@FilmstudyRavens @devpanchwagh @VasilisBeatdown @RavinRavens @sgellison @abukari @ravens4dummies @koestreicher34 You guys are most of my favorite writers/analysts/talkers about the Ravens (I know I’m forgetting to tag a few). 1/

You all know a ton more than me, especially about the draft. I know you have mused a lot about this topic, but I really hadn't given enough thought to the amazing depth of our existing roster, the implications for the 53, the numbers crunch this creates for our draftees . . . 2/

. . . AND the unusual opportunities that may lurk in this situation. I’ve probably thought about it too much, as the length of this thread will no doubt demonstrate. But I had to get these thoughts on “paper.” Here goes. 3/

We have 50 spots available, (plus the 3 specialists). Right now, I count 51 definite/plausible candidates already on the roster. Right away, that’s 1 too many—and doesn’t include any of the current TE “prospects” or any other fringe roster members. Here are the numbers:
4/

2 QB
4 RB (incl. Ricard)
3 TE (3rd = Tomlinson, or another current roster option)
5 WR
9 OL (Ronnie, Bozeman, Zeitler, Zeus, Mekari, Bredesson, Powers, Phillips, TCC)
6 DL (Calais, Jelly, BWill, Wolfe, Madubuike, Washington)
3 OLB
6 ILB (PQ, MH, L.J, Board, Welsh, Alaka)

5/

7 CB (Marlon, Marcus, Jimmy, Tavon, Averett, Marshall, Harris)
6 S (Chuck, Elliott, Richards, CoCap, Stone, Warrior)

I’m going to argue that the following could be the optimal final distribution of the 50:

6/

2 QB
4 RB
4 TE (3rd = Tomlinson or another blocking TE; 4th = Receiving TE -- a draft pick or somebody on the current roster or an acquisition)
5 WR
9 OL (Ronnie, Bozeman, Zeitler, Zeus, Mekari, Bredesson, Powers, Phillips, TCC, or replacments)

7/

5 DL (from among Calais, Jelly, BWill, Wolfe, Madubuike, Washington)
5 OLB (adding two)
4 ILB (from among PQ, MH, L.J, Board, Welsh, Alaka)
7 CB (Marlon, Marcus, Jimmy, Tavon, Averett, Marshall, Harris)
5 S (from among Chuck, Elliott, Richards, CoCap, Stone, Warrior)

8/

By position:
We’re set at 2 QB, with only the lone back-up to be determined
We’re set at 4 RB (incl. Ricard, and maybe we draft an RB to compete with Hill)
I think our offense needs 4 TE; indeed, you could argue that the single biggest roster mistake last year was only 2 TE. 9/

The questions then are who are the second blocking TE and the second receiving TE, and are they already on the roster, draftable, acquirable, or signable?
In the same vein, I contend we only need 5 WR. Why does this offense we need another one? We’re run first . . . 10/

. . . We played with 5 WR most of last year and saw the negative effect adding a 6th (Dez) had on the rotation. We already have 4 young receivers who now have another year under their belts, and we effectively swapped Snead IV (whom I loved) for a superior WR in Sammy . . . 11/

. . . who gives us veteran savvy, toughness, and winning experience. We have good backfield pass-catching options. Even Boyle (and even Ricard!) can be viable options/safety valves. So in our offense, what’s the final piece? 12/

We desperately need that really good pass-catching TE (a la Hurst) more than we need a 6th WR, who would cost the young guys snaps and stunt their development. Maybe we draft a WR or 2 late that we can hope to get on the practice squad for depth (see Sammy’s injury history). 13/

9 OL are also optimal, especially given Stanley’s return from injury. We clearly need Swing Tackle and maybe Center, but either of those additions would necessitate cutting a commensurate number of existing OL. 14/

Cut 1 DL (Washington?) to get to 5, and maybe draft BWill’s heir and cut Jelly to get younger?
Need to draft/acquire 2 OLB/edge guys, our biggest (obviously) need on D. Preferably one vet and one youngster.
Why do we need 6 ILB when 4 are enough? It’s a devalued position. 15/

Lots of plays there’s only 1 ILB on the field. Cut Welsh and Alaka to make 2 spots.
7 CBs are a must; we’re very deep there and need to be.
Cut 1 safety to get to 5, likely either Stone or Warrior -- or both, if we can draft/acquire a ball hawk playmaking Safety. 16/

Now, injuries will happen, and some of our “excess” draft picks might beat out guys mentioned above, and we might be able to sneak some of our cuts onto the PS. But that doesn’t change the allocation by position. 17/

In the most plausible scenarios, how in the world do we keep all 7 picks on the roster, as we almost always try to do? Maybe 4. Maybe only 2 or 3 -- and any amount would only be added as replacements for someone already in our plans. 18/

The Ravens brain trust famously hates to barter draft picks, and they’re absolutely right, but maybe this unique numbers situation calls for different thinking than the tried and true usual. 19/

Stick with me just a bit longer. After Sherman took Atlanta in 1864, he was faced with a dilemma regarding his usual strategic thinking. The further he moved into Georgia, the longer and more vulnerable to guerilla attack his supply lines became. His solution? 20/

Did he follow conventional thinking and devote more resources to protecting his supply lines? No -- HE GOT RID OF THEM. He burned Atlanta down so it functionally would no longer exist as a base for menacing his rear, and he drove into the belly of the beast . . . 21/

. . . creating on the fly a fully mobile army that would live off the rich and untouched plenty of interior Georgia’s farms while advancing rapidly, and famously, to the Sea and victory. The strategy was unheard of. But Sherman was a visionary, and it worked. 22/

Maybe we need to be bold like that. Maybe we need to package some of our assiduously acquired and jealously held draft picks for a higher pick or in a trade for that stud edge defender or that ball-hawking safety or that plug and play versatile OL guy. 23/

I don’t know anything about the draft, and I heard Ken say that the only can’t miss TE in the draft is beyond our reach. But how about the second best? Or a current NFL TE whose team might need draft numbers? 24/

Or even divest some of our draft stock who will only get cut or otherwise lost anyway for picks next year or in 2023?

Well? What do you all think of this mess? Sorry about the length. 25/25