It seems Baltimore Ravens normal supervisor Eric DeCosta may both commerce down within the upcoming NFL Draft or make a splash by buying a doable alternative for star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“It relies on the board. It actually does,” DeCosta mentioned Wednesday about probably grabbing a quarterback within the first spherical of the 2023 draft, in line with Myles Simmons of Professional Soccer Discuss. “I’d need to say sure as a result of we’ve got quarterbacks in our prime 31. So simply primarily based on that alone, simple arithmetic, I must say sure.”
The Ravens presently possess total alternative No. 22 on this 12 months’s player-selection course of. Baltimore may both package deal that asset in a commerce to maneuver up for a quarterback or hope a signal-caller DeCosta likes falls to the 20s.
As for Jackson, his rights stay connected to the Ravens by way of the non-exclusive franchise tag. There’s presently no signal Baltimore or every other staff is prepared to provide the one-time NFL Most Worthwhile Participant no less than $230M in totally assured cash that he is allegedly seeking to earn this offseason.
DeCosta additionally instructed the Ravens may discover a new QB1 exterior of the primary spherical later this month.
“I do not wish to insult anyone within the draft, however I might say there’s in all probability greater than 4 guys that may be vital quarterbacks on this league on this draft class,” DeCosta added, per Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site.
DeCosta identified that the New England Patriots famously acquired Tom Brady with decide No. 199 within the spring of 2000. Simply final 12 months, the San Francisco 49ers landed Brock Purdy with the draft’s last choice.
“They’re far and wide within the draft,” DeCosta mentioned about quarterbacks. “It’s a must to have good scouts, you must have conviction and in some circumstances, you have to get fortunate, too.”
For what it is price, the Ravens in all probability felt fortunate once they have been in a position to commerce again into the primary spherical to pick out Jackson with decide No. 32 in 2018. It’s, nevertheless, doable that DeCosta is making an attempt to tell different golf equipment Baltimore might not essentially match a large supply made to Jackson earlier than this 12 months’s draft.
Per the phrases of the non-exclusive tag, Baltimore can settle for two first-round draft picks as compensation for Jackson.
