2011 NFL Draft 1st Round Recap: How The Ravens Missed Their Pick

by Bruce Raffel on Apr 29, 2011 6:00 AM EDT

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (botom row R) poses for a photo on stage with the members of the 2011 Draft class and the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class during the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

When the Baltimore Ravens went on the clock to make the 26th pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, they had ten minutes to decide what to do. Would they stick in the slot and select their player or trade back to accumulate more picks? As the allotted time wound down, it appeared the Ravens were on the verge of making a trade with another NFL team. However, the time had run out and no decision seemed to have been made. The Ravens did not make their pick and there was no trade announced.

Shortly after Baltimore's ten minutes were up, the Kansas City Chiefs jumped in and handed in their pick, thereby becoming the 26th pick in the first round ahead of the Ravens. Almost immediately after that, the Baltimore Ravens made their selection, now the 27th pick of the first round, and by now you know they choose Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith

But what happened in those few precious moments when time seemed to stand still and all Ravens fans hung on the edge of the their seats?

Apparently, the team saw that there were a bunch of players available that the team would have been very satisfied to draft, and therefore were entertaining offers to trade back into either the later first round or even the second round, where they could still get one of the guys on their draft board and accumulate additional picks as well.

At the team's press conference late last night once the pick was made, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome noted that it was indeed a "long day." He said that head coach John Harbaugh was on the phone with Jimmy Smith while he was on the phone with "another team." Ozzie thought he had worked out a trade and called the NFL, but apparently, the other team did not, leaving the Ravens holding the phone while their allotted time ran out and the Chiefs jumped in front of them.

While the team declined to name the "other team," word was that the Chicago Bears backed out of the trade for unknown reasons. Newsome did say that he was talking to more than one team and had the Ravens dropped back a few slots (Chicago held the 29th pick) and Jimmy Smith was still there, the Ravens would have taken him.

Alas, that was not to be, but the Ravens still got that big, physical and fast cornerback to stick with the bigger wide receivers on opposing teams. However, along with his skills, Smith reportedly brings with him a bunch of baggage that questions his character.

Newsome, Harbaugh, Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta and Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz acknowledge those concerns but felt that their interviews with Smith satisfied any concerns that might have preceded him. DeCosta said he was "very excited to get him," and "we got a great player." Harbaugh said the "coaching staff is very excited," adding, "he fits our defense and this guy makes us better."

The issues that led to the team being skipped in its slot ended up not only not affecting their initial choice, but it may actually save the team a bit of money as the 26th pick usually makes a bit more than the 27th pick in the draft. However, don't be too sure of that as right next to Smith in his home on TV during the draft sat super-agent and notorious tough negotiator, Drew Rosenhaus.

Either way, the Baltimore Ravens got the guy they had coveted all along. Friday evening will be the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the draft and the Ravens are sure to add more players to their team that will contribute in 2011, hopefully with a little less drama.

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Definitely was nerve racking and I was unsure of what was going on, but westill got the player we wanted and everything turned out ok. They don’t appear to be worried with the character issues because the arrests were 2 years ago and they said he has been pretty good since then. He wound up on the perfect team for him and many of are looking very forward to what Jimmy brings.

by AV23 on Apr 29, 2011 6:35 AM EDT reply actions

No harm, no foul Ravens fans.......

You have an imposing CB now that will be able to cover the small WR’s of Pittsburgh (something I fear).
The SNAFU was minor at best and the end result was favorable.
As a Steeler fan and overall fan of the AFC North, I can’t wait to see a Smith vs AJ Green matchup. Should be intriguing.

by ToonaSteel on Apr 29, 2011 7:43 AM EDT reply actions

Ravens are looking to get that 4th from the Bears

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/ravens-want-fourth-round-pick-from-bears/

After round one ended, Bears G.M. Jerry Angelo took the blame for the cluster of fudge that unfolded, even though Chris Berman and company didn’t blast the Ravens nearly as mercilessly as they ripped the Vikings eight years ago. But the Ravens want more than an apology.

According to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Ravens are looking for a fourth-round pick from the Bears, which presumably was the agreed-to trade compensation.

by drd23 on Apr 29, 2011 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

That would be awesome.

by AV23 on Apr 29, 2011 8:20 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s not going to happen. We made our pick, they made theirs. You can’t revise history.

Ozzie and company will learn from this, and there’s no way something like this will happen again.

by MrPoopyPants on Apr 29, 2011 8:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Maybe later on in the draft, possibly today or tomorrow we can make another deal with them where they give us a little more in a trade as a way of saying “sorry we screwed you guys over.”

Real G's move in silence like lasagna

by Mr MaLoR on Apr 29, 2011 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Here’s a link to what a couple of players tweeted after seeing Jimmy Smith was selected. Suggs’s was my favorite.

by MrPoopyPants on Apr 29, 2011 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

congratulations chicago bears for making it to the great ozzie newsome’s hit list. consider yourselves blessed.

by mookie_20 on Apr 29, 2011 11:07 AM EDT reply actions

Here’s why the Ravens should receive compensation for the Bear’s mistake…

The league fines teams and gives away draft picks for “tampering.” This is a similar circumstance. The Bears’ mismanagement negatively effected the Ravens. Who cares if they both got their man anyway? They were forced to move down one pick in the first round! The last time I checked, moving down in the draft is worth something, and if the Bears’ mistake forced the Ravens to move down, the Bears should compensate the Ravens.

The difference between the 26th and 27th pick is 20 points, the worth of a sixth round pick, which should be the starting point of compensation.

by BAL_Hawk on Apr 29, 2011 12:02 PM EDT reply actions

ESPN is reporting that it doesn’t look like the league will take action on this. Bullshit, but whatever.

Real G's move in silence like lasagna

by Mr MaLoR on Apr 29, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

At least we got our player. I would have been so pissed if KC had rushed in and taken Smith.

by BAL_Hawk on Apr 29, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Good and valid points

But we’re not one of the “Golden Teams”…

by Smiley4660 on Apr 29, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

In the end this isn't a big deal.

Stuff happens.

In fact, Smith will garner a little less salary as a result because he’s slotted lower in the draft order. His total overall compensation in part will be based on draft order. The end result, this will save the Ravens a few (I know it’ll be minimal) dollars… More cap room; more to spend on the guys we already know and want to keep around…

by Smiley4660 on Apr 29, 2011 12:07 PM EDT reply actions

Why do people assume the Bears re-negged on something?

It could well be that the Bears told the Ravens that they were waiting on another contingent factor, or even waiting on the owner’s approval, or whatever. Isn’t it the responsibility of the Ravens when the clock winds down to make their pick if the trade isn’t confirmed? Maybe rhey decided to gamble that the Chiefs weren’t going to take their guy so they waited until after the clock to give the Bears more time. We don’t know. How could anyone assume anything? All that said, as a Steelers fan I was bummed out that you guys got Smith. I wanted him. Good job, great pick.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Apr 29, 2011 1:51 PM EDT reply actions

It’s a matter of ethics and taking the Chicago’s GM at his word. I’m guessing the NFL will change their policy on trades. Teams will probably now automatically submit a backup pick, just in case a trade doesn’t get confirmed in time.

by MrPoopyPants on Apr 29, 2011 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

The fact that the bears admitted it was their fault.

by AV23 on Apr 29, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

My bad…I didn’t see that

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Apr 29, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions

KC was never going to take Smith. They already have a lot of good young DBs. You can say the same with New England; they weren’t going to use another first rounder anyway. If we had dropped to 29 if Chicago wasn’t so moronic, we still would landed Smith. In the end we got our guy, and oh, by the way, we have EIGHT more picks. All in all, this draft is shaping up nicely for us.

by JoshuaStein on Apr 29, 2011 2:05 PM EDT reply actions

In the End

You can only blame yourself.

Yes, Chicago stepped up and mea culpa’d, but in the end, we are only responsible for our own situations. With about 15 – 20 seconds left, Ozzie should have hung up the phone, and sent the card up…. pretty simple really. And then afterwards Ozzie could have smoothed over any ruffled Chicago feathers. In the end, Chicago comes out smelling like a rose because KC did not snag the guy they thought they were going to snag, and they still have their fourth round pick.

In the future, like someone else above suggested, just have a card ready to go, just in case, so that with a few seconds left, just hang up the phone and turn it in.

by vlad755 on Apr 29, 2011 3:22 PM EDT reply actions