Post-1st Round Draft Ravens Press Conference

As soon as the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft ended, the Baltimore Ravens held a short "presser" with both GM Ozzie Newsome and Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta taking questions from the media regarding the team's decision to trade out of the first round in order to accumulate three draft picks, including ones in both the 3rd and 4th round which they had previously traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the Anquan Boldin deal.

At the time that the Ravens traded the #25 overall pick, there were quite a few top names, especially ones that had been heavily debated here on Baltimore Beatdown over the past month or two. However, Newsome saw such value in a deal that he just couldn't turn down, and now has three second day picks for rounds two and three, plus four third day picks in rounds five through seven.

Ozzie began the press conference stating that "this is the first time in Ravens history we have traded out of the first round." He reasoning for the trade with the Broncos is that "Denver made an offer earlier this morning and kept increasing their offer."

DeCosta's comment was "Our scouts and coaches are very excited. There are great opportunities for us to get better."

I was able to ask Ozzie a question and his response was expected, yet interesting nonetheless:

Beatdown: "Ozzie, if you had not found somebody to trade with and stayed with the 25th pick, with the six picks that were taken after you, are you at liberty to say that you would have taken one of those guys?"

Ozzie: "No I'm not. We did have players ranked, but I will not tell you who we would have taken."

Beatdown: "Is he off the board?"

Ozzie: "Is he off the board? At this point, yes."

Interesting answer and I wonder who he was talking about. More to follow throughout the day and don't be surprised if a bunch of trades happen before the 2nd round gets underway, much less throughout it and the third as well.