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After months of mock drafts, hundreds of debates, hours of video of prospects running in spandex, and pounds of hair gel being consumed by Mel Kiper, Draft Day is finally upon us.
Well, Draft Day Part I is upon us.
Pace yourselves, people. With the new format, we've got three days of intense draft action to get through this year. I don't want anyone getting too crazy tonight, straining a hammy, and missing Rounds 2-7.
In the last few weeks, I've been asked by a number of people who the Ravens will take with the 25th overall pick.
I'll tell you what I've told all of them - if I knew, I would be making a lot more than I'm making now.
The truth is, no one outside of the Ravens' war room knows who they're going to take tonight. If they tell you otherwise, they're lying to you.
Need proof? Look at GM Ozzie Newsome's last two first-round picks:
In 2008, he traded down and then up to take Joe Flacco, a move which surprised nearly everyone. In 2009, he traded up to select Michael Oher, when everyone and their mother thought a wide receiver, cornerback or tight end would be the pick.
Heck, even when the members of the Ravens front office themselves think they know who they're going to select, sometimes they don't.
Director of player personnel Eric DeCosta said recently that back in 2002, the Ravens weren't planning on drafting Ed Reed.
They had another player in mind who was rated higher on their board than the now six-time Pro Bowl safety, but that player was chosen right before they went on the clock. Reed was the next guy on their board, so they took him with the 24th pick.
That's just the nature of the draft. We don't know how things will shake out or who will end up where.
With all that said, I'm going to be checking in later this morning/early this afternoon with a few players to watch tonight as possible targets for the Ravens with their 25th overall selection.
I won't be arrogant enough to pretend like I know for a fact who the pick will be, but I'll toss a few offensive and a few defensive names out there who I think are good possibilities, and we can discuss the pros and cons.
But before we do that, you should stretch those hamstrings.
