It was not on purpose that the greatest players in modern Ravens history—Ray Lewis (an inside linebacker), Ed Reed (a safety), Marshall Yanda (an interior offensive lineman) and Justin Tucker (a kicker)—are players at non-premium positions. But it might be significant.
While some of you might have missed it, the Ravens seem to be fleecing the NFL again. For almost a decade, their game of choice was mid-round picks and the compensatory draft formula. No team has dominated the middle rounds like the Ravens under former GM Ozzie Newsome and now Eric DeCosta. This year, the Ravens had six fourth-round picks, the most fourth-round selections by any team in NFL history. Starting in 2013, a look at their draft pick history shows a distinct widening in the middle rounds simply by understanding the value of letting certain players walk in free agency and what it would cost them in capital to sign new players. These picks have turned into Brandon Williams, Kyle Juszczyk, Nick Boyle, Za’Darius Smith, Tavon Young, Matt Judon, Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown Jr. and so on. You get the picture. Baltimore is paying less for better talent than any team in professional football.
But as other teams caught on to their strategy, it looks as though the Ravens began searching for another roster building advantage: constructing a team around the best players at non-premium positions.
