How Receiver Acquisitions Affect Draft

SI.com’s Don Banks and NFLDraftScout.com’s Chad Reuter both believe that with the Ravens’ recent receiver acquisitions, General Manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens can concentrate on adding depth at tight end, cornerback or defensive end with their first pick in the Draft.

“Boise State’s Kyle Wilson and Rutgers’ Devin McCourty are the cornerbacks who could still be available for Baltimore, and Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham figures to be the only tight end prospect whose draft grade supports a low first-round selection,” said Banks.

Sure, the Ravens could draft Wilson, McCourty, or Gresham. But the reasoning behind drafting those players is not because the Ravens are no longer targeting wide receivers.

In fact, Newsome could very well still draft a receiver. If the best player on his board is a receiver, expect Ozzie to stick to his tried-and-true philosophy.

What Newsome has done through the signings is put the Ravens in a better position entering the Draft where there isn’t such a pressing need. Newsome and his staff will attempt to fortify every position on the roster before Draft day arrives on April 22.

Thus, he has made it even easier to stick to his Draft philosophy and build for the future.

Time to Focus on FA Defensive Ends?

The receiving unit has received its makeover.

Is it time to address other positional needs?

The only other “void” in the starting lineup, according to Baltimore Sun’s Jamison Hensley, is at defensive end.

Last year’s starter Dwan Edwards is an unrestricted free agent who has already made two team visits, but left both without a contract (Broncos and Seahawks).

“The easiest solution is retaining Dwan Edwards, a 2004 second-round pick who replaced Trevor Pryce in the starting lineup in Week 6 last season,” Jamison said.

“This could become a similar situation to Mason, where the lack of interest elsewhere might increase the Ravens’ chances of re-signing Edwards. Teams could be wary of signing Edwards to a long-term deal because he had spinal fusion surgery in 2008.”

Modell Has The Answer

Former Ravens president David Modell, son of Art Modell, believes he can solve the NFL’s looming labor problems, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Modell says the league should make him the “czar” of a new committee that would work on splitting all NFL revenue equally among owners and penalize teams that don’t try hard enough to contribute.

“His idea has some appeal,” Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk said. “Teams that earn the highest revenues by taking business risks resent those that sit back and spend little or no money in the quest to generate more of it.

“So even though the 32 franchises are on the same page within the context of the uncapped year, achieving a viable long-term solution to the ever-growing problem of revenue disparity represents the key to long-term peace between the league and the players — and among the various owners.”

Quick Hits

• Suspected gang member Willie Clark was found guilty of murder Thursday in the drive-by shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams after a New Year’s Eve outing three years ago, according to the Associated Press.
• Hall of Fame defensive lineman Merlin Olsen, who was also successful as an actor and in the broadcast booth, died early Thursday after a battle with cancer, reported the Associated Press. He was 69.
• “GT WR Demaryius Thomas said the Ravens really like him, tell him he got a 7 of 7 on his interview; are setting up a visit,” tweeted SI.com’s Ross Tucker.