An Orlando Brown, Jr. trade finally came to fruition as the Baltimore Ravens traded their right tackle to the Kansas City Chiefs for a plethora of draft picks. At its heart, the deal will send Brown to the Chiefs while improving Baltimore’s draft position in multiple areas. The Ravens upgrade their 2021 second-round pick, their 2022 sixth-round pick, and add another third- and fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Baltimore Ravens: Uses for Draft Picks Acquired in Orlando Brown Trade
Kansas City gets:
🏈 OT Orlando Brown
🏈 2021 second-round pick (No. 58)
🏈 2022 6th round pick.Baltimore gets:
🏈 2021 first-round pick (No. 31)
🏈 third-round pick (No. 94)
🏈 fourth-round pick (No. 136)
🏈 2022 fifth-round pick— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 23, 2021
Brown’s future came into question when he tweeted “I’m a LEFT tackle” just weeks after the conclusion of the 2020 season. This made a trade out of Baltimore inevitable. With Brown now a Chief, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta officially now has concrete resources with which to work in this year’s draft.
DeCosta and the Ravens organization have historically used draft capital to manipulate the draft board to their liking. Baltimore finished the 2020 draft with 10 total selections, including five in the top 100. In fact, nine of their 10 selections played in eight or more games this past season. If history is any indication, the majority of the picks the Ravens currently possess could move around on Draft Weekend.
The Ravens make their most significant additions of the off-season through the draft. Baltimore currently has the highest percentage (72 percent) of homegrown talent on their current roster in the entire NFL. An organization known for letting the board fall to them, the Ravens will likely employ the same approach with their picks in 2021. The following contemplates how Baltimore could use draft capital acquired in the Orlando Brown trade in the upcoming Draft.
Possible Uses for Draft Picks Acquired in Orlando Brown Trade
The Ravens currently have nine picks heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. They boast two picks in each of the first, third, fourth, and fifth rounds. Additionally, they own one pick in the sixth round and no picks in the second.
Ravens now have 9 picks in next week's draft:
1st round (2): Nos. 27 & 31 (from KC)
2nd round: None
3rd round: Nos. 94 (from KC) & 104
4th round: Nos. 131 & 136 (from KC)
5th round: Nos. 171 & 184
6th round: No. 210— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) April 23, 2021
Baltimore has a surprising history with multiple first-round picks. Having two first-round picks is rare for most NFL teams but is surprisingly common for the Ravens. Since joining the NFL in 1996, they have the seventh-highest regular-season winning percentage. They also possess the fourth-most playoff wins in the NFL in that same span. When a team is that successful, logic suggests they may face a depletion of assets due to perennially competing for a championship.
Breaking the Mold
Baltimore, on the other hand, is successful during the season. Likewise, they accumulate first-round picks as if it were a mere formality for a contender. In Baltimore’s 24-year drafting history, they have already made multiple first-round picks four times. These instances came in 1996, 2000, 2003, and, most recently, in 2018. If they pick twice in round one this year, they will have, on average, made multiple first-round picks once every five years. For comparison, the Detroit Lions—the team with the second-worst winning percentage since the Ravens entered the league—has made multiple first-round picks five times as well.
In the four years the Ravens have made multiple first-round picks, at least one of the players selected has gone on to make at least one All-Pro team. Those players are Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Lamar Jackson. Every player selected prior to 2003 is currently in the Ravens Ring of Honor.
First Round After the Orlando Brown Trade: 27th- and 31st-Overall Picks
DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh have several tough decisions to make with their two first-round picks. Baltimore has one of the most complete rosters in the NFL but could still do with many upgrades. Finding an additional pass rusher, wide receiver, and a tackle to succeed Brown will all likely prove priorities for the Ravens in 2021. This is unsurprising considering finding instant impact players in the first round is synonymous with success in the NFL.
However, after acquiring picks in the Orlando Brown trade, Baltimore could look into trading down as well. Both DeCosta and former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome have been known for not over-drafting and instead, opting to accumulate draft picks by moving down the board. Over the past decade, the Ravens have traded back in three separate drafts. They even completely traded out of the first round in 2012. Baltimore has traded out of the first round twice in their franchise history. Moving one of two first-round picks is likely the best way to acquire more draft capital should the Ravens brass feel so inclined.
In 2010, the Ravens traded the 25th-overall pick to the Denver Broncos for the 43rd-, 70th-, and 114th-overall picks. In 2012, the Ravens traded the 29th-overall pick to the Minnesota Vikings for the 35th- and 98th-overall picks. For comparison, in 2018 the Philadelphia Eagles traded their 32nd- and 132nd-overall pick to Baltimore for the 52nd- and 125th-overall picks in 2018, as well as their second-rounder in 2019 (53rd-overall).
Having multiple picks in round one is a luxury, not a privilege. As such, DeCosta knows he needs to get the most possible value out of his picks. Barring DeCosta and Harbaugh falling in love with players at 27 and 31, there is a high chance Baltimore trade back with one of two first-rounders.
Positional Needs with the Ravens Two First-Round Picks
If Baltimore stands pat at 27 and 31, they will not need to look far for top-end prospects. The 2021 draft appears deepest at three positions Baltimore needs most: edge defender, wide receiver, and offensive tackle.
With Brown now in Kansas City, it would prove surprising to see the Ravens pass on an offensive tackle in round one. This is especially true when one considers the way the team runs the ball. For instance, J.K. Dobbins finished 2020 tied for second among running backs in average yards before contact. His backfield running mate, Gus Edwards, finished tied for 22nd.
Adding Alejandro Villanueva will help in the short term, but represents a noticeable downgrade in the aftermath of the Orlando Brown trade. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is likely hoping the Ravens come away with another big and burly tackle like Brown in the draft, however. It is unlikely DeCosta leaves the draft without Brown’s long-term replacement. The depth at tackle therein makes finding that player a reasonably manageable task.
Best Player Available vs. Positions of Need
That said, Baltimore may employ a ‘best player available’ approach with their second first-round pick but, alternatively, could just as easily prioritize needs such as edge defender or wide receiver.
Off-season departures have left Baltimore depleted at edge and finding another pass rusher to complement a needy group could do wonders for the Ravens. Outside linebackers accounted for just 19 of Baltimore’s 39 sacks in 2020. Georgia’s Azeez Ojulari or Miami’s Gregory Rousseau could fit well in defensive coordinator Don Martindale‘s scheme.
Wide receiver could also take priority as Baltimore is still without a true number-one receiver for quarterback Lamar Jackson. As such, the team finished dead last in passing yards per game last season. LSU’s Terrace Marshall, Jr. or Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman are both larger-bodied receivers who could provide a nice change of pace in the receiving game.
Overall Draft-Day Outlook
The Ravens have always coveted extra picks in the NFL Draft. Before trading Brown to the Chiefs, Baltimore only held seven draft picks— the fewest of DeCosta’s tenure. They now have a total of nine picks and hold the flexibility they have grown accustomed to.
The New York Post ranked the Ravens as the best drafting team over the past five years due to their continued success in the process. Nonetheless, DeCosta partly chalked up his organization’s success to the flexibility allowing for taking swings with an abundance of picks. “I have to say, it’s a luck-driven process. If you have more picks, you’re going to hit on more players” the Ravens general manager said in his Pre-Draft presser. There is also a good chance Baltimore will make moves to acquire even more picks on Draft Weekend.
The Orlando Brown trade creates a somewhat glaring hole on the Ravens roster. That said, Baltimore has a reputation for successfully (and seamlessly) identifying and acquiring high-end successors through the draft. 2021 will undoubtedly prove another high-pressure draft for one of the league’s best front offices. Despite this inevitability, the Ravens have the quality and quantity of picks to remain a Super Bowl contender in 2021.
