Manti Te'o

Why does every mock draft I find marry us up with him?  I understand the need for a LB but I just don't think this guy is 1st round talent anymore.

What say you?  Yes to Te'o or No to the imaginary draft pick?

NO!

Good chance he can suck in the NFL, but at best I seem becoming another Jameel McClain. Statisically looking great like half the LBs in the NFL but not being an impact/playmaker

It's not a bad assumption.  He had just one bad game and a stellar season.  The scandal is mostly dead.  His combine wasn't good, but some guys are just better on the field and good scouts will look at his tape.  I personally have him now falling to the 2nd round and given what Harbaugh's reported reaction were to his 40 time the Ravens may just pass on him at 32 (if they don;t trade up or down).

They should pass on this guy.  I can see him making up imaginary teammates during the season.  Do you really want to see out on the field, yelling out play calls to people who dont really exists...........I dont think so  .

I just don't want the media circus to come to town, just like it does wherever Tim Tebow goes. I don't think he's worth the risks.

They should pass on this guy.  I can see him making up imaginary teammates during the season.  Do you really want to see out on the field, yelling out play calls to people who dont really exists...........I dont think so  .

That's assuming that the 49ers don;t snap'm up in the first.  Then he's and his cast of imaginary extras are your problem.  

Sorry.  I did not get a chance to complete my original thought. 

After seeing his combine workout, as well as the viral video of Harbs being thoroughly unimpressed with Teo, I highly doubt the Ravens will choose him in the 1st rd, if at all.  I don't even see him going in the 1st rd.  He might not go off the board until the end of the 2nd or maybe not until the 3rd.  Then again, both Matt Barkley and Geno Smith will probably go in the 1st, so you just don't know what some teams want.

You also have to remember, most of these "experts" (and I say that with tounge in cheek) predict drafts by what they believe are team needs.  The Ravens usually pick BPA, especially since they are picking last.  If a quality ILB/MLB (IMO this does not describe Teo) is available at 32, I can see Ozzie and Co. going that route.  If not, then they will go in a different direction, still addrsssing thier needs, but more importantly picking the BPA or even out of the 1st rd for more picks.  They also have 13 picks this year, so we could Ozzie trading up.     

You also have to remember, most of these "experts" (and I say that with tounge in cheek) predict drafts by what they believe are team needs.  The Ravens usually pick BPA, especially since they are picking last.

Don't be fooled by the slogan "best player available".  Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and a few other fanbases state this on a regular basis but team needs defintely fall into BPA, especially in the early rounds.

The same applies to every team's BPA board. It should be more accurately described as "best player available that fits the team's needs".

All that said, I'd be surprised if the first pick isn't defense.  Specifically, MLN/ILB, NT, or Safety.  I don't see a WR being drafted earlier than the 4th round and I doubt any LT worth picking in the first    
  

Ravens are still a BPA team, but in the Harbaugh era they tend to trade around a bit to help a need and BPA coincide. Basically they make a pick they believe is worthy of the pick imo. But at other times they will still pick the BPA without moving, e.g Ray Rice (McGahee coming off a great year), 2 Ss and 2 TEs in the same draft, really feel those guys we got late last year were all BPAs...the CBs and Ss, the Miami WR late round etc. Sergio Kindle (knee issue) and Upshaw  (size issue) were guys with huge questions, even though people say they "needed" OLBs those were guys that were questionable to even beat guys like JJ or Kruger but we took a chance on because they were 1st round talent in the 2nd round.

They actually traded back in the second round before they selected Ray Rice as well.  Rice was selected near the end of the 2nd round and the Ravens were picking in the 8th spot that year I believe.

Ravens are still a BPA team, but in the Harbaugh era they tend to trade around a bit to help a need and BPA coincide

Let's not act like things changed because of Harbaugh.

2007 - Mulitalo gone from the LG position, we draft a LG named Ben Grubbs

2006 - Ray Lewis points out that d-line help is needed, we draft a D-lineman named Haloti Ngata

2005 - Clarence Moore was the only WR with 400 receiving yards (421) in 2004.  Needed WR help, draft Mark Clayton and sign Derrick Mason

Believe me, I can keep going.  True BPA doesn't kick in until the 3rd round.  The first two rounds, "coincidentally" are also needs.  Even going by those you said:

 e.g Ray Rice (McGahee coming off a great year)

McGahee ended the season 2007 on IR.  No depth behind him on a run first team.  Considering he was injured in 2008 yet again, it proved to be a need.

2 Ss and 2 TEs in the same draft

Agreed, BPA doesn't really start until the 3rd round.  All of these players were 3rd round or later.

Sergio Kindle (knee issue) and Upshaw  (size issue) were guys with huge questions

Sergio Kindle's position was a definite need.  The 2009 pass rush was horrible.  Upshaw was also a need and predicted by MANY beforehand.  JJ had left and the team had no viable started at OLB.

even though people say they "needed" OLBs those were guys that were questionable to even beat guys like JJ or Kruger but we took a chance on because they were 1st round talent in the 2nd round.

I don't even get this.  JJ and Upshaw were never on the team together so I'm not sure why he needed to beat him out.  Upshaw also started more games than Kruger last season so it's safe to say he beat him out.  Nobody ever questioned whether Kindle would beat out JJ because he never got a chance.  Kruger was barely thought of in 2010 after doing almost nothing in 2009 so who even considered him a factor??  
     
The Ravens draft on best player available from rounds 3 through 7.  They and every other team draft on best player to fill a need in rounds 1 and 2.  Unless it's just a loooooong list of coincidences (Heap when Sharpe is wearing down, Reed after Woodson leaves, etc).

That said, there were definitely a few that just seemed to truly be best player available in the first round.  McAlister in 99, Jamal in 2000, and Suggs in 2003 are the only ones that didn't seem to coincidentally fit an actual need  


    
   
     


  

Ed Reed Ray Lewis John Ogden

All before Harbaugh era. In Harbaugh era we were trading up for needs like Joe Flacco Micahel Oher

Picking a back up RB in the 2nd round doesn't fill a need. I don't care how you look at it. No one expected the Ravens to make that pick either, i remember Bill Bellichick saying he never thought in a million years Ravens would pick rice - there were lots of great players that could've helped our needs at starting positions, thats why he didn't plan on trading up. You can explain it out anyway you want after they get on the field because of their talent. Good players find a way to make plays, contribute, and break into the lineup.

Todd Heap was BPA, they had sharpe. Again you can sit there and say, well hey sharpe was old and on his way out... but at the end of the day the ravens could've used that pick to grab another starter.

That's assuming that the 49ers don;t snap'm up in the first.  Then he's and his cast of imaginary extras are your problem.  

Hey, knock it off!!  Dont bring that jinx on us - lol.

 i remember Bill Bellichick saying he never thought in a million years Ravens would pick rice - there were lots of great players that could've helped our needs at starting positions

No offense dude, but who are the studs drafted around Ray Rice that the Ravens should have drafted instead?

DeSean Jackson went a few picks ahead, but he's not someone I'd revolve a team around.  Matt Forte went before Ray Rice and Jamaal Charles went early enough in the 3rd round, but they are both RBs as well. 

So who is the guy you think the Ravens should have drafted in that spot instead?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_N
FL_Draft

Picking a back up RB in the 2nd round doesn't fill a need

So a backup to a starter that was just put on IR isn't needed?  

there were lots of great players that could've helped our needs at starting positions

Name them.  Everybody that went between Ray Rice and Tavares Gooden was garbage.  Let me know the great players that would have filled needs at starting positions that we skipped out on for Rice.

Todd Heap was BPA, they had sharpe. Again you can sit there and say, well hey sharpe was old and on his way out... but at the end of the day the Ravens could've used that pick to grab another starter

So Ozzie's never drafted a player as insurance for an aging veteran?  So Tavares Gooden was really that good?  What about

All before Harbaugh era. In Harbaugh era we were trading up for needs like Joe Flacco Micahel Oher

lol so you forget how far they traded up to get Kyle Boller huh?  Even gave up their first round pick from the following draft.

Why are you even trying to blame drafting on Harbaugh?  The 2004 draft was easily far worse than any draft under Harbaugh

    
   
  

Terrell Thomas, Charles Godfrey, Kendell Langford, Martellus Bennet

lol so you forget how far they traded up to get Kyle Boller huh?  Even gave up their first round pick from the following draft.

Why are you even trying to blame drafting on Harbaugh?  The 2004 draft was easily far worse than any draft under Harbaugh
Never blamed Harbaugh i said in the Harbaugh era. Other than Boller i can't think of any other time in that era, and thats because Billick was in love with him, we believed him when he said trust me i know qbs. It was a glaring need for them, i don't blame them for taking a risk on him. Never said Harbaugh drafts were bad either i dont know where you r getting this from.