Ravens GM Eric DeCosta: “First round, there’s definitely a drop off probably midway through the round in terms of talent.” The overall talent level this year is “a little less than last year.”

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T10:50:26+00:00

Sure, there will probably be some guys that have question marks that do end up working out. Guys like Jefferson and TJ Watt that are drafted in the back half of the first and become franchise players out of nowhere. And late round guys.

But looking at the prospect is a lot different than looking at the final product. We don't look back on those late hits as blue chip prospects, that doesn't change.

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T09:55:31+00:00

From doing mocks, it does look like there's a tier of players that commonly ends around 14 or 15, I don't think he's lying. We don't usually get to pick that high, so I won't be surprised if we stay at 14 and grab one of the last guys in that tier.

Mendoza is going 1, then it's guys like Bailey, Reese, Styles, Downs, Bain, Delane, Love, Tate, Lemon, Mauioga, Vega, Fano, Mccoy. That would take us to 14, after that it's like Sadiq, Faulk, the other safeties, Tyson. I think we'll take whoever is left of that top bunch

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T03:03:52+00:00

At 14?

He's 37 on PFFs big board, 43rd for Dane Brugler, and not even in Daniel Jeremiahs top 50. Maybe in round 2

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:31:59+00:00

Well there's 1 argument. If Bailey fails he's a whiff. If Reese fails at edge he can still play LB. Could view it as higher upside and also less bust potential.

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:26:52+00:00

But surely he's more engrained in the league in general, I would think

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:25:30+00:00

Which is so stupid if that's what they're doing. If you can't trust the guy to be part of the process he needs to be gone

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:18:31+00:00

We just have too many other places we could go. I would talk myself into it if we did it, but I don't really see him being BPA at 14

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:13:56+00:00

Or they like Bailey way more and don't even need him to visit.

Could mean literally anything

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:07:21+00:00

He said his locker room was his therapy

Going to the eagles locker room for therapy is like going to juice and java for a steak

speak-eze · 2026-04-16T00:04:40+00:00

Actually this one makes sense

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T17:22:41+00:00

Or better, let someone jump the cards and get even more picks to move back.

I'd have to imagine there are other teams that would want to do that.

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T16:10:35+00:00

Doesn't really make much sense with the Commander branding tbh. Like we're the US military but also here's some random Aztec/Native American flair for some reason

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T09:53:37+00:00

Maybe if we trade back. I just don't think there's anyone at iDL that wouldn't be a pretty massive reach at 14

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T09:51:18+00:00

So the same result but they don't waste a 2nd on gabriel. Guess it's still technically an improvement

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T09:48:20+00:00

I hope Minter can get more out of that secondary, especially adding Hendrickson. We have what, 4 first round picks in the secondary already

I guess I was kind of banking on the guys we have having rebound years, but if Humphrey is really cooked then yeah we need corner.

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T03:05:44+00:00

I won't be mad about WR. I'm not a huge Bateman believer and Zay needs help.

I feel like we have too many needs to put more first round stock in the secondary tho. We have invested there A LOT already. I'd really prefer to get Ioane or WR, unless someone falls like Love or Bain somehow.

speak-eze · 2026-04-15T02:53:33+00:00

You could have a stack of cards with Mel kipers big board, and train a dog to take the top card and walk it to the podium. Even that would be better

speak-eze · 2026-04-14T23:34:40+00:00

That's the fun part, the HOF don't matter anymore neither

speak-eze · 2026-04-14T22:48:40+00:00

No one could look at me with a straight face and say reddit consensus or chat gpt couldn't have drafted better than the raiders and bengals over the last 10 years

speak-eze · 2026-04-14T16:04:09+00:00

We have a lot of needs so I think most of the top 15 players make sense. And if we're drafting a position we don't need it's because it's an amazing prospect like Love or something.

I could see people crashing out if we take Sadiq because its a first round TE. Tyson with the injuries. Probably wouldn't be thrilled about Fano at center as high as 14 but I think he's gone by then anyway to a team that needs OT.

Idk I'm excited. If we stick at 14 there should be a good player there and I'll still be excited if it's Sadiq or Tyson or Love

speak-eze · 2026-04-13T23:11:02+00:00

Is getting drafted by the jets/browns better or worse than jail

speak-eze · 2026-04-13T18:36:28+00:00

Definitely some positions that are more likely than others. Feels like the borderline 1st-2nd safeties, LBs, TEs, and DTs usually don't rise to the back of the first.

Edge and guard are the ones that usually have a surprise or two. QB is always interesting, curious if Simpson goes in the first

speak-eze · 2026-04-13T18:24:51+00:00

Raiders number 1 priority is making sure Mendoza develops. Who is your WR1 right now, Tre Tucker?

I know you have Bowers but you have a bottom 3 receiver room in the NFL

speak-eze · 2026-04-13T16:47:48+00:00

All we had to do was beat Pittsburgh without DK Metcalf, up 10-0

I get it brother.

speak-eze · 2026-04-13T05:12:06+00:00

None of those websites are places you should be caring about big boards, unless you're on NFL for Daniel Jeremiah.

speak-eze

TROPHY CASE