Putting the chips on the table
If we look back at how Joe Douglas values cornerbacks and DB’s, only twice did Baltimore draft a defensive back in the first round under his input.
While Douglas was a Raven, they didn’t draft a corner in the first round outside of 2011, where Jimmy Smith has done nothing but flash talent before having his progress thwarted with injuries, playing in just one full season since entering the league.
The other first-round pick in the list is Safety Matt Elam. From substance abuse to being benched in the heart of the 2014 season after struggling to make tackles and cover on deep routes, he has easily been one of the most disappointing first-round picks in the Ravens recent memory. He wasn’t the only DB in this list to fall victim to substance issues. Asa Jackson was suspended in 2012 and violated the PED policy once again a year later. Although he was later approved to use Adderall for his attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, the suspensions stung his career.
Surprisingly, until Douglas’ departure, this position has been one of the Ravens biggest inconsistencies when it comes to drafting. That pattern has followed him, it seems. Injuries forced the Eagles to dive deep into their pocket of tricks last season and we all know the criticisms that have followed the likes of Mills and Darby over the last two years.
Is it finally time for the Eagles to invest heavily in the position and draft an eventual heir to the throne of Ronald Darby, by going for a home-run hit as opposed to a low-risk, high-reward talent? Don’t write it off…
