Draft talk: Where do you think the Ravens go in the first round?

[Slidemaster]

What do you think? Linebacker? O-line? D-Line?

The pragmatist in me says they should go D-line, but part of me wonders how electrifying someone like Tavon Austin would be with a QB like Flacco who loves the deep ball. I hope they don't go linebacker - unless the player in question is a transcendent talent, I feel like you can get good value in the later rounds. This is also an extremely deep draft for defense.

Thoughts?

[baltimoreron]

My guess is D line or LB, but it will be the best player on the board at the time. In this draft position in 2001, we wound up with a pretty good TE.

[AFKAR7]

If he fell to the Ravens because of his off the field trouble, would you care if the Ravens drafted Alec Ogletree?

[Slidemaster]

If he fell to the Ravens because of his off the field trouble, would you care if the Ravens drafted Alec Ogletree?

He certainly looks like he's going to be a good player, but there are so many good LBs that have come out of rounds 2-4, it makes me wonder if there won't be a better overall talent on the board. The character issues don't bother me that much, honestly.

[Marchetti]

We'd be better off seeing who we can resign 1st before taking guesses.
We also need O-line depth.

[afan]

There are at least 7 really good T in this draft and at least 8 really good guards. I think to take either in the 1st round is crazy. We need to sure up the middle of the defense. Ray gone and Nghata hurt a lot these past 3 years. We need to sign Kruger, sign Joe for 16 million and cut Reed than resign him for less. If Teo is there for us i'd take him but there are 2 or 3 really good safeties in this draft as well. I would spend my 1st 3 picks on defense and than a lineman. Webb is back next year and we have some pretty good cb's. We need a hitter on defense to go with Suggs, and Pollard. Fear the Raven and win the war.

[Steveg85321]

I am not expert in who is available at what point, and Ozzie's strategy is best player available, which makes sense for a defending champion especially. To me the greatest needs are the middle of the defense: DL, MLB, and S.

[Jeebus]

If he's there, don't pass up Dunbar's Tavon Austin, the best player in the draft.

[JasonM]

I am not expert in who is available at what point, and Ozzie's strategy is best player available, which makes sense for a defending champion especially. To me the greatest needs are the middle of the defense: DL, MLB, and S.

I'm no expert either, but I pity any MLB who gets drafted in the 1st round and gets tagged with the "replacement for Ray Lewis" label. It's tough to follow a legend.

[SugarRay52]

The Ravens should trade up and draft wait for it......... Leon Sandcastle. This dude is unbelievable, he could be better than Deion Sanders ever was.


LOL

[Slidemaster]

If he's there, don't pass up Dunbar's Tavon Austin, the best player in the draft.

He might very well be. The highlights of that guy are insane.

[TDL]

I am not expert in who is available at what point, and Ozzie's strategy is best player available, which makes sense for a defending champion especially. To me the greatest needs are the middle of the defense: DL, MLB, and S.

Right on the money.Tired of seeing this once great D get run over.

[OriginalColtsFan]

If I had to guess, I'd wager that Ozzie will opt out of the first round. Again. And beef up the main areas: ILB, OT, C, DE, FS, TE (depending on what's done with Pitta and Dickson). Pretty much in that order.

[Ravens2006]

I'd LOVE to see Jesse Williams from Alabama. Unlikely he falls that far, but one can dream. Sadly I don't think he gets past PIT.

[Brohan]

He might very well be. The highlights of that guy are insane.

He just ran a 4.25..he probably won't be there now.

[durango46]

This is one draft where I disagree with the "best player available". The Ravens may just have a huge hole to fill at LB....

Rays retirement
Possible losses of Ellerbe and Kruger

Will McClain cut it ?

[Brohan]

This is one draft where I disagree with the "best player available". The Ravens may just have a huge hole to fill at LB....

Rays retirement
Possible losses of Ellerbe and Kruger

Will McClain cut it ?

They can get a starting lb in the second or third round. That isn't an expensive position to sign via FA.

[Slidemaster]

He just ran a 4.25..he probably won't be there now.

Adjusted to 4.34. Even still, that's super fast.

[Slidemaster]

I'd also take a serious look at Tyrann Mathieu in the 4th or 5th round. Might be undersized, but that dude loves hitting people.

[85Knight]

He might very well be. The highlights of that guy are insane.

You should have seen him in high school and college. I was in the position to watch most of his high school and college games in person and I saw things that I never saw before. Forget his size, if he's available draft him.