Ozzie Newsome’s farewell Ravens draft was pure wizardry – Baltimore Ravens Blog

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OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Inside the Baltimore Ravens draft room, Ozzie Newsome’s final draft as general manager ended with tears, emotional hugs, a standing ovation and a bold statement from coach John Harbaugh.

“I told Ozzie just as we finished this thing up I feel like this is his best draft since I’ve been here — heck, maybe the best ever,” Harbaugh said.

Newsome owned this draft, the 23rd of his illustrious career. Each move felt calculated. Each pick came with a purpose.

While at times it felt like Newsome was never going to pick a player, his repeated trades back still landed targeted players and filled needs. Newsome’s maneuver at the end of the first round was one of the shrewdest decisions of the draft and perhaps the best-orchestrated plan of his career.

After three days and 12 draft picks, Newsome addressed the team’s biggest void not once, but twice, with pass-catching tight ends Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews, selected a one-time top right tackle prospect in Orlando Brown Jr. and landed the franchise’s quarterback of the future with Lamar Jackson.

“I really, really feel very good about this class and how it came to be,” Newsome said. “[I can say] that the Baltimore Ravens — there is no doubt in my mind –- are a better football team and will give us an opportunity to get to not only where we want to go to, but all of our fans and everybody that wears that purple. Let’s get into the playoffs and hopefully get to another Super Bowl.”

Newsome’s reputation for being one of the NFL’s all-time best decision-makers began in his first draft, when he selected two Hall of Fame players (Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis) in the first round. His final draft appropriately included two first-rounders and once again showcased his expertise at working the draft.

Starting off with the No. 16 overall pick, the Ravens moved back to No. 22, picking up a third-round pick that was later used for Andrews. Baltimore then fell to No. 25, adding what would be a critical fourth-rounder and allowing the Tennessee Titans to move up for Alabama inside linebacker Rashaan Evans (a reported target of the rival Pittsburgh Steelers).

Despite moving back twice, the Ravens were able to take Hurst, the top tight end on their draft board. What came next could impact the franchise for years to come.

Newome surprisingly traded back into the first round for Jackson. All the Ravens had to give up to jump 20 spots for the former Heisman Trophy winner was a 2019 second-round pick and the fourth-rounder they acquired in one of their trades in the first round. It was crucial for Baltimore to get Jackson in the first round because of the fifth-year option (which second-rounders don’t get), which means the Ravens won’t have to rush Jackson into the starting role.

There will be some second-guessing. Baltimore passed on safety Derwin James at No. 16 and chose not to take wide receiver D.J. Moore at No. 22. The Ravens, though, were executing a long thought-out plot in the first round.



Source : ESPN