No Panicking: Ravens Eyeing More Than Four 'Significant' QBs in NFL Draft?
Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta made it clear that he is ready to draft a quarterback if that is how the cards are dealt, as Lamar Jackson is looking for a trade after being franchise tagged.
"I don't want to insult anybody in the draft, but I would say there's probably more than four guys that can be significant quarterbacks in this league in this draft class," DeCosta said about the upcoming class of signal-callers.
But he made sure to mention that there isn't an urgency to draft one in the first round because of teams' recent successes in drafting quarterbacks in the mid-to-late rounds.
"The fact is that we think that you can get a quarterback in the first round, or the third round or the fourth round who have a chance to develop. Go back to Tyrod Taylor, when we drafted him in the fifth round or sixth round. Years and years and years ago, Derek Anderson, we took him in the sixth or seventh. So you can get good quarterbacks," DeCosta said.
"You saw what the Niners did last year with Brock Purdy. It's quite possible to get a good quarterback at any point in the draft. Obviously, the G.O.A.T., Tom Brady was a sixth round pick. They're all over the place in the draft."
We already know that the Ravens are doing their due diligence when it comes to getting to know the quarterback prospects. The Ravens are scheduled to meet with Florida's Anthony Richardson on Friday.
But Costa's comments about being able to find a quarterback outside of Day 1 may be a sign of patience that they don't feel the need to make a blockbuster trade to get into range of one of the top four guys.
If the rumors are to be believed, the Indianapolis Colts' interest in Jackson could be their ticket into the top-5. The Colts currently have the No. 4 pick, which would undoubtedly net the Ravens a quarterback.
If the Ravens could trade Jackson to the Colts without giving up their No. 22 pick, it could prove worth it as they wouldn't have to give a historically expensive extension to Jackson and also keep the flexibility to add a playmaker still on Day 1 of the draft while also finding a new signal-caller.
But there shouldn't be any hurry, as the Ravens have control of Jackson with their franchise tag and can still net some significant draft capital if they wish to deal him.
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