Kevin Eck

Eric DeCosta Is Alone at the Top in AFC GM Draft Confidence Tiers

The Ringer NFL Shows Sheil Kapadia and Diante Leeplaced the AFC general managers into tiers based on how much confidence they have in them to perform well in next week's draft.

They agreed that Eric DeCosta is in a league of his own. The Ravens' GM had the top tier all too himself on both Kapadia's and Lee's list.

"They've done a really good job of identifying ways to bring guys into their building, develop them, and by the time they get towards the end of their rookie deal, even if they're not a star player, they're a solid contributor," Lee said. "When they pick you, you usually stick in the league. For that reason, I think that he's separated himself from the rest of the pack in that regard."

Kapadia said: "You can't argue with the track record. They know what they're doing. They've had a good team for a long time. The Ravens and Eric DeCosta, I would trust them. If you said, 'Hey, I'm handing you an NFL team and you get to pick anybody in the league to do your draft this year,' I think the Ravens and that staff would be on the short list.

On a related note,Bleacher Reports Gary Davenportdid a "hot seat check" for each GM leading into the draft.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being those whose seat is the hottest, DeCosta was given a one.

"The Ravens haven't been able to get over the hump and into the Super Bowl under DeCosta, but the 2019 Sporting News Executive of the Year has steered a franchise that has won at least 10 games in five of the last six seasons," Davenport wrote. "The Ravens don't make rash decisions, and it would take multiple years of missing the postseason for DeCosta's job to be in any kind of jeopardy."

Ravens Named Landing Spot if Dolphins Trade Jalen Ramsey

Miami Dolphins General Manager Chris Grier confirmed reports yesterday that the team and seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey will mutually explore trade options. The Ravens have been named by pundits as a potential landing spot.

"The Ravens don't benefit from a rookie quarterback contract like some other contenders, meaning any trade for Ramsey would require careful cap navigation. Still, the potential upgrade makes it a scenario worth exploring,"Pro Football Focus Gordon McGuinness wrote. "Brandon Stephens struggled in 2024, earning just a 48.1 PFF coverage grade on 198 snaps in Cover-3 Baltimore's most-used coverage. Replacing him with Ramsey and pairing the former All-Pro with Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins could give the Ravens the best cornerback trio in the NFL heading into 2025."

USA Todays Jacob Camenkeralso believes the Ravens would be a good fit for Ramsey.

"The Ravens have two strong cornerbacks in Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. Ramsey would create an even more formidable trio while allowing Chidobe Awuzie a solid dice-roll signing after the Tennessee Titans released him to become a high-end depth piece," Camenker wrote. "Baltimore should be loading up to get over the hump in the AFC, and acquiring a tough-minded Super Bowl winner like Ramsey should help them threaten the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills once again in 2025."

Sports Illustrateds Jarrett Baileyexpressed a similar sentiment.

"Ramsey is still a starting-caliber cornerback who is as versatile as any defensive back in the league today," Bailey wrote. "Bringing him in would give the Ravens several different options when it comes to personnel alignments. They can put him on the boundary opposite Nate Wiggins with Marlon Humphrey in the slot. They can also rotate Ramsey and Humphrey, allowing both of them to play in the slot and out wide."

How the Ravens Can Nail the Draft

ESPNs Ben Solakdevised a blueprint for each team to "knock it out of the park" in the draft.

Regarding the Ravens, Solak said they are in good position to draft the best player available.

"A few 'best players' feel like they could fall into the Ravens' range," Solak wrote. "Edge rusher Mykel Williams (Georgia) is a classic Ravens defensive lineman, with length and toughness, and he's only 20 years old one of the youngest, highest-ceiling players in the draft. Jahdae Barron (Texas) is a talented but undersized defensive back with inside-out versatility. He won't fit every team given his measurables, but the Ravens won't mind. And another Bulldog safety Malaki Starks is the sort of heady, well-rounded safety who would pair wonderfully with versatile player Kyle Hamilton. Williams would be the best pick for the Ravens, should he fall all the way down to No. 27."

Solak said it would make sense for the Ravens to draft a cornerback in the second round.

"Trey Amos (Ole Miss) reminds me of Wiggins at times, but he'll likely be gone when the Ravens pick at No. 59," Solak wrote. "Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina) is more likely to be available, and his profile recovering from an ACL tear fits that of General Manager Eric DeCosta, who has gambled on injured players (David Ojabo, Andrew Vorhees, Rasheen Ali) before."

Solak also believes the Ravens should add a developmental tight end since Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar are all in contract years, and he said depth at defensive tackle "is a must."

"Baltimore's last major draft picks at defensive tackle were Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones pretty dang good!" Solak wrote.

Pundit Believes Ravens Should Draft Oregon Defensive Tackle in First Round

Unlike most mock drafts, which attempt to predict what a team will do,NFL.coms Adam Ranks mock draftwas predicated on what a team should do.

Rank believes the Ravens should select Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon with the 27th-overall pick.

"I don't know how this seems to happen every year, but you always seem to have a player who fits your team fall right to you, a la Kyle Hamilton back in 2022," Rank wrote. "Here, it happens with Harmon, who has a chance to be a great player in this league, someone who really looked like a Ravens-type player at Oregon. Listen to me, and that's what he will be."

Notre Dame Cornerback Identified As Possible Surprise First-Round Pick for Ravens

PFFs Dalton Wassermans mock draftalso had a twist. He made an "out-of-left-field first-round pick" for every team.

Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison was Wasserman's surprise pick for the Ravens.

"If there were full confidence in his recovery from hip surgery, Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison would likely be a first-round pick," Wasserman wrote. "He earned an elite 90.5 coverage grade over three seasons in South Bend an especially impressive mark given Notre Dame's frequent use of man coverage. Adding Morrison to a secondary that already features Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey could make life difficult for opposing offenses."

Quick Hits

Yesterday's Most Read:Late for Work: Bill Belichick Regrets Not Drafting Lamar Jackson

• The Ravens were among eight teams inFox Sports Colin Cowherds circle of trust,which he based on a franchise's owner, GM, head coach, and quarterback.