How Browns-Eagles Trade Affects Ravens

Posted Apr 20, 2016

Ryan Mink BaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer @Ravens All Ryan Mink Articles

Good news: another quarterback will be taken ahead of the Ravens at No. 6.

The Eagles and Browns pulled off the draft’s second whopper trade Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles moved up six spots from No. 8 to No. 2 overall, flipping 2016 first-round picks and sending a boatload of future selections the Browns’ way.

This comes less than a week after the Rams and Titans pulled off a similar trade with Los Angeles jumping to the No. 1 overall position.

So what does it mean for the Ravens at No. 6?

Another talented non-quarterback prospect just fell in the Ravens’ lap.

With quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz all but cemented into the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, two of these top talents will still be remaining:

DE Joey Bosa, Ohio State
DE DeForest Buckner, Oregon
RB Ezekiel Elliott, Ohio State
LB Myles Jack, UCLA
DB Jalen Ramsey, Florida State
OT Laremy Tunsil, Ole Miss

Suddenly, the Ravens just won’t be picking from the best of what’s left among the elite talents. They’ll have options at No. 6, with the possibility of even moving back a spot or two and still getting one of the players listed above.

At No. 3, the Chargers could select Tunsil after dealing with injuries at left tackle last year. They could also take the best defensive player.

At No. 4, the Cowboys could go in any direction. They have needs in the secondary, pass rush, defensive front and could fall in love with Elliott.

At No. 5, the Jaguars also have options. Many pundits have linked them to Jack, as they have aging linebackers and have already addressed the defensive front and edge rusher with this offseason’s free agency and last year’s draft (first-round pick Dante Fowler Jr.).

The trade also affects the Ravens because it’s a big move for an AFC North foe.

The trade indicates more of a likelihood that the Ravens will see Robert Griffin III under center this year. Cleveland gave itself options by signing the 2012 No. 2-overall pick in free agency. The Browns still could draft Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

While the Browns have passed up on one of this year’s top two quarterbacks, they got a haul of future selections with the hope of digging out of the division’s cellar.

Cleveland will be poised to immediately improve the roster with 12 draft picks this year (additional third- and fourth-round selections) and in the future, including an extra first-round pick in 2017 and second-round pick in 2018.