd. Depth is key the Arringtons, Wright's, are getting old. Jimmy Smith getting hurt is getting old. We need secondary help that performs, stays healthy, and makes plays.

[Ravensfansince03]

We need to draft an elite safety as well. How long do they think Webb will last back there. No offense to Webb, he's a great player, and honestly the best tackler we have on our defense. But we really need a game-changing SS/FS for years to come.

[Ravensfansince03]

I know some of you will discredit this statement, but in Madden, my team (Ravens) were struggling in pass protection as well as not being stout against the run. So like a surgeon, I dissected my defensive secondary, only keeping the ones who really played with heart. And I spent an entire offseason upgrading my secondary. First I snagged a top notch SS, who had just been released by the team which drafted him. He was only 2 years into his career so it was a must for me to grab him at that young age, knowing he would have many years of production ahead of him. Before that I traded away some of our high price players that I felt were not worth the money. I traded them for a few 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round picks. One player I traded away for both a 3rd & 4th round pick. Then during the draft, I drafted CB's and Safeties all throughout rounds 1-4. My secondary was so good the following season that my defense went from one of the worst pass defenses to being the #1. I know that some people will discredit this because it's only a game, but to me it is a simulation of real life strategies on how to build up a successful team. The following season I drafted a few offensive linemen, all over the height of 6''4 and the rest DE's to make sure I made my defense stout against the run. DE's i drafted who had good speed and acceleration, were immediately converted into OLB's. Now my OLB's shed blocks like pro's and stuff RB's on most running plays unless someone misses a tackle.

[BmoreRavensFan4Eva]

13 hours ago, BigUgly said:

If somehow Malik Hooker fell to us, we could solidify the backend of our D, and then add corner depth in the 2nd, even trading up to do so if need be. Of course, that strategy would require that edge rushers on the roster develop, an d possibly mean fitting in Doom for another year.

Regardless, if we don't grab a corner in the first 2 rounds, we'll be in trouble.

I am a huge Buckeyes fan and would love to see Malik Hooker in the secondary! He is playmaker and every now and then he'll make Ed Reed type of plays. I'm not saying that he's Ed but he reminds me of him. 

Edited February 1 by BmoreRavensFan4Eva

[balfan23]

The stat on not picking CB in the 1st 3 rounds since 2011 is crazy. That trend has to be broken. 

As it always is for us (despite those who want to see us dump Joe) ... we really want to see as many QBs as possible go in the top 15. Hoping for 3 and that doesn't seem far fetched. I think you throw in Garret, Barnett, Allen, Williams, Cook and Fournette and that's 9 picks. Thrown in Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster as likely picks and that makes 11.   

Now - I don't know if it has to be a CB ... a rock solid safety would work as well. But if you take away 4 of the top secondary players, then I think you have a great player still waiting for us. 

[law215]

I heard similar comments a few years ago when in the deepest draft of Wrs Ravens drafted Campanero in the 7th round.

These days Ravens are always looking for bargains values instead of playmakers.

[sizzlingdoom]

We need to draft an elite safety as well. How long do they think Webb will last back there. No offense to Webb, he's a great player, and honestly the best tackler we have on our defense. But we really need a game-changing SS/FS for years to come.

I agree, we need a pro bowl safety for the next 10 years. That's why I say no matter what, a shut down play making corner will be there at 16, this class is insane. So I say we take our corner that we so desperately need at 16. There are at least 4 corners I'd be stoked to take at that spot. Also, I say we make a splash trade to get into the 4-11 range and Grab Jamal Adams or Malik Hooker. Weddle can play either safety spot. If we did that we would easily have the best secondary in the NFL for years. We also have Z, Judon, Pierce, Mosely, and Kufasi up front. So it's not like we don't have weapons in the front 7 for the future already too. All of those guys would look a notch better than they are with Jimmy, Quincy Wilson, Tavon, Jamal Addams, and Eric Weddle playing behind them. Plus we still have Sizzle for another year, and Doom if we want. We're never going to win with scrubs in the secondary. At least Weddle wanted to join

[sizzlingdoom]

would be something if we could land eric berry or john cyprien to play safety for us

That's what I've been saying about Cyprien. Berry would be tougher, but that would be sweet too obviously. But Cyprien would be cheaper and make sense for a lot of reasons to me. I love Weddle, and I know his run defense is rated really high, but he just isn't an enforcer at all. Cyprien was rated as the top run defending safety in the game. Free or Strong. If we plug him in at SS, not only does that automatically upgrade our run D and give us an enforcer that we've been missing at SS (I miss Pollard), but it bumps Weddle back to FS (Cut Webb) which gives us way better FS play. Plus they can still interchange on a few plays here and there.

[sizzlingdoom]

If somehow Malik Hooker fell to us, we could solidify the backend of our D, and then add corner depth in the 2nd, even trading up to do so if need be. Of course, that strategy would require that edge rushers on the roster develop, an d possibly mean fitting in Doom for another year.

Regardless, if we don't grab a corner in the first 2 rounds, we'll be in trouble.

I think there is zero chance of him falling to 16. One of tthe main guys/sites has him as the second best player in the class. Though it's early. I wish we would pull some fireworks and grab Hooker or Adams and a first round corner. Or second at the very least