It's that time of year again, isn't it? The NFL draft is looming, and with it comes a whole lot of speculation, especially for teams like the Baltimore Ravens. When you hear "QB for Ravens today," it's easy to jump to conclusions, but the reality is a bit more nuanced, especially when you look at what the team's general manager, Eric DeCosta, has been hinting at.
DeCosta recently dropped a rather interesting nugget: the Ravens are indeed considering a quarterback in the first round of the upcoming draft. Now, before you imagine a whole new face under center immediately, he clarified that it "depends on the board." Simple math, he explained, suggests they'd have quarterbacks in their top 31 picks, making a selection a real possibility. This comes at a time when the future with Lamar Jackson remains a topic of much discussion, with his franchise tag situation still unfolding. Beyond Jackson, the Ravens have Tyler Huntley and Anthony Brown on the roster, but the team is clearly thinking ahead.
The challenge for Baltimore is their draft position – the No. 22 overall pick. With only five selections in total, moving up significantly in the first round to snag one of the top-tier quarterback prospects might be a stretch. This draft class is reportedly strong at the top, with names like C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, and Hendon Hooker all projected to go within the first round. DeCosta himself mentioned that there are "probably more than four guys that can be significant quarterbacks in this league in this draft class."
However, it's not a foregone conclusion that a quarterback will be their first pick. The team has significant needs elsewhere, particularly at wide receiver, where they ranked last in receiving yards last season, and cornerback, with Marcus Peters' free agency status creating a void. It's more likely, DeCosta suggested, that they'll address those positions with their top pick.
Still, the Ravens have a history of being forward-thinking at the quarterback position. Remember back in 2018? They traded back into the first round to select Lamar Jackson, even with Joe Flacco on the roster. When asked if they're spending more time on quarterbacks this year, DeCosta was coy, saying he wouldn't necessarily say they have.
What's clear is that while the team is open to discussing the draft class and their quarterback prospects, they're keeping a tight lid on any questions about Lamar Jackson himself. At a recent pre-draft news conference, officials deflected any talk about Jackson, even when asked directly about his trade request. The focus, for now, is on building the best team possible through the draft, and that includes keeping all options on the table, even if it means exploring the quarterback landscape for the future.
