The Ravens are in a fortunate position heading into this year's NFL Draft.
In a league where the quarterback is far and away the most important position on the field, the Ravens already have their man. While they will roll with Joe Flacco as their quarterback for likely most of the next decade, many teams around the league will embark on a critical search to find their franchise signal caller in this year's draft.
And as the Ravens wait for their first-round pick at No. 17 this year, they hope to see quarterbacks fly off the board in front of them.
"You want to see them go," Ravens Director of College Scouting Joe Hortiz said. "Quarterback is one of those spots where if you have one, even how great [the prospect] is, you're probably not going to take them in the first or second round because you have one. You have one that you like and you can win a Super Bowl with."
Teams often have to reach for quarterbacks in the draft because they are so valued. The Ravens could benefit because that leaves quality position players available later in the draft.
This year there are three quarterbacks that will likely get drafted before the Ravens are on the clock: Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel, Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater and Central Florida's Blake Bortles. All three players have been projected as high as the No. 1 overall pick, and could likely go within the top 10.
The next best quarterbacks according to most experts are Fresno State's Derek Carr and Alabama's AJ McCarron, but they are more likely to get picked in the second round. The Ravens would love to see a team reach for them, leaving a player from another position like offensive tackle, wide receiver, tight end or safety available for Baltimore.
"You're hoping that all those quarterbacks go," Hortiz said. "I think that's any year. Last year we wanted them to go and this year we want them to go because it ends up pushing a better position player down to us."
Last year there was just one quarterback taken in the first round. The previous two years there were four quarterbacks taken in the first 32 picks. This year's class is considered top heavy at quarterback and the top could come off the board early, which may then force quarterback-needy teams to reach or try to trade up to get their target.
If that happens, the Ravens could be the benefactors in a draft class considered one of the best in years.
"We're going to get a good player there," Hortiz said.
