2008 NFL Draft Day: After taking Flacco & Rice, Ravens improve depth on Day Two
MASNsports.com's Dan Kolko follows today's draft and chimes in on the Ravens' selections throughout the day.
(6:23 p.m Sunday)- The 2008 NFL Draft is now over, and while the Ravens didn't draft a cornerback on Day Two, they traded for one instead. Baltimore traded a fourth-round pick to the Raiders for CB Fabian Washington. The Ravens also bolstered their defense by taking linebacker Tavares Gooden from Miami and Notre Dame saftey Tom Zbikowski with third-round picks. [Click below to see our live Draft Day Coverage]
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Baltimore also selected UTEP offensive tackle Oneil Cousins with their final third round pick.
Here is a complete list of players selected by the Ravens in the 2008 Draft, followed by links to some coverage of their second day picks and the trade that will bring Fabian Washington to Baltimore.
1 (18) Joe Flacco, QB, DELAWARE
2 (55) Ray Rice, RB, RUTGERS
3 (71) Tavares Gooden, ILB, MIAMI (FLA.)
3 (86) Tom Zbikowski, S, NOTRE DAME
3 (99) Oniel Cousins, OG, UTEP
4 (106) Marcus Smith, WR, NEW MEXICO
4 (133) David Hale, OT, WEBER STATE
6 (206) Haruki Nakamura, S, CINCINNATI
7 (215) Justin Harper, WR, VIRGINIA TECH
7 (240) Allen Patrick, RB, OKLAHOMA
RELATED LINKS
Ravens trade for Raiders cornerback Washington [The Baltimore Sun]
Day 2 Draft Picks [BaltimoreRavens.com]
Ravens talk about Day 2 picks [The Baltimore Sun]
(5:15 p.m Sunday)- The Ravens continued their high level of activity on Day Two of the NFL Draft, trading a fourth-round pick to the Raiders for cornerback Fabian Washington. Baltimore also added a linebacker, two safeties, two wide recievers and two offensive linemen. More details on the newest Ravens are soon to come.
(9:14 p.m)- The Ravens had a wild Day One of the NFL Draft, adding a quarterback, a running back and making three trades. Baltimore took Delaware QB Joe Flacco with its first round pick at No. 18 overall and Rutgers RB Ray Rice in the second round with the No. 55 pick. Look for lots more action out of GM Ozzie Newsome and company tomorrow, as the Ravens own nine second-day picks.
Below are some links on Rice, the newest member of the Baltimore backfield.
RELATED LINKS
Ray Rice Bio [BaltimoreRavens.com]
NFL Draft Tracker: Ray Rice [ESPN.com]
Ravens grab Rutgers RB [The Baltimore Sun]
(8:43 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: With their second pick of the day, No. 55 overall, the Ravens selected running back Ray Rice from Rutgers. Rice is on the smaller side, listed at only 5-foot-8, but has great vision, is very strong on his feet and is great at picking up yards after first contact. He joins Delaware QB Joe Flacco as the Ravens' two selections on Day One of the NFL Draft.
(7:53 p.m)- Now that the Ravens have traded down yet again, this time in the second round, I've had some time to track down some more information about Joe Flacco and Baltimore's decision making when it came to selecting him.
Below is the transcript of Flacco's conference call with the Baltimore media, courtesy of BaltimoreRavens.com
The Baltimore Sun's Jamison Hensley updates his column on Flacco, complete with reactions from the newest Raven, Head Coach John Harbaugh, and Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome.
BaltimoreRavens.com also offers a profile on Flacco, as well as a very interesting blog written by Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' Senior Vice President of Public and Community Relations. Byrne gives a look at the draft from the inside perspective in the hours leading up to the Ravens' selection of Flacco.
Kevin Tressolini from DelawareOnline.com wrote a column in Saturday's News Journal about Flacco's progression from the 14th ranked QB heading into his senior season to where he stands today. Tressolini's column features a great quote from Delaware Head Coach K.C. Keeler, who claims that if Flacco played at USC, "He's the No. 1 overall pick."
RELATED LINKS
Joe Flacco Conference Call Transcript [BaltimoreRavens.com]
Ravens get QB Flacco in wild first round [The Baltimore Sun]
Draft Profile: Flacco Moves to the Bigs [BaltimoreRavens.com]
Draft Day Blog Squad: The Byrne Identity [BaltimoreRavens.com]
Flacco's Big Day Finally Here [DelawareOnline.com]
(7:11 p.m)- After trading down and then back up to take Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco with the 18th pick, the Ravens continued their dealing in the second round. Baltimore shipped the No. 38 pick to the Seahawks and collected the No. 55 and No. 86 selections in return, adding to their stockpile of mid-round picks.
(7:05 p.m)- ESPN.com and Scouts Inc. give analysis of the Ravens' choice of Joe Flacco with the No. 18 pick:
"What he brings: Baltimore fills its greatest need here. Flacco certainly has the makings of a franchise quarterback. He's tall enough to scan the field from the pocket, flashes good pocket presence and has the strongest arm of any quarterback in this year's class. However, he isn't nearly as polished as Matt Ryan and he played against a lower level of competition at Delaware. Keeping that in mind, he's going to have a steeper learning curve, so it's going to take time for him to realize his potential.
How he fits: He is a prototypical pocket passer who should fit in well with Cam Cameron's passing offense. He easily has the ability to attack all levels in the passing game. He is their franchise quarterback of the future even though he may not start right away. We are not sold on Kyle Boller or Troy Smith, however, and Flacco will compete right away. This team has some good pieces in place on the offensive side of the ball including RB Willis McGahee, TE Todd Heap and WRs Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason. However, the Ravens' defense is ready to win now and the offense is still not there based on the quarterback questions."
(5:48 p.m)- After trading down from the No. 8 pick to No. 26, the Ravens traded back up to the 18th slot and grabbed Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco. Right now, many Ravens fans are probably wondering, "Who the heck is Joe Flacco?" Let's get to know the newest Ravens QB:
Flacco, from the University of Delaware, has the best arm of any quarterback in this year's draft class. He can put the ball 75 yards down the field with the flick of his wrist, and has great accuracy on his passes.
Flacco seems to have a quiet confidence about him and has the ability to calm the huddle in key situations. He has great leadership skills, and his teamates at Delaware trusted him to make the big play when it mattered.
The former Blue Hen has the desire and talent to be the future quarterback of this franchise for years to come.
The knock on Flacco is that he came from a FCS (formerly I-AA) school, and does not have experience playing against big-time opponents.
Flacco did transfer from Division I Pittsburgh, however, and in his last two years at Delaware he played against the top level of competition at the FCS level. In Delaware's matchup against Navy, a I-A school which went 8-5 this year and made the Poinsettia Bowl, Flacco threw for 434 yards and 4 touchdowns. Flacco also led Delaware to the 2007 FCS Championship game.
Flacco becomes the highest Blue Hen taken in the NFL Draft, taking that destinction from another Delaware QB, and he's a guy you might have heard of before -- former NFL MVP Rich Gannon.
Gannon was taken in the fourth round of the 1987 draft.
(Photo by BlueHenFoto - Flicker)
(Update at 6:28 p.m)- The details of the trade that netted the Ravens the pick needed to take Flacco are as follows: For the Houston Texans' No. 18 pick, Baltimore gave up the first-rounder they got from Jacksonville (No. 26), the second of the third-rounders from the Jaguars deal (No. 89) and a sixth-rounder (No. 173)
Below, The Sun's Jamison Hensely details the Ravens' busy first round, and ESPN.com and The Sun's Sheil Kapadia break down Flacco's strengths. Bill Ondine, also from the Baltimore Sun, describes the thought process of the Ravens' braintrust, and why they went with the Blue Hen QB.
RELATED LINKS
Ravens get QB Flacco in active first round [The Baltimore Sun]
NFL Draft Tracker: Joe Flacco [ESPN.com]
Moving the Chains: Draft profile: Delaware QB Joe Flacco [The Baltimore Sun]
O, by the Way [The Baltimore Sun]
Joe Flacco Bio [BaltimoreRavens.com]
(5:12 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: Is Joe Flacco the Ravens' quarterback of the future? It looks like General Manager Ozzie Newsome and Head Coach John Harbaugh are willing to bet that he is. Flacco, a 6-foot-6, 236 pound QB from the University of Delaware has great size and the strongest arm in this year's draft class.
(5:01 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: The Ravens have themselves a new quarterback. Baltimore has made another trade, trading up to the No. 18 overall pick, and with that pick, they grabbed University of Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco. More on the selection in a few minutes.
(4:55 p.m)- It seems a lot of general managers were taking notes when the New York Giants toppled the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The G-Men used their strong defensive front to pressure Tom Brady on their way to the title, and other teams seem to be following suit, with five of the first eight picks being taken on defensive linemen.
(4:32 p.m)- ESPN's Sal Paolantonio is reporting that the Ravens and head coach John Harbaugh do intend to take a quarterback at No. 26, with Delaware's Joe Flacco at the top of their list and Michigan's Chad Henne not too far behind. Paolantonio also reports, however, that the Ravens might have to sweat out the wait until they are on the clock, as a number of other teams could jump ahead of them to snag a QB. He lists the Dolphins, Jets and Seahawks as teams that could grab Flacco and/or Henne before they fall to Baltimore.
(4:07 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: Terms of the Ravens' deal with the Jaguars are in: by giving up the 8th overall pick, Baltimore recieves Jacksonville's 26th overall pick, as well as two 3rd round picks (No. 71 and No. 89 overall) and the Jags' 4th round pick. Great deal for Baltimore, as they have put themselves in a spot to get their choice of quarterbacks at 26 and they were able to stockpile mid-round selections to fill other areas of need.
RELATED LINKS
Ravens trade No. 8 pick to Jaguars [The Baltimore Sun]
(4:05 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: The Ravens have traded the No. 8 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. They will receive the Jags' No. 26 pick, as well as some additional compensation. 26 should be prime territory for the Ravens to take the best quarterback left on their board, be it Chad Henne or Joe Flacco.
(3:57 p.m)- BREAKING NEWS: After a lack of fireworks in the first six picks, the Saints traded into the Patriots' spot and selected defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis from USC, and now the Ravens have made a move of their own. The Ravens traded the No. 8 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars, who had owned the 26th pick. With the 8th pick, the Jags selected Florida defensive end Derrick Harvery. Details on the terms of the deal as soon as they come in.
(3:45 p.m)- Arkansas' Darren McFadden, LSU's Glenn Dorsey and Ohio State's Vernon Gholston just went off the board to the Raiders, Chiefs and Jets respectively. All six of the players invited to Radio City Music Hall are gone six picks into the draft. The Patriots are now on the clock at No. 7. I would think that the Ravens have to be seriously considering trading down from their No. 8 pick.
With pressing needs at offensive tackle, cornerback and quarterback, instead of taking a higher-rated corner like Troy's Leodis McKelvin at eight, the Ravens can drop back, accumulate more top round picks, and fill multiple needs. With that decision just minutes away, we'll see what they decide.
(3:21 p.m)- Possibly the top guy the Ravens were targeting coming into the draft is now gone. The Falcons selected Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan with the third pick, and now the Ravens have some decisions to make. Do they trade down from their No. 8 selection to obtain more picks and try and grab a quarterback late in the first round? Or do they stay at eight and take a cornerback, offensive lineman, or the best player available?
(3:12 p.m)- With the second pick, the Rams selected Chris Long from Virginia, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long. The Falcons are now on the clock, and this is the key pick for the Ravens. There will be a lot of celebrating in the Baltimore war room if Atlanta passes on Matt Ryan, but don't count on it.
(3:02 p.m)- We're under way at Radio City Music Hall with the 2008 NFL Draft. Commissioner Roger Goodell just announced that the Dolphins officially will take Michigan offensive tackle with the first pick. Thankfully the Dolphins didn't take their allotted 10 minutes, as they have known who they would select since Tuesday, and they made their pick right away. The St. Louis Rams are now on the clock.
(2:30 p.m)- We're about half an hour away from the start of the 2008 NFL Draft, and rumors are flying all over the place. ESPN was reporting that the Ravens were considering trading up to the No. 2 overall pick so they could secure Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, but it now looks like the St. Louis Rams, who currently sit at the second spot, will stay there and select Virginia defensive end Chris Long.
ESPN's Sal Paolantonio is reporting that the Rams were willing to deal the second pick, but wanted the Ravens' 1st, 2nd and 4th round picks. While Matt Ryan is considered the top quarterback in the draft, Baltimore has too many holes to fill to make that deal.
Chances are that the Falcons will select Ryan with the third pick, and the Ravens will take either a cornerback or an offensive lineman at No. 8 and look to get either Michigan's Chad Henne or Delaware's Joe Flacco later on to provide some help under center.
NFL DRAFT: MID-WEEK PREVIEW
While the suspense around what the Miami Dolphins would do with the top pick in the 2008 NFL Draft ended before teams and players even reach Radio City Music Hall, much is still up in the air for most teams with top-10 picks, including the Ravens, who own the eighth selection.
The Dolphins announced on Tuesday that they reached a contract agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, and will make him their pick at the top spot. With Long off the board, teams are starting to get a little more of a feel of how the first few picks might pan out.
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