Ravens GM Eric DeCosta On 2020 Draft
Fresh off a 14-2 campaign in 2019, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is now set to conduct his second draft as Baltimore’s top front office decision-maker. Holding the 28th pick in the first round, the Ravens could go in any number of directions to supplement an already talented roster.
Let’s take a look at the highlights of a draft-centric conference call DeCosta held with reporters earlier this morning:
- The 2020 draft is thought to contain one of the best wide receiver classes in recent memory, so much so that DeCosta believes Baltimore could find an immediate contributor as late as the fifth round, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (Twitter links). Unsurprisingly, DeCosta expects Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb to be off the board by the time the Ravens pick in Round 1, and Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs will probably also be gone. But Baltimore could have a choice between options like Justin Jefferson (LSU), Tee Higgins (Clemson), Denzel Mims (Baylor), or Laviska Shenault (Colorado) at the end of the first round. DeCosta and the Ravens selected two wideouts — Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin — in the top three rounds of the 2019 draft.
- Don’t expect the Ravens to attempt a move back up the board. “In general, trading up is dangerous,” DeCosta said, per Zrebiec (Twitter links). “It’s a little bit risky. I’d like to have 10, 12, 14 picks in every draft all things being equal.” Baltimore currently owns nine selections. If DeCosta wants to move that total into the double digits, he’d need to be trading back instead of up. Indeed, DeCosta said he would only consider a trade up for an “elite player.”
- The Ravens depleted their tight end depth a bit by trading 2018 first-rounder Hayden Hurst to the Falcons, and DeCosta said it would be “foolish” for Baltimore not to consider adding another tight end at some point in the draft, tweets Zrebiec. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman runs a tight end-friendly scheme, but the Ravens currently only have three options on their roster: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, and Charles Scarff.
- Baltimore may also consider adding talent in front of quarterback Lamar Jackson. “Offensive line is something we definitely want to address in this draft,” said DeCosta, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com (Twitter link). “We see some talent in all the rounds. It would be great if a guy in the first round that we thought was a really good player fell to us.” Given the presence of Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown, the Ravens don’t necessarily need immediate help at tackle, but DeCosta feels all the projected first-round tackles have the capacity to move inside to guard (where Baltimore does need help), as Zrebiec tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/8/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: P Tyler Newsome
New Orleans Saints
- Re-signed: OL Cameron Tom
New York Giants
- Released: LB Nate Harvey (failed physical)
Ravens GM: Keeping Antonio Brown Thoughts “In House”
Recently, Lamar Jackson created a bit of a stir when he worked out with free agent Antonio Brown. As a result, some have speculated about a potential fit between the Ravens and the controversial wide receiver, but GM Eric DeCosta didn’t have much to say when asked about his level of interest. 
“Those are in-house things,” DeCosta said (Twitter link via Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com). “I don’t really feel the need to share that right now.”
Marquise Brown – Brown’s cousin and fellow SoFlo native – also took part in the workout, further the chatter even further. The wide receiver position is somewhere on the Ravens’ to-do list this offseason, but DeCosta doesn’t sound intent on bringing Brown to Baltimore. At least, if he is, he’s keeping it mum.
Also, for what it’s worth, DeCosta recently indicated that he is happy with what he already has in-house at WR.
“Do we feel the urgency? We probably feel that with every position,” the GM told the team website. “We want to be the best we can be at every position. This happens to be a wide receiver class with a lot of really good players. If we’re on the clock and we think that guy is the best player, we’ll probably pick him. Hopefully we can build our offense to the point where we can say, ‘Hey, we’re undefendable.'”
DeCosta also opined that there are “probably 25 draftable wideouts in this draft,” an indication that he’s looking more towards the rookie class than the free agent crop.
Poll: Where Will Jadeveon Clowney Sign?
It’s April and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is still without an NFL team. The former No. 1 overall pick isn’t coming off of a banner year, but he plays a premium position and has 32 career sacks to his credit. So, what gives? 
Of course, his price tag is his biggest blocker. Clowney came into the offseason seeking a deal worth $20MM per year. Recently, he backed down from that position, though the incumbent Seahawks are believed to be offering between $13-$15MM per annum, which is still probably less than he’s willing to accept.
A reunion still seems possible, but Clowney’s camp is working to find a better deal in the interim. Late last week, the Browns entered the sweepstakes and some league officials believe that they have the strongest interest of any suitor. The Browns have tons of cap room – about $43MM – and they might be willing to use some of it to swap Olivier Vernon for Clowney. Of course, that might be easier said than done, since the Browns would still have to find a team willing to take on the rest of Vernon’s contract, which is set to pay him $15.25MM.
The Jets could use Clowney’s edge rushing ability, but they’ve been taking a conservative approach to free agency after whiffing on their preferred targets in March. The Titans have also been linked to him, thanks to Clowney’s relationship with head coach Mike Vrabel from their Houston days, but they’re less inclined to spend on the pass rush after committing $9MM to outside linebacker Vic Beasley.
Other teams have been connected to Clowney, like the Giants, Colts, and Dolphins, though their pass rush needs have already been addressed. The Eagles remain an interesting landing spot for him from a football perspective, and they have breathing room to work with for right now, but their 2021 situation could complicate things. In theory, Philly could still land Clowney if he is willing to accept a one-year deal. The Ravens – with less than $11MM in cap space for the current year – seem less likely to sign him. For the sake of casting a wide net, we’ll include all of those teams in our poll.
Where do you think Clowney will sign? Cast your vote in the poll below (link for app users) and back up your pick in the comments.
Where Will Jadeveon Clowney Sign?
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Seahawks 36% (2,803)
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Browns 22% (1,749)
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Another team (tell us in the comments section) 9% (705)
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Titans 8% (621)
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Jets 7% (565)
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Giants 6% (453)
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Colts 5% (386)
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Ravens 4% (310)
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Dolphins 3% (200)
Total votes: 7,792
Michael Brockers Re-Signs With Rams; Ravens Deal Nixed
APRIL 4, 3:03pm: Brockers’ deal with the Rams is now official. This marks his third contract with the team that drafted him.
MARCH 27, 1:48pm: Brockers’ three-year deal carries a base value of $24MM and could be worth up to $31.5MM via incentives, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. A good chunk of the incentive package – $4.5MM – is based on realistic playing time milestones that he should bank, so long as he stays healthy. Brockers, as Rapoport notes, has not missed a game in the last three years.
MARCH 27, 9:24am: Michael Brockers isn’t going to the Ravens after all. On Friday, the Ravens announced that the deal is off. Then, Brockers did a U-Turn – he’ll return to the Rams on a three-year deal worth up to $31.5MM, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
It’s a similar deal to his would-be Ravens contract, which was reported to be worth $30MM over the course of three years. However, it’s worth noting that the Ravens were set to give him $21MM fully guaranteed and the locked-in dollar amount of Brockers’ new Rams deal is not yet known.
Brockers was set to join forces with newcomer Calais Campbell and incumbent interior force Brandon Williams in Baltimore. Then, earlier this week, the Ravens got skittish about his medical situation. Unable to examine him with their own team doctors due to the coronavirus epidemic, they had Brockers examined by an outside doctor. The exam raised potential issues with Brockers’ ankle, the same one he injured late last year.
Even though he doesn’t have gaudy sack totals, Brockers has been a solid defender against the run for L.A. For the Rams, it’s a significant item crossed off their to-do list. The Ravens, meanwhile, are in a bit of a tough spot. Before deciding on Brockers, the Ravens were in the mix for Ndamukong Suh and other notable D-Lineman, but Suh and most of this year’s impact free agents are already spoken for.
AFC Contract Details: Eifert, Day, Ravens
We already took a look at NFC contract details, so let’s switch focus to the other conference. Like last time, all notes via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter:
- Tyler Eifert, TE (Jaguars): Two years. Worth $9.5MM, including $3.25MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus. $1.25MM per-game roster bonus, $2M in incentives (2020). Up to $1M per-game roster bonus, $2M in incentives (2021, if options is exercised).
- Sheldon Day, DT (Colts): Signed. One-year, $1.75M deal, including $1MM guaranteed. $500K signing bonus, $1MM salary (of which $500K is guaranteed). Up to $250K in per-game roster bonuses.
- Andrew Billings, DT (Browns): One year, $3.5MM. Fully guaranteed deal. Includes $2MM signing bonus.
- Anthony Levine, S (Ravens): Signed. One-year, $1.812MM deal, including $350K guaranteed. $137.6K signing bonus, $1.675MM salary (of which $212.5K is guaranteed).
- Chris Moore, WR (Ravens): Re-signed. One-year, $1.672MM deal, including $275K guaranteed. $137.5K signing bonus, $1.535MM salary (of which $137.5K is guaranteed).
- Nick Dzubnar, LB (Titans): Signed. One-year, $1.047MM deal. Includes $137.5K signing bonus, $910K salary.
Ravens Eyeing Wide Receivers In Draft
The Ravens used first- and third-round picks on wide receivers last year, bringing Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin to Baltimore. It does not look like that will deter them from adding to their depth chart.
Baltimore re-signed special-teamer Chris Moore but planned to avoid using cap space on other receivers in free agency, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, who notes the team views this draft as being deep enough it would have been a waste of resources to devote cap space to one of this year’s free agent wideouts (subscription required).
In acquiring a second-round pick from the Falcons for Hayden Hurst, the Ravens have additional ammo to add one of this draft’s many wideout prospects expected to be early-round selections. Baltimore holds picks 28, 55 and 60, and Zrebiec adds the Ravens are likely to emerge with at least one new receiver by the time Day 2 concludes.
Lamar Jackson improved significantly as a passer last season but still leaned on tight end Mark Andrews, with the Ravens’ offense minimizing its wideouts to a degree. Brown (584 receiving yards) was Baltimore’s only receiver to surpass 350 yards last season. Willie Snead, who remains under contract, finished second among this group with 339 yards. Boykin played in all 16 regular-season games but did not top 200 yards.
Considering teams’ hesitancy in pursuing this year’s crop of veterans, many likely share the Ravens’ belief about this draft class’ depth. The Ravens seemingly have one of the league’s top receiver needs, but a team with a run-heavy offense using back-to-back first-round picks on wideouts would be interesting. The second day of the draft is expected to feature numerous receivers going off the board.
Ravens Talked With Mike Daniels
- After the Ravens’ deal for Michael Brockers fell through due to concerns over his ankle, they immediately started looking for defensive line help elsewhere. They ended up signing former Broncos defensive end Derek Wolfe, and they were apparently interested in Ndamukong Suh before he re-signed with the Bucs. Now we’ve got word of one more defensive lineman they discussed, as Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports tweets they were also talking with Mike Daniels. This is the first we’ve heard of interest in Daniels this offseason, and it’s not that surprising that the 2017 Pro Bowler’s market has been quiet given that his past two campaigns have been cut short due to injury. After getting released by the Packers last summer the Iowa product signed a one-year, $9.1MM deal with the Lions, but he ended up appearing in only nine games with two starts before landing on injured reserve. Now on the wrong side of 30, he probably won’t get too much guaranteed money wherever he ends up.
AFC Notes: Campbell, Patriots and Jets Cap
Many in and around the league were shocked that the Ravens were able to acquire defensive lineman Calais Campbell from the Jaguars for just a fifth-round pick. Baltimore had limited cap space entering the offseason, but decided the value was too good to let the opportunity to add Campbell go. However, it appears Campbell had his eyes set on the Ravens as well. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Campbell agreed to take less money from Baltimore than he would have received elsewhere because he believed the organization is well equipped to win moving forward.
Here are some more notes from around the AFC:
- Mike Reiss of ESPN details the Patriots salary cap situation in his weekly quick hits piece. Reiss notes that with at least 20 roster spots left to fill, more than $25MM in dead money on the books for next season, and nearly zero remaining cap space remaining, the team will likely need to make some cap-saving move (whether through an extension, pay-cut, or release). Most notably, New England’s strapped cap situation makes it hard to envision them finding a way to add a free agent quarterback like Cam Newton or Jameis Winston.
- Like New England, the Jets have very little cap flexibility remaining for this offseason. However, unlike their division-rival, New York is gearing up to be a major player in next year’s free agency, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. The majority of the Jets spending this offseason has been on one-year deals once they missed out on their top targets and now the team is set to have more than $80MM in cap space (per Over the Cap estimates).
Ravens, DE Derek Wolfe Agree To Deal
Hours after the Broncos agreed to re-sign Shelby Harris, their longest-tenured defensive lineman will head elsewhere. Derek Wolfe agreed to terms with the Ravens on a one-year deal worth up to $6MM, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The deal will guarantee Wolfe $3MM, Troy Renck of Denver7 tweets. Wolfe said, via Renck, the Broncos did not make an offer to bring him back.
The Ravens were thought to have finalized an agreement with Michael Brockers, but after it turned out the sides could not close that deal, Baltimore will pivot to another veteran interior rusher.
Wolfe, 29, said for months his preference was to return to Denver, where he played eight seasons. But the Broncos traded for Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey and opted to re-sign Harris after his market underwhelmed. The Ravens have swooped in and will add Wolfe to a defensive line that includes Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams.
While Wolfe was productive in Vic Fangio‘s scheme — registering career-high seven sacks in just 12 games — and was a starter for the Broncos’ dominant Super Bowl-winning defense in 2015, he has dealt with injuries throughout his career. The former second-round pick was not able to play in Super Bowl XLVIII due to a scary neck injury sustained earlier in 2013 and encountered more neck trouble in 2017. His 2019 season ended early because of an elbow injury.
The Ravens expressed interest in Ndamukong Suh, but he returned to the Buccaneers. Instead, Baltimore will add Wolfe on a team-friendlier contract. Wolfe signed a four-year, $36.75MM Broncos extension in early 2016 and played out that contract. With the Broncos, he totaled 33 sacks. Working with talented edge rushers throughout his career, the interior rusher registered at least five sacks in four seasons.