The first round of the NFL draft was interesting with countless trades and some surprise picks. The Baltimore Ravens foes made it clear that they want to stay competitive by filling in holes and drafting players that will boost their rosters.
With two picks in the first round, the Cleveland Browns selected RB Trent Richardson and QB Brandon Wheedon. While the Pittsburgh Steelers did not select ILB Dont’a Hightower (as previously suspected), they did select G David DeCastro, one of the best guards available in the draft. The New England Patriots snuck in and traded to scoop up Hightower which disappointed Ravens fans who hoped that they would draft him. Finally the Cincinnati Bengals selected G Kevin Zeitler and CB Devin Kirkpatrick.
The Ravens were supposed to have the 29th overall pick in the first round. Fans waited with baited breath to see who their most coveted pick would be when the Ravens made a surprise trade with the Minnesota Vikings. The trade moved the Ravens from the 29th pick to the 35th pick (third pick in the second round) and they received an additional fourth round pick.
After the draft, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome held a brief news conference and explained that they decided to not move up in the draft because it would have been too expensive. Since some of the players on their radar were snatched up and others were still on the board, they elected to move back because they believe that they can still land some of their targeted players.
Newsome is very experienced and highly respected in his ability to target and draft players and the fans have to trust him in this process.
The Ravens last traded out of the first round in 2010 when they landed LB Sergio Kindle and TEs Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson.
As a fan it was hard waiting all night only to be letdown when the trade was made, but after sleeping on it, it was a wise decision and will hopefully it land the team players that can complete their roster. Aside from Kindle, the 2010 trade had a happy ending and I trust that 2012 trade will do the same, in Ozzie I trust and I am anxious to see who will be wearing purple this season.
What do you think? Were the Ravens wise to make a trade?
Zennie Abraham