Baltimore common supervisor Eric DeCosta stated Lamar Jackson’s state of affairs isn’t inflicting the Ravens to take a look at quarterbacks otherwise within the upcoming draft, though he did say the crew might conceivably take one within the first spherical.
DeCosta, coach John Harbaugh and director of participant personnel Joe Hortiz hosted a information convention on Wednesday, and reporters have been advised to maintain questions targeted on the draft.
“It simply will depend on the board,” DeCosta stated when requested if taking a quarterback within the first spherical is a consideration. “I assume I’d need to say sure as a result of we’ve got quarterbacks in our high 31. So simply based mostly on that alone, basic math, I must say sure.”
As of now, the Ravens have the twenty second decide within the first spherical.
The Ravens put the franchise tag on Jackson final month, so if he have been to achieve an settlement with one other crew and Baltimore determined to not match it, the Ravens might obtain two first-round picks in return. Jackson additionally introduced not too long ago that he’d requested a commerce, and DeCosta wouldn’t remark Wednesday on the ramifications of that.
“I perceive these questions,” he stated. “I believe we’ve spoken about this example in all probability 5 totally different instances this spring, in varied totally different press conferences and stuff, so we’re going to attempt to simply form of defer to these questions and transfer ahead to the draft.”
DeCosta stated the Ravens will keep their normal method on the subject of assessing quarterbacks, regardless of Jackson’s feedback.
“I don’t assume we actually are,” DeCosta stated. “We go into each draft attempting to take any form of bias out, any form of need-based state of affairs out of the draft equation. We actually do attempt to construct a board that’s actually finest participant out there, and that course of includes actually 9 months, beginning in early August.”
If Jackson is traded or indicators with one other crew, that might add to Baltimore’s meager complete of 5 picks on this month’s draft. But when DeCosta is hoping for a decision on Jackson’s standing earlier than the draft, he wasn’t saying.
“I believe the issues that we will management are actually getting the listing, the draft board set, evaluating gamers as finest as doable,” he stated.
Alabama’s Bryce Younger, Ohio State’s CJ Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson are the quarterbacks getting essentially the most consideration within the leadup to the draft. Richardson was spectacular on the mix, and his working means makes him an fascinating possibility as a possible alternative for Jackson.
“Richardson’s obtained simply uncooked bodily expertise, robust arm, athletic, large, bodily,” Hortiz stated. “Most likely the least skilled of the 4 of them, however has an opportunity to actually blossom and develop.”
