WEBVTT - DeCosta & Harbaugh: Ravens 2025 Pre-Draft Press Conference 0:00:03.080 --> 0:00:05.440 Welcome into the Ravens Press Pass podcast. It is Tuesday, 0:00:05.480 --> 0:00:08.119 April fifteenth, and the Ravens held their pre draft press 0:00:08.160 --> 0:00:11.719 conference today with general manager Eric Taicasa and head coach 0:00:11.920 --> 0:00:14.840 John Harbaugh. The press conference has been nicknamed the Liars 0:00:14.880 --> 0:00:18.240 Lunching over the years, but it's also a good chance 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:21.360 to see the team's thought process going into the draft, 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:23.560 which is right around the corner. So here's what we 0:00:23.600 --> 0:00:27.960 heard from da Costa and Harball today. 0:00:30.720 --> 0:00:32.559 Okay, so welcome everybody. 0:00:33.280 --> 0:00:35.640 Very happy to see everybody here, and one of my 0:00:35.640 --> 0:00:38.599 favorite times of the year. We just finished last week 0:00:39.159 --> 0:00:41.120 our third set of draft. 0:00:40.920 --> 0:00:41.879 Meetings with the coaches. 0:00:41.920 --> 0:00:44.920 This time, you know, we've had a little bit of 0:00:44.960 --> 0:00:48.360 a commotion around here with the construction, so we were 0:00:48.680 --> 0:00:50.839 in the sound studio, which worked out really well. So 0:00:50.920 --> 0:00:54.440 congrats to thank you to Michelle andres in her people 0:00:54.560 --> 0:00:57.920 for allowing us to use that room last week, and 0:00:58.320 --> 0:00:59.000 we're getting close. 0:00:59.080 --> 0:01:00.760 I think it was a really good set of meetings. 0:01:00.800 --> 0:01:04.440 I think the coaches did a great job helping us 0:01:04.600 --> 0:01:08.319 kind of sort through the last few rough patches of 0:01:08.360 --> 0:01:10.480 the draft board, and I think we'll be ready to 0:01:10.480 --> 0:01:11.080 go next week. 0:01:11.760 --> 0:01:22.840 Questions, especially with in free agency, it seemed like a 0:01:22.880 --> 0:01:25.720 lot of signings on the offensive side of the ball. 0:01:26.520 --> 0:01:27.280 Do you feel like. 0:01:27.280 --> 0:01:30.480 In the early rounds, on you know, day one, day two, 0:01:30.720 --> 0:01:32.600 do you think it could be more of a defensive 0:01:32.600 --> 0:01:35.440 heavy just because of how things panned out in free agency? 0:01:36.760 --> 0:01:37.440 A good question. 0:01:37.480 --> 0:01:40.040 I think we'll stick to the board like we typically do, 0:01:40.840 --> 0:01:43.360 you know, historically, and I know this is always a question. 0:01:43.920 --> 0:01:48.120 We've been a best available player team and we spent 0:01:48.160 --> 0:01:50.360 a lot of time. We spent eight months really building 0:01:50.360 --> 0:01:53.480 the board based on the rankings of the players and 0:01:53.480 --> 0:01:56.560 how they stack against each other, and we believe that really, 0:01:56.640 --> 0:01:58.240 if we're going to build a team, that's the best 0:01:58.240 --> 0:02:01.120 way to approach it. So, you know, I think we definitely, 0:02:01.760 --> 0:02:04.120 you know, look at the different needs of our team. 0:02:04.160 --> 0:02:05.840 We spend a lot of time talking about the roster 0:02:05.920 --> 0:02:08.400 and the players that we have, and things like contract 0:02:08.400 --> 0:02:10.640 status and all those other things that go into it, 0:02:10.639 --> 0:02:11.639 the health of our players. 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:13.880 In the end, I think this is a. 0:02:13.800 --> 0:02:18.079 Really, really pretty good draft class with talent across the board, 0:02:18.440 --> 0:02:20.560 and as we see the players come off the board, 0:02:20.560 --> 0:02:22.960 we'll wait for a good one to fall to us. 0:02:33.720 --> 0:02:35.480 Brian, You're gonna be a charge of taking the mic 0:02:35.520 --> 0:02:39.320 around now and Plesnators might take around her. 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:44.040 Yeah, Eric, I know you guys have always valued defensive line, 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:48.880 But with Michael Pierce retiring and the amount of defensive 0:02:48.880 --> 0:02:51.400 line and in this draft to seemly have a lot 0:02:51.400 --> 0:02:54.000 of talent, how does that weigh into how you're looking 0:02:54.040 --> 0:02:55.760 at that position in this draft. 0:02:57.080 --> 0:02:59.520 Well, I think it's certainly a priority, and I think 0:02:59.560 --> 0:03:02.760 you're right this is a pretty a fairly deep defensive 0:03:02.800 --> 0:03:06.280 line class. You know, We've always been a team that 0:03:06.480 --> 0:03:09.519 wants to be big and strong and powerful on both 0:03:09.520 --> 0:03:11.920 sides of the line, both sides of the ball. So 0:03:11.960 --> 0:03:13.560 I think there's an opportunity for us to get better 0:03:13.600 --> 0:03:16.360 than the defensive line for sure. 0:03:16.960 --> 0:03:17.919 Elevel picks this year? 0:03:19.040 --> 0:03:19.680 Does that? 0:03:19.720 --> 0:03:22.200 Do you want to make eleven picks? Use having that 0:03:22.240 --> 0:03:25.200 many make you any more likely to package them and 0:03:25.480 --> 0:03:25.959 move up. 0:03:26.520 --> 0:03:27.200 What's what's your. 0:03:27.200 --> 0:03:29.600 View on the eleven picks and desire to use all 0:03:29.680 --> 0:03:29.920 of it? 0:03:29.919 --> 0:03:30.240 Of those? 0:03:31.840 --> 0:03:34.200 Well, you know, I think if I had a crystal ball, 0:03:34.240 --> 0:03:36.720 I would answer that question. I think that we have 0:03:36.800 --> 0:03:39.920 eleven picks. I've always looked at draft picks as currency. 0:03:40.400 --> 0:03:42.200 You can either use that on a player, you can 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:43.880 trade up, you can trade back, you can trade for 0:03:43.960 --> 0:03:45.400 future picks in future years. 0:03:46.120 --> 0:03:48.320 I think we're fortunate to be in this position. 0:03:49.440 --> 0:03:53.600 I think that as we continue to sign back our 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:56.000 players as many as we can, our good young players, 0:03:56.440 --> 0:03:58.520 we're going to be in a situation where, you know, 0:03:58.640 --> 0:04:02.640 salary cap is critical, and so for us young talent, 0:04:02.680 --> 0:04:06.280 the influx of young players every single year competing to make, 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:09.160 you know, make the roster, I think is really important. 0:04:09.160 --> 0:04:11.960 Now we have a good team, we feel good about 0:04:11.960 --> 0:04:14.400 our roster. It's going to be hard for eleven players 0:04:14.920 --> 0:04:17.400 to make the team out of the gates this year. 0:04:17.400 --> 0:04:19.840 I mean, if they do, would be incredible. History tells 0:04:19.920 --> 0:04:22.320 us that probably not all eleven picks are going to 0:04:22.360 --> 0:04:25.120 make the initial fifty three men roster, which is a 0:04:25.120 --> 0:04:27.159 good problem to have. It means we're a talented team. 0:04:27.240 --> 0:04:30.120 So I like having eleven picks. I think it gives 0:04:30.200 --> 0:04:34.840 us a lot of flexibility in different ways. And you know, 0:04:35.440 --> 0:04:37.400 I think that our goal would be to have extra 0:04:37.440 --> 0:04:40.479 picks every single year because it just gives us a 0:04:40.560 --> 0:04:42.960 chance to continually develop young players. And I think we 0:04:43.000 --> 0:04:44.440 do that as good as any team in the league. 0:04:46.000 --> 0:04:46.160 Eric. 0:04:46.200 --> 0:04:49.040 Obviously, you have some really key pieces of your offensive 0:04:49.040 --> 0:04:53.000 line back and including Roger who developed really fast last year. 0:04:54.080 --> 0:04:58.040 With how the offensive line did as you sort of projected, 0:04:58.120 --> 0:05:01.200 took some lumps early, then you know, really gelled together. 0:05:01.480 --> 0:05:03.279 Does that give you confidence that you can kind of 0:05:03.279 --> 0:05:06.359 repeat that process and if need be in certain rookies 0:05:06.760 --> 0:05:08.840 in some of those open spots at guard this year. 0:05:10.560 --> 0:05:12.720 Yet, well, I mean, I think I saw a stat 0:05:12.760 --> 0:05:16.600 the other day that I think we're allocating less salary 0:05:16.600 --> 0:05:18.720 cap this year to the offensive line than any other 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:21.960 team in the league. And that tells me that we 0:05:22.000 --> 0:05:24.200 have some good young players who are playing well. They're 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:26.719 on their rookie contracts. I've got a lot of faith 0:05:26.720 --> 0:05:28.400 in those guys. I've got a lot of faith in 0:05:28.600 --> 0:05:32.080 coach Warhop to develop and a lot of you know, 0:05:32.080 --> 0:05:34.279 faith in our strength and conditioning program too that we 0:05:34.320 --> 0:05:37.360 bring in these younger offensive linemen and typically we see 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:40.080 that they get better over time. I think it's a good, 0:05:40.120 --> 0:05:44.640 strong offensive line class this year across the board, a 0:05:44.680 --> 0:05:48.440 really really good group of tackles and guards as well, 0:05:49.040 --> 0:05:52.360 And so you know, I think anytime you have a 0:05:52.440 --> 0:05:54.280 chance to draft an offensive lineman that you think can 0:05:54.320 --> 0:05:56.920 be a really good player, you should do that. Especially 0:05:56.920 --> 0:05:58.719 the way we play football, you know, because we're a 0:05:58.720 --> 0:06:02.080 team that prides itself. I'm running the bomb, being physical, 0:06:02.240 --> 0:06:05.400 knocking people off the ball, controlling the clock, protecting the quarterback, 0:06:05.440 --> 0:06:07.719 all those different things, and so I think that's gonna 0:06:07.720 --> 0:06:08.160 be critical. 0:06:10.080 --> 0:06:10.279 Eric. 0:06:10.360 --> 0:06:12.680 Last year, along the same lines, you mentioned that you 0:06:12.720 --> 0:06:15.800 guys were committing to building the line offensive line through 0:06:15.839 --> 0:06:18.880 the draft. Just curious what made Ronnie Stanley the exception? 0:06:19.000 --> 0:06:21.280 What was it about his season that made you decide 0:06:21.320 --> 0:06:24.000 to bring him back instead of going with young players. 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:27.880 Well, left tackles don't grow on trees, you know. First 0:06:27.920 --> 0:06:30.440 of all, Ronnie had a great season. I think he 0:06:30.880 --> 0:06:33.440 had one of his best years last year. He's really 0:06:33.480 --> 0:06:34.919 i think grown in to being one of the leaders 0:06:34.920 --> 0:06:39.320 of our team. And just looking out at the draft 0:06:40.240 --> 0:06:43.480 in free agency, we just didn't really see a lot 0:06:43.520 --> 0:06:46.000 of guys that we felt were better than him. And 0:06:46.120 --> 0:06:47.919 my experience with the draft, when you're picking it in 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:50.080 the twenties, in the late twenties, it's very. 0:06:49.960 --> 0:06:50.960 Hard to get left tackles. 0:06:51.000 --> 0:06:53.600 Those guys fly off the board, and so you think 0:06:53.640 --> 0:06:55.240 you have a chance, and then what you realize as 0:06:55.240 --> 0:06:58.359 you're picking twenty five, twenty six, twenty seven, the five tackles, 0:06:58.360 --> 0:06:59.440 and all five tackles get. 0:06:59.360 --> 0:07:00.359 Picked before picked twenty. 0:07:00.839 --> 0:07:03.960 And so for us making that investment in Ronnie, knowing 0:07:04.000 --> 0:07:07.200 him as a person, you know, his ability as a 0:07:07.279 --> 0:07:09.200 left tackle to protect the quarterback and be a round 0:07:09.200 --> 0:07:11.040 blocker and be a leader up on the offensive line, 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:11.920 I think was important. 0:07:13.320 --> 0:07:16.360 You guys lost many guys off the draft board character 0:07:16.480 --> 0:07:17.600 and medical. 0:07:18.880 --> 0:07:20.480 You know, we always lose some guys. 0:07:20.720 --> 0:07:23.080 You know, it's probably a number if I had to 0:07:23.160 --> 0:07:26.160 just guesstimate somewhere between ten and fifteen guys total that 0:07:26.160 --> 0:07:29.720 fail or physical or have some other other flags that 0:07:29.760 --> 0:07:31.920 would prohibit prohibit them from being on the team. 0:07:32.040 --> 0:07:33.560 So it happens every year. 0:07:33.800 --> 0:07:36.080 It's it's one of the one of the one of 0:07:36.160 --> 0:07:39.440 the tough parts of being at the combine is waking 0:07:39.520 --> 0:07:41.760 up in the morning and seeing the injury list under 0:07:41.800 --> 0:07:44.000 my door and then going through that and looking at 0:07:44.080 --> 0:07:46.320 all the players that we like and seeing some guys 0:07:46.400 --> 0:07:48.400 are failed the physicals and have been you know, flagged 0:07:48.440 --> 0:07:51.920 for different medical conditions, and you know, that's just unfortunately 0:07:51.920 --> 0:07:53.320 one of the hard parts of this job, and it 0:07:53.360 --> 0:07:56.040 happens every single year. In fact, you know, John come 0:07:56.080 --> 0:07:58.120 down and say I love this guy and I'll go, ah, 0:07:58.240 --> 0:08:01.080 he failed as physical and so it does happen. It's 0:08:01.120 --> 0:08:02.840 a tough part of this business. We play a very 0:08:02.840 --> 0:08:05.960 physical sport and durability matters. 0:08:06.440 --> 0:08:09.400 Eric when it when it comes to best player available, 0:08:09.480 --> 0:08:12.840 particularly early round. Just curious, how do you separate when 0:08:12.840 --> 0:08:16.400 you've got say, player X, you know, is maybe the 0:08:16.440 --> 0:08:19.040 best player available, and then player Y maybe grades a 0:08:19.080 --> 0:08:21.840 little bit lower, but is in a position of greater 0:08:22.000 --> 0:08:24.480 need perhaps, how do you kind of differentiate and then 0:08:24.840 --> 0:08:25.760 get to that decision. 0:08:26.280 --> 0:08:28.160 Yeah, I mean, so that's you know, that's the art 0:08:28.160 --> 0:08:29.880 of it. And if you just imagine like a bunch 0:08:29.920 --> 0:08:33.400 of different buckets, and each bucket has a different grade, 0:08:34.120 --> 0:08:36.360 and you know, you have these players that are all 0:08:36.440 --> 0:08:38.000 kind of in the different buckets. So you have the 0:08:38.920 --> 0:08:41.319 A bucket, the B bucket, the C bucket, the D bucket. 0:08:41.800 --> 0:08:43.959 You got two players in the A bucket, they're very close, 0:08:44.000 --> 0:08:46.280 ones at a neat position, ones not in a neat position. 0:08:46.600 --> 0:08:49.000 We're probably going to take the neat position. What we're 0:08:49.040 --> 0:08:50.600 not going to do is take the need position in 0:08:50.640 --> 0:08:52.840 the B bucket over the best player available in the 0:08:52.840 --> 0:08:55.240 A bucket. If that's the case. So if they're very close. 0:08:55.280 --> 0:08:58.679 We're going to defer to the roster and other factors 0:08:58.720 --> 0:09:01.120 as well, durability to all the other off the field 0:09:01.160 --> 0:09:03.839 in tangible type stuff, but we're not going to jump players. 0:09:03.880 --> 0:09:05.120 We're not going to take a player that's in the 0:09:05.160 --> 0:09:06.920 lower bucket and jump him over a player in a 0:09:07.000 --> 0:09:07.600 higher bucket. 0:09:08.440 --> 0:09:10.840 Eric, maybe last year you talked to us about how 0:09:11.880 --> 0:09:15.480 the changing landscape of college athletics, the nil money players 0:09:15.480 --> 0:09:18.520 were staying in school longer, the draft classes were getting 0:09:18.520 --> 0:09:21.240 a little bit older. Are you sensing that? And the 0:09:21.280 --> 0:09:24.000 other question I have related to that is with the 0:09:24.040 --> 0:09:28.560 portal and you know, hundreds of players changing teams every year, 0:09:28.600 --> 0:09:31.480 how much harder is it to evaluate a player when 0:09:31.520 --> 0:09:33.760 they've maybe been at a two or three schools as 0:09:33.760 --> 0:09:35.680 opposed to have been in one system for four years. 0:09:36.640 --> 0:09:38.960 Yeah, there's a lot of there's a lot there to answer. 0:09:40.559 --> 0:09:43.880 I do think that this will be the last class 0:09:43.960 --> 0:09:48.760 of players that are significantly older, in some cases partly 0:09:48.800 --> 0:09:51.360 because of COVID. So we've got some guys in this 0:09:51.440 --> 0:09:53.679 draft that are twenty six years old, twenty five or 0:09:53.720 --> 0:09:57.840 twenty six that was almost unheard of, Like six or 0:09:57.840 --> 0:10:01.560 seven years ago, we didn't see that. So that's going 0:10:01.600 --> 0:10:03.720 to start to change because the rules are now going 0:10:03.760 --> 0:10:06.679 back to what they used to be. Guys didn't get 0:10:06.679 --> 0:10:11.160 all the extra years, as far as nil goes in 0:10:11.200 --> 0:10:13.840 the portal and all those different things. I think it 0:10:13.880 --> 0:10:17.480 really depends you've got to have really good scouts. You've 0:10:17.480 --> 0:10:19.480 got to have scouts that are well connected to have 0:10:19.559 --> 0:10:23.720 contacts that can network across the different colleges to get information. 0:10:24.040 --> 0:10:26.640 In some ways, if you have really good scouts, you 0:10:26.720 --> 0:10:28.200 have an opportunity because you can. 0:10:28.080 --> 0:10:30.160 Trace back that player to the other schools that. 0:10:30.160 --> 0:10:32.120 He's been at and you can acquire more information, in 0:10:32.160 --> 0:10:34.599 some cases very different information. So if you get a 0:10:34.640 --> 0:10:36.800 guy that's been at three schools, you'd be amazed that 0:10:36.880 --> 0:10:39.200 the amount of information you can get, but in some 0:10:39.280 --> 0:10:41.400 cases how different the information might be from. 0:10:41.240 --> 0:10:42.960 School A, school B and school CEE. 0:10:43.720 --> 0:10:46.160 So I think it really goes back to just, you know, 0:10:46.760 --> 0:10:49.400 having the best area of scouts and training those guys 0:10:49.440 --> 0:10:53.000 to get the information, and then building it out and 0:10:53.360 --> 0:10:56.960 processing that information, and then using your coaches, who are 0:10:57.000 --> 0:10:59.440 another resource for us because they have all these contacts. 0:10:59.720 --> 0:11:02.240 It's goools as well to use our coaches to then 0:11:02.320 --> 0:11:07.400 contact their comrades at different schools to get information so 0:11:07.440 --> 0:11:08.959 that we have a real clear picture of who that 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:09.719 player might be. 0:11:11.600 --> 0:11:15.200 Eric from a scouting front office perspective, how would you 0:11:15.240 --> 0:11:17.480 evaluate a two way player in the draft? And then 0:11:17.480 --> 0:11:20.680 also John from a coaching perspective, what would the sort 0:11:20.679 --> 0:11:23.439 of feasibility be or maybe some of the obstacles would be 0:11:23.520 --> 0:11:25.760 for to try to get like a true two way 0:11:25.760 --> 0:11:28.320 player on ANFL roster, particularly like the mid you know, 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:30.280 during the week meeting kind of perspective. 0:11:31.600 --> 0:11:34.600 Well, I think for us, we haven't had many two 0:11:34.600 --> 0:11:36.800 way players, and so that's the first thing. 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:37.800 The second thing is. 0:11:39.400 --> 0:11:41.680 In most cases, well, I mean in this particular case, 0:11:41.720 --> 0:11:43.560 I think if we're talking about the galley Travis Hunter, 0:11:46.400 --> 0:11:48.880 we would probably want to put him at one position. 0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:52.280 So our discussions have really been if he shows up 0:11:52.280 --> 0:11:54.319 here day one, if we ever were fortunate enough to 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:56.960 have a player like him, which you know, if you're 0:11:56.960 --> 0:11:58.439 going to have a player like him, you're probably pick 0:11:58.440 --> 0:12:00.680 in top five, so that it's not something that we 0:12:00.679 --> 0:12:03.160 ever really want to do. So, but if you have 0:12:03.200 --> 0:12:05.199 a player like him, where's he going to be on 0:12:05.240 --> 0:12:05.840 the draft board? 0:12:06.240 --> 0:12:08.160 What do we think is best position is going to be? 0:12:08.600 --> 0:12:10.319 Day one? If he's going to come in and start, 0:12:10.400 --> 0:12:12.959 which as a rookie high pick you hope he does. 0:12:13.240 --> 0:12:15.040 Where are we going to put him? And so that's 0:12:15.080 --> 0:12:16.000 how we would approach it. 0:12:16.040 --> 0:12:18.760 We would you know, talk about his skills, but then 0:12:18.800 --> 0:12:20.360 really try to figure out, like where's he going to 0:12:20.400 --> 0:12:22.880 play most of his football day one? 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:26.640 All right, that's a great point. I mean, it's going 0:12:26.679 --> 0:12:28.720 to be interesting to see how they do it wherever 0:12:28.760 --> 0:12:31.560 he goes. But to say that you're going to be 0:12:31.559 --> 0:12:36.320 completely immersed in everything that there is a known offense 0:12:36.400 --> 0:12:38.240 and everything there is a known defense. I don't know 0:12:38.280 --> 0:12:40.480 if there's enough hours in the day for a player 0:12:40.480 --> 0:12:42.360 to be able to do that and to have every 0:12:42.400 --> 0:12:44.440 detailed lockdown, but you certainly can do it. I would 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:46.400 think on one side of the ball and then have 0:12:46.480 --> 0:12:48.000 some sort of a package on the other side of 0:12:48.000 --> 0:12:50.160 the ball. Which is my guess is how the team 0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:52.920 will do it wherever he goes. But I assume we'll 0:12:52.960 --> 0:12:54.800 be playing against him, so we're about to find out 0:12:54.840 --> 0:12:57.720 how that team does it. 0:12:57.960 --> 0:13:01.400 Eric The consensus from you know, the draft knicks seems 0:13:01.440 --> 0:13:04.280 to be that this class is light on high end talent. 0:13:04.800 --> 0:13:07.400 If you're comfortable sharing like about how many guys, do 0:13:07.440 --> 0:13:09.160 you guys have first round grades on And if it's 0:13:09.200 --> 0:13:11.840 not an amount that's like, you know, feasible to get 0:13:11.840 --> 0:13:13.400 one at twenty seven, how does that kind of change 0:13:13.400 --> 0:13:16.280 your approach there late in the first round. 0:13:16.679 --> 0:13:19.040 Yeah, So the way that I look at the draft 0:13:19.120 --> 0:13:22.840 is you've you know, you've got on day one, right, 0:13:22.880 --> 0:13:24.520 the first day of the draft is going to be 0:13:24.520 --> 0:13:27.360 thirty two picks, So you've got to have thirty two 0:13:27.360 --> 0:13:29.200 players that you would take in the first round. And 0:13:29.240 --> 0:13:32.040 so I always answer the question, like, you know, I mean, 0:13:32.080 --> 0:13:35.040 it's it's we have thirty two players in the first round. 0:13:35.360 --> 0:13:38.360 You have to have at least thirty two to pick. Now. 0:13:39.720 --> 0:13:42.880 Is it the situation where maybe the totality of all 0:13:42.880 --> 0:13:44.480 these players in the first round might not be as 0:13:44.520 --> 0:13:48.240 talented as another year. You know, maybe that's the case. 0:13:50.080 --> 0:13:53.320 But I see a lot of opportunity in this draft class. 0:13:53.360 --> 0:13:58.760 Really in the middle rounds, I see more players, I 0:13:58.800 --> 0:14:01.240 see more draftable players. We have two hundred and seventeen 0:14:01.240 --> 0:14:05.680 players right now on the front board, and there have 0:14:05.679 --> 0:14:08.280 been years where we've had a hard time getting to one, 0:14:08.440 --> 0:14:12.920 sixty one, sixty five. So there's a lot of draftable 0:14:12.960 --> 0:14:15.360 players that means that the mid rounds are going to 0:14:15.400 --> 0:14:18.240 be really good. And also I think undrafted free agency 0:14:18.280 --> 0:14:20.240 should have a chance to be really really good for us. 0:14:20.240 --> 0:14:22.600 But I really think that if you're going to have 0:14:22.640 --> 0:14:24.840 eleven picks, this is a year that reminds me a 0:14:24.840 --> 0:14:27.800 little bit of twenty twenty two. From the standpoint of. 0:14:27.760 --> 0:14:29.280 The depth of the draft. 0:14:29.360 --> 0:14:33.400 Really across the middle rounds, the third, fourth, fifth, sixth rounds. 0:14:33.240 --> 0:14:34.280 I think it will be pretty good. 0:14:34.360 --> 0:14:37.280 We see a lot of talent in that range, so 0:14:37.400 --> 0:14:40.760 that's an opportunity for us to get better as a team. 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:43.280 Eric, how would you evaluate where you guys are at 0:14:43.400 --> 0:14:46.760 edge rusher and just the options you could have. Do 0:14:47.040 --> 0:14:50.360 you view this as a particularly strong edge rush draft class? 0:14:51.600 --> 0:14:53.160 Well, I do. 0:14:52.880 --> 0:14:53.080 I do. 0:14:54.720 --> 0:14:57.520 Think it's a good draft class now. 0:14:57.800 --> 0:15:00.760 Also, if I'm not mistaken, we've we got our entire 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:02.880 outside linebacker corep coming back this year. 0:15:02.920 --> 0:15:03.760 So that's a. 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:07.840 Great situation for us because we didn't lose anybody, and 0:15:07.920 --> 0:15:09.560 so from that standpoint, I think it's good. 0:15:09.560 --> 0:15:09.840 Now. 0:15:10.560 --> 0:15:13.080 Again, there are some really talented guys in this draft class, 0:15:14.280 --> 0:15:16.680 and you know, there are guys that we'll be looking 0:15:16.720 --> 0:15:18.800 at as first round guys, second round guys, third guys, 0:15:18.800 --> 0:15:21.400 fourth round guys we think could come in and compete 0:15:21.440 --> 0:15:24.120 to really play right away or develop and become really 0:15:24.120 --> 0:15:28.000 good players. So that's exciting for us. I think that 0:15:28.080 --> 0:15:32.640 if you're looking at the offensive line, the defensive line, 0:15:32.800 --> 0:15:37.760 and the you know, outside linebackers as a whole, I 0:15:37.800 --> 0:15:39.600 would say that three of the strongest positions in this 0:15:39.680 --> 0:15:40.240 draft class. 0:15:41.160 --> 0:15:44.120 Eric, You're obviously in a pretty unique position with your 0:15:44.160 --> 0:15:46.080 tight end group, which is one of the best groups 0:15:46.120 --> 0:15:49.560 on the roster, but also everyone's on an expiring contract 0:15:49.920 --> 0:15:53.160 going into this year. How do you consider that way 0:15:53.280 --> 0:15:56.920 that with understanding the draft is also not just about 0:15:56.920 --> 0:15:58.840 twenty twenty five but the next couple of years. I mean, 0:15:59.360 --> 0:16:01.160 is it plausible that you add a tight end even 0:16:01.200 --> 0:16:03.640 if that could, you know, on paper, create quite a 0:16:03.720 --> 0:16:04.400 roster crunch. 0:16:05.280 --> 0:16:06.800 I just think it depends on the player. Like there 0:16:06.800 --> 0:16:08.040 are some really good players in this. 0:16:08.400 --> 0:16:10.720 Same could be said about the running back position as well, 0:16:10.760 --> 0:16:12.560 and we've talked about that, you know, we talk about 0:16:12.560 --> 0:16:14.040 these things all the time, and. 0:16:13.920 --> 0:16:15.880 The reality of it is is if there's like. 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:17.400 A tight end that we think is a blue chip 0:16:17.440 --> 0:16:18.840 tight end to a running back that we think is 0:16:18.880 --> 0:16:22.280 a blue chip running back. We're gonna take them just 0:16:22.320 --> 0:16:24.880 because they're important and if the talent is such that 0:16:24.920 --> 0:16:27.560 we think this guy can impact our team at some point. 0:16:28.040 --> 0:16:31.200 We can't just eliminate positions because we're strong in the 0:16:31.240 --> 0:16:33.840 short term. We talk about needs, and we've seen you 0:16:33.840 --> 0:16:35.280 guys have all seen you've covered the team for a 0:16:35.320 --> 0:16:35.760 long time. 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:37.280 Needs can change in one. 0:16:37.160 --> 0:16:39.120 Week, right, We've had some years where we had a 0:16:39.160 --> 0:16:41.560 strong running back room. Next thing, you know, like it's 0:16:41.600 --> 0:16:43.480 a Friday afternoon and we're calling every agent in the 0:16:43.560 --> 0:16:45.720 league because we need running backs because we just had 0:16:45.720 --> 0:16:48.680 three catastrophic injuries and spend the seven days so that 0:16:48.720 --> 0:16:49.240 could happen. 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:55.080 And so I mean, yeah, it's just a reality. 0:16:55.640 --> 0:17:00.080 It's just the reality of our business. Injuries happen, needs change, 0:17:00.200 --> 0:17:02.320 and so for us, we're just gonna keep an open mind, 0:17:02.360 --> 0:17:03.800 and if the guy is so good that we have 0:17:03.920 --> 0:17:07.000 to take him, we're gonna take him. 0:17:07.480 --> 0:17:09.520 Eric, going back to the past, Russia, we've seen you 0:17:09.520 --> 0:17:12.359 guys take I don't want to say chances, but you've 0:17:12.520 --> 0:17:16.760 drafted guys that haven't necessarily had great stats in their 0:17:16.760 --> 0:17:18.760 final you I think of like a Dafeo Way coming 0:17:18.800 --> 0:17:20.680 out with no sax he just had his first double 0:17:20.680 --> 0:17:23.399 digit SAX season this year. How do you go about, 0:17:24.000 --> 0:17:26.320 you know, wearing the options between a guy like that 0:17:26.480 --> 0:17:30.200 who probably has the measurables and the potential, between another 0:17:30.240 --> 0:17:34.000 guy who does have that the production at least steady 0:17:34.040 --> 0:17:36.080 production on the back end of their collegiate career. 0:17:37.160 --> 0:17:38.880 Yeah, I just think it's it's a it's a cocktail, 0:17:38.960 --> 0:17:41.360 it's a recipe, and you take everything into account. It's 0:17:41.400 --> 0:17:43.560 not just production, it's not just trades, it's not just 0:17:43.960 --> 0:17:47.080 combine workouts. It's not just the intangibles. It's not the size, 0:17:47.119 --> 0:17:50.560 it's it's not just the durability. It's really everything, and 0:17:50.600 --> 0:17:53.600 you layer that in and you try to get the 0:17:53.680 --> 0:17:56.280 full depth of who that player might be. And and 0:17:56.320 --> 0:17:57.919 so I you know, I'm a big fan of production. 0:17:58.280 --> 0:18:00.320 You know, I talk about it production all the time. 0:18:00.560 --> 0:18:03.120 I think production speaks to consistency and doing. 0:18:02.920 --> 0:18:03.920 It over and over again. 0:18:03.960 --> 0:18:06.520 It's hard to be productive if you're not playing all 0:18:06.520 --> 0:18:08.120 the time, if you're not in a field all the time, 0:18:08.119 --> 0:18:09.560 if you're not playing hard all the time. 0:18:09.640 --> 0:18:12.120 However, there are. 0:18:12.040 --> 0:18:15.320 Some really good players that for whatever reason, might not 0:18:15.359 --> 0:18:17.520 be productive. For instance, a corner who's so good he 0:18:17.600 --> 0:18:20.960 isn't get targeted, or a pass rusher who gets double 0:18:20.960 --> 0:18:24.280 teamed every single play. So you know, production can be 0:18:24.320 --> 0:18:27.919 a little bit misleading at times. That being the case, 0:18:28.440 --> 0:18:31.000 we want productive guys. We want tough guys, fast guys, 0:18:31.080 --> 0:18:32.200 big guys, smart guys. 0:18:32.000 --> 0:18:32.760 Durable guys. 0:18:32.760 --> 0:18:35.320 It's the totality of all that stuff that we look 0:18:35.359 --> 0:18:36.840 at when we build out our draft board. 0:18:39.280 --> 0:18:41.520 I don't believe that in the history of the Ravens 0:18:41.560 --> 0:18:44.520 you guys have ever drafted a kicker. I guess it's 0:18:44.600 --> 0:18:46.479 a pertinent question now in light of what's going on 0:18:46.560 --> 0:18:49.120 with Justin, But would you consider is it worth drafting 0:18:49.160 --> 0:18:51.600 a kicker? Using a draft pick on a kicker. 0:18:52.280 --> 0:18:54.440 Is it worth it? I think it's worth it, sure. 0:18:54.440 --> 0:18:55.960 I mean there's been some great. 0:18:55.840 --> 0:19:01.080 Kickers drafted, and we've drafted a couple punters. 0:19:01.680 --> 0:19:04.160 But it's worth it if you have the right kicker. 0:19:05.119 --> 0:19:07.399 It just depends on the board, it depends on the player, 0:19:07.400 --> 0:19:10.320 it depends who's there, it depends on how you coaches 0:19:10.320 --> 0:19:16.600 see them, you know. And also it should be said 0:19:16.640 --> 0:19:19.240 that some of the greatest kickers of all time weren't 0:19:19.280 --> 0:19:20.480 drafted right. 0:19:20.520 --> 0:19:26.080 So it's no like blueprint for finding a kicker, except 0:19:27.520 --> 0:19:29.520 you've got to be able to evaluate the kicker. 0:19:30.160 --> 0:19:32.240 And I think Randy Brown does a phenomenal job of 0:19:32.280 --> 0:19:36.120 evaluating kickers, and we have a lot of other really 0:19:36.200 --> 0:19:38.800 good coaches to do a great job of evaluating talent 0:19:38.880 --> 0:19:42.320 along with our scouts, And so is it worth it? 0:19:42.359 --> 0:19:45.120 I think it probably is if the right guy's there. However, 0:19:45.200 --> 0:19:47.320 you don't have to draft a kicker. You don't have 0:19:47.400 --> 0:19:48.680 to draft au pun, you don't have to draft a 0:19:48.760 --> 0:19:51.479 running backer a linebacker for those guys to be great players. 0:19:51.480 --> 0:19:52.760 We've seen that over and over again. 0:19:53.920 --> 0:19:55.680 Yeah, y're kind of just following up on that, But 0:19:55.920 --> 0:19:59.000 I mean, because of the uncertainty around you know, justin 0:19:59.359 --> 0:20:01.439 do you you expect to draft a kicker at all? 0:20:01.480 --> 0:20:04.400 I mean, is that a you know, a thought process 0:20:04.400 --> 0:20:06.360 with how many picks you have on Day three? 0:20:07.119 --> 0:20:09.440 I never have any expectations because you don't know how 0:20:09.440 --> 0:20:12.120 the thing's gonna unfold again. You know, it's just we're 0:20:12.119 --> 0:20:13.680 gonna be on the clock and we're gonna draft the 0:20:13.680 --> 0:20:16.679 best available player at every spot for us as a club. 0:20:17.160 --> 0:20:19.520 Never want to pigeonhole myself into doing this or that, 0:20:19.600 --> 0:20:21.840 because when I do that, I usually end up being disappointed, 0:20:22.320 --> 0:20:25.840 you create a false expectation in your mind and you 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:28.600 start to think about needs and other things. And I 0:20:28.720 --> 0:20:30.920 like to go into that draft just like a wide 0:20:30.960 --> 0:20:33.240 open highway with no cars on the road, and I 0:20:33.240 --> 0:20:35.520 can drive as fast as I want, straight down the road, 0:20:36.200 --> 0:20:40.360 unencumbered and not worry about just driving, turn the music up, 0:20:40.520 --> 0:20:42.360 and just draft and pick the best players. 0:20:44.000 --> 0:20:46.520 Eric, knowing your vision going into this draft, will you 0:20:46.560 --> 0:20:48.040 get to the other side, What are some of the 0:20:48.040 --> 0:20:50.959 measures of success for you to where you can look 0:20:51.000 --> 0:20:56.879 back and say we accomplished what we want to accomplish. 0:20:57.440 --> 0:20:59.520 I just really just I just focus on wins and 0:20:59.520 --> 0:21:00.560 losses and our season. 0:21:01.000 --> 0:21:02.359 You know, it's so hard. 0:21:02.720 --> 0:21:04.520 Sometimes you have you have an impression that you had 0:21:04.520 --> 0:21:07.000 a great draft class, and maybe it wasn't. And maybe 0:21:07.000 --> 0:21:09.080 sometimes you think, I don't know, it wasn't the easiest year. 0:21:09.119 --> 0:21:11.359 And you have, you know, guys emerging they end up 0:21:11.400 --> 0:21:13.960 being great players in the end. I think what we 0:21:14.000 --> 0:21:16.479 all aspire to is just winning a championship. And so 0:21:17.119 --> 0:21:20.400 that's my goal and my dream and what I'm aiming for. 0:21:20.480 --> 0:21:23.200 And so that just starts winning our first game, and 0:21:23.280 --> 0:21:26.080 then winning our second game, and then winning the division, 0:21:27.160 --> 0:21:29.800 getting a home field, you know, advantage if we can, 0:21:29.840 --> 0:21:30.840 and then winning the Super Bowl. 0:21:30.880 --> 0:21:32.120 If we do that, it'll be a success. 0:21:34.359 --> 0:21:38.480 Eric, Eric, and or John. Have you talked to Lamar 0:21:38.680 --> 0:21:43.200 in terms of his list of draft picks or guys 0:21:43.200 --> 0:21:47.160 that he's looked at and what's the conversation I guess 0:21:47.160 --> 0:21:48.359 been with him this offseason? 0:21:49.920 --> 0:21:52.560 Uh, you know, Lamar and I have texted a little bit. 0:21:52.600 --> 0:21:56.360 We had a conversation. We didn't get into any specific players. 0:21:57.080 --> 0:21:58.920 We just we talked a little bit about the roster 0:21:59.000 --> 0:22:01.040 and just what he's up to and you know, his 0:22:01.200 --> 0:22:03.840 vision and his you know, excitement for the season and 0:22:03.880 --> 0:22:05.159 all that stuff that goes into it. 0:22:05.200 --> 0:22:07.160 But other than that, I. 0:22:07.080 --> 0:22:09.840 Think I just probably keep the conversations private. 0:22:13.680 --> 0:22:15.680 I haven't talked about specific prospects yet. 0:22:15.760 --> 0:22:15.800 No. 0:22:18.080 --> 0:22:22.399 For Eric, you know, especially with Malik and Chris Bord, 0:22:22.640 --> 0:22:25.639 you guys have lost some guys who really had value 0:22:25.680 --> 0:22:30.080 on special teams, including your defense. When you look at prospects, 0:22:30.119 --> 0:22:34.000 how much does their ability to influence that phase of 0:22:34.000 --> 0:22:36.439 the game, which is obviously very valued here kind of 0:22:36.440 --> 0:22:39.320 factor into kind of bumping them up or down? And 0:22:39.440 --> 0:22:43.639 John sort of what is your confidence that do you 0:22:43.720 --> 0:22:47.040 need guys in this draft who they've shown talent on 0:22:47.040 --> 0:22:48.960 special teams, or do you feel like your coaching staff 0:22:48.960 --> 0:22:52.119 has the ability to make anyone a great special teams player. 0:22:54.000 --> 0:22:57.119 Well, when you have a head coach who's one of 0:22:57.119 --> 0:22:59.720 the great special teams coaches in the NFL at one point, 0:23:00.160 --> 0:23:02.639 you spend a lot of time asking them about special teams. 0:23:02.640 --> 0:23:04.600 And I really think our scouts do a great job 0:23:04.640 --> 0:23:06.800 of that. I mean I could literally ask any scout 0:23:07.160 --> 0:23:09.199 at any time, what's this guy doing special teams and 0:23:09.200 --> 0:23:11.520 they will go back to twenty twenty and tell me. 0:23:12.040 --> 0:23:13.240 Exactly what he did. 0:23:14.160 --> 0:23:18.960 And it wasn't always that way, but I could literally say, hey, Chess, 0:23:19.840 --> 0:23:22.000 tell me about this guy at Oklahoma State and special 0:23:22.040 --> 0:23:24.080 teams and he would say, oh, in twenty twenty, eerk, 0:23:24.080 --> 0:23:26.480 he was the left wing and this and that, or 0:23:26.480 --> 0:23:28.080 he was a personal protract on the punt team and 0:23:28.119 --> 0:23:30.159 he did this and he did that, and then we 0:23:30.200 --> 0:23:34.560 got you know, Chris Horton and Anthony Levine. Those guys 0:23:34.560 --> 0:23:38.840 will bring their perspective as coaches, and we do it 0:23:38.840 --> 0:23:40.919 with every single player at a certain level and at 0:23:40.960 --> 0:23:43.840 certain positions. We talk about special teams and it is 0:23:43.880 --> 0:23:45.520 a big thing, and it is the thing that can 0:23:45.560 --> 0:23:48.280 swear a guy from one bucket to the next again, 0:23:48.359 --> 0:23:51.280 because if a guy's you know, if he's in this, 0:23:51.359 --> 0:23:52.600 I'll just use the bee. 0:23:52.600 --> 0:23:53.200 If he's in the. 0:23:53.119 --> 0:23:55.119 Bees at the top of the bees and he's a 0:23:55.160 --> 0:23:57.520 really good Special Teams player, maybe he makes it to 0:23:57.560 --> 0:24:00.159 the bottom of the a's it's just that enough that 0:24:00.240 --> 0:24:02.960 alone can push him up a little bit. And maybe 0:24:03.000 --> 0:24:05.080 that's around, maybe that's half around, whatever it is, but 0:24:05.119 --> 0:24:06.160 that's a big deal for us. 0:24:08.880 --> 0:24:10.399 I mean, just to echo what Eric's saying, I think 0:24:10.440 --> 0:24:14.040 our scouts and Chris and his staff do a great job. 0:24:14.080 --> 0:24:16.560 Because last week we're having our meetings, that came up 0:24:16.600 --> 0:24:18.919 on pretty much every guy that would be a special 0:24:18.960 --> 0:24:21.840 Teams type player. And it wasn't just what they've done 0:24:21.840 --> 0:24:23.600 on Special teams, it's also what kind of traits do 0:24:23.640 --> 0:24:25.920 they bring to the table. You know, type of player 0:24:26.000 --> 0:24:30.400 sometimes translates to a special Teams player, big along, a long, 0:24:30.520 --> 0:24:32.560 fast corner that can get out and run, who's tough, 0:24:32.880 --> 0:24:34.480 maybe can be a gunner for you. So you try 0:24:34.480 --> 0:24:37.080 to project those guys in those positions and then building 0:24:37.160 --> 0:24:39.880 special teams. You know, it's important to have a good 0:24:39.880 --> 0:24:42.200 group of young, hungry guys, but you also want to 0:24:42.200 --> 0:24:43.920 have some veteran players and that know how to play. 0:24:43.920 --> 0:24:46.240 So like bringing back a Tyland Wallace who also gives 0:24:46.320 --> 0:24:48.919 us value as a wide receiver, but can give us 0:24:49.000 --> 0:24:51.840 values a special teams guy. Some of these young developing 0:24:51.880 --> 0:24:53.960 guys that we had maybe second year guys this year, 0:24:54.040 --> 0:24:56.560 third year guys this year, they become your veterans on 0:24:56.600 --> 0:24:58.199 special teams, you know, and they've got to carry that 0:24:58.280 --> 0:25:03.000 mantle from a leadership production standpoints. So those roles are 0:25:03.000 --> 0:25:05.760 really important. I learned that from Coach Belichick probably more 0:25:05.800 --> 0:25:08.280 than anybody. But when you put your team together, there's 0:25:08.320 --> 0:25:10.680 a lot of specific roles that you've got to try 0:25:10.720 --> 0:25:12.400 to find the right fits for to build your team, 0:25:12.480 --> 0:25:14.840 and those special team's roles are a big part of that. 0:25:16.600 --> 0:25:18.920 Eric as you as it's changed over the years in 0:25:19.040 --> 0:25:21.520 terms of player movement and transferring, I think it used 0:25:21.560 --> 0:25:23.560 to be kind of looking a guy transferred once or 0:25:23.560 --> 0:25:25.119 twice I might be a red flag because you're not 0:25:25.160 --> 0:25:27.480 fighting through to try and win a job or whatever, 0:25:27.640 --> 0:25:29.960 looking for green or grass. But with so much player 0:25:29.960 --> 0:25:31.960 moving mount now have you had to change the way 0:25:32.440 --> 0:25:34.800 that factors in to your evaluation. 0:25:37.320 --> 0:25:39.919 I think it just it's it's become more complicated for 0:25:39.960 --> 0:25:42.080 the scouts to get more information because we do want 0:25:42.080 --> 0:25:44.520 to talk to people that might know this player from 0:25:44.560 --> 0:25:49.800 the other locations. For me, it's just really watching the tape. 0:25:50.840 --> 0:25:53.439 It's the same, you know, we just watch the tape. 0:25:53.640 --> 0:25:55.960 Get in and watch the tape, and maybe if you 0:25:56.000 --> 0:25:57.639 go back and look at him at the other school, 0:25:57.680 --> 0:26:01.080 you can do that as well. In some cases it 0:26:01.119 --> 0:26:04.359 is it is helpful because you might see a player 0:26:04.440 --> 0:26:07.680 that transferred to a big school from a small school, right, 0:26:07.720 --> 0:26:10.119 and so you can see how that guy played at 0:26:10.160 --> 0:26:12.040 a smaller school versus how he's planning now at a 0:26:12.040 --> 0:26:14.840 bigger school. It provides a different perspective on the player. 0:26:15.720 --> 0:26:20.439 But I think just generally speaking again I said this, 0:26:20.600 --> 0:26:23.800 but if you if you have good scouts, it gives 0:26:23.840 --> 0:26:26.159 you the opportunity to get more information because you have 0:26:26.200 --> 0:26:28.920 more people to talk to about these players. So from 0:26:28.920 --> 0:26:30.960 that standpoint, it can be very valuable. 0:26:32.560 --> 0:26:33.080 For Eric. 0:26:34.040 --> 0:26:35.600 The last couple of years, you know, you've had first 0:26:35.680 --> 0:26:37.159 round guys be able to contribute. 0:26:37.440 --> 0:26:39.480 You know, right away, just when you're looking. 0:26:39.280 --> 0:26:43.040 At guys and evaluating are the characteristics that you look 0:26:43.119 --> 0:26:45.440 for in guys when you're giving them that first round 0:26:45.440 --> 0:26:47.320 grade that tells you that they will be able to 0:26:47.359 --> 0:26:49.399 come here and contribute right away. 0:26:51.680 --> 0:26:53.680 Well, they got to be talented, you know. I mean 0:26:53.760 --> 0:26:55.960 this is a this is a business where talent wins, 0:26:56.720 --> 0:26:58.639 and they've got to be talented. They've got to have 0:26:58.680 --> 0:27:00.840 a unique skill set. They've got I have the traits 0:27:00.880 --> 0:27:03.840 that would indicate that they can play at our level 0:27:04.000 --> 0:27:07.600 of football first and foremost, and then I think confidence, uh, 0:27:07.840 --> 0:27:13.520 you know, uh, just dependability, you know, practicing hard competitive players. 0:27:13.920 --> 0:27:16.720 Durability is a big deal, especially for guys that play. 0:27:16.720 --> 0:27:19.240 I mean, you want to talk about rookies that have 0:27:19.280 --> 0:27:21.440 a hard time playing, it's usually in some way tied 0:27:21.440 --> 0:27:24.960 to injuries during that rookie season. So I think durability 0:27:25.000 --> 0:27:27.359 is a really big deal too in that regard. And 0:27:27.400 --> 0:27:30.520 then just ability to learn the game. You know, it's 0:27:30.560 --> 0:27:32.760 a different scheme and a lot of in a lot 0:27:32.760 --> 0:27:38.800 of cases it's totally different terminology. And then just being 0:27:38.800 --> 0:27:41.520 able to overcome the grind. It's a long season. The 0:27:41.640 --> 0:27:45.080 NFL is a long season. These guys are professional athletes 0:27:45.119 --> 0:27:47.439 to hear every single day for I don't know how 0:27:47.440 --> 0:27:51.640 many hours, John, how many hours, eight hours a day. Yeah, So, 0:27:51.920 --> 0:27:54.720 I mean it's a it's a it's a it's a grind, 0:27:55.240 --> 0:27:56.840 and they've got to be able to handle that mental 0:27:57.080 --> 0:27:57.840 hurdle as well. 0:27:59.200 --> 0:28:02.840 Eric asked John about this at the owners meetings. But 0:28:03.720 --> 0:28:07.480 you have made trades before with veteran players during the draft. 0:28:07.760 --> 0:28:10.399 Do you fully expect There's been a lot of speculations 0:28:10.440 --> 0:28:13.240 about Mark Andrews' future in Baltimore. Do you fully expect 0:28:13.320 --> 0:28:14.919 him to remain with the team and is he a 0:28:14.960 --> 0:28:17.000 big part of what you plan on doing this year? 0:28:18.200 --> 0:28:18.400 Oh? 0:28:18.440 --> 0:28:21.159 Man, I never know what's going to happen, Jeff, and 0:28:21.200 --> 0:28:24.560 I would never want to say this with that, you know, 0:28:24.840 --> 0:28:28.840 But I can tell you this, Mark Andrews is a 0:28:28.880 --> 0:28:31.840 warrior and he's played his butt off for us, and 0:28:31.880 --> 0:28:36.080 his competitiveness, his talent, his attitude, his leadership is so 0:28:36.280 --> 0:28:38.560 valued here and he's a great player. 0:28:38.840 --> 0:28:39.560 And I think. 0:28:39.480 --> 0:28:43.440 We're in the business of keeping as many great players 0:28:43.440 --> 0:28:47.040 as we can. So there's always a lot of unpredictability 0:28:47.160 --> 0:28:47.800 with the draft. 0:28:47.880 --> 0:28:48.640 You just never know. 0:28:50.320 --> 0:28:54.200 I don't think we've traded many of our own players. 0:28:54.200 --> 0:28:56.240 I don't know have we ever made a trade during 0:28:56.240 --> 0:29:00.239 the draft where we traded one of our players well, 0:29:00.280 --> 0:29:02.200 that wasn't during the draft. Well, I mean I had 0:29:02.200 --> 0:29:04.200 done that draft. I had done that trade before the draft. 0:29:04.360 --> 0:29:05.120 You guys didn't know. 0:29:05.240 --> 0:29:07.200 Before the day before I had. 0:29:07.240 --> 0:29:07.720 I had done that. 0:29:07.840 --> 0:29:10.280 I did that on a Monday, actually, the Monday or 0:29:10.360 --> 0:29:10.800 the draft. 0:29:12.040 --> 0:29:13.200 I knew. I knew that was coming. 0:29:14.760 --> 0:29:17.320 Yeah, that wasn't during the That wasn't actually during the draft. 0:29:17.320 --> 0:29:20.440 If we had one during the draft. 0:29:20.200 --> 0:29:21.840 Yeah, it was announced in the draft. It was. That 0:29:21.920 --> 0:29:22.600 was strategic though. 0:29:22.640 --> 0:29:25.120 We didn't want announce it beforehand, just in case because 0:29:25.120 --> 0:29:27.160 the team might think we would want a receiver, so 0:29:27.200 --> 0:29:28.920 we kept it as quiet as we could. But I 0:29:28.920 --> 0:29:31.320 don't think we've ever traded one of our players. We've 0:29:31.320 --> 0:29:34.640 traded four players during the draft. I know we did 0:29:34.680 --> 0:29:38.040 Kevin Johnson way back when for a fourth round pick, 0:29:39.080 --> 0:29:40.680 But I don't know that we've ever traded one of 0:29:40.720 --> 0:29:41.440 our own players. 0:29:41.680 --> 0:29:46.000 You should know that, Jameson, I don't think. Okay, yeah, 0:29:46.400 --> 0:29:47.240 just because I brought him up. 0:29:47.240 --> 0:29:52.360 Just now, it came to me, how big of a 0:29:52.400 --> 0:29:54.760 need do you view a cornerback? Obviously you took Nate 0:29:54.760 --> 0:29:57.240 Wagans last year and always want to restock that position 0:29:57.360 --> 0:29:59.760 at a cheeto and free agency Stevens Less. How big 0:29:59.800 --> 0:30:01.440 of a need is corner in your mind? 0:30:01.720 --> 0:30:03.920 It's always a big need. Every single year. You could 0:30:03.960 --> 0:30:05.360 ask thirty one other teams. 0:30:05.800 --> 0:30:10.840 It all says the same thing. Corner is critical important position. 0:30:11.440 --> 0:30:15.520 They break down, you know, they're like bugattis and they 0:30:15.640 --> 0:30:17.920 just break down, and you've got to have them in 0:30:18.000 --> 0:30:21.480 reserve because that can go from being a positional strength 0:30:21.520 --> 0:30:25.800 to being something that you know. I remember, it's a 0:30:25.840 --> 0:30:28.240 long story. Some won't tell it, but two thousand and seven, 0:30:28.280 --> 0:30:30.680 we played the Steelers on a Monday night and I 0:30:30.720 --> 0:30:35.080 was flying out to USC and UCLA and we took 0:30:35.120 --> 0:30:37.760 off and the game hadn't started yet, and when we landed, 0:30:37.760 --> 0:30:39.600 it was like twenty four to nothing in the first 0:30:39.640 --> 0:30:42.520 quarter against the Steelers. And if you look at our 0:30:42.560 --> 0:30:45.920 corners that game. Not to be smirched anyone, but they 0:30:45.960 --> 0:30:48.040 were all guys that were playing because other guys got hurt. 0:30:48.960 --> 0:30:52.360 And that's just an incredibly important position. So that's always 0:30:52.400 --> 0:30:53.320 going to be a need for us. 0:30:54.880 --> 0:30:56.640 Doesn't even going to take a guy in the first round, 0:30:57.400 --> 0:30:59.560 but I feel pretty sure that we'll take at least 0:30:59.560 --> 0:31:00.320 one corner. 0:31:00.160 --> 0:31:03.080 Draft John, how has your. 0:31:05.000 --> 0:31:09.080 I guess responsibilities changed since you came here in terms 0:31:09.080 --> 0:31:11.440 of the draft, I mean, first under Ozzie and now 0:31:11.520 --> 0:31:14.920 and then Eric, I. 0:31:14.840 --> 0:31:17.200 Would say, see if Eric agrees with this, But I 0:31:17.240 --> 0:31:19.280 would say it really hasn't changed at all. I think 0:31:19.320 --> 0:31:23.720 we've had kind of this consistent format and Ozzie and Eric, 0:31:24.040 --> 0:31:26.440 you know, we're gracious enough to you know, allow a 0:31:26.480 --> 0:31:29.440 young coach to come in and have input, you know, 0:31:29.480 --> 0:31:31.640 and have a have a say, you know, and be 0:31:31.680 --> 0:31:32.840 a part of it and be a partner. 0:31:33.680 --> 0:31:34.000 Uh. 0:31:34.000 --> 0:31:36.080 And then we've got the same format now, you know, 0:31:36.160 --> 0:31:40.400 and probably you know, eighteen drafts later, we've got even 0:31:40.720 --> 0:31:43.040 well obviously the trust has been built over the years, 0:31:43.040 --> 0:31:46.000 and then you know, the shared understanding the vision of 0:31:46.120 --> 0:31:47.640 kind of what we want to build. I think we've 0:31:47.680 --> 0:31:50.320 kind of grown together on that where it's like in 0:31:50.360 --> 0:31:52.440 my front yard, I got these two or three trees 0:31:52.440 --> 0:31:53.920 that kind of grew together and they're all like one 0:31:53.960 --> 0:31:56.440 trunk right now. I feel like that's how we kind 0:31:56.440 --> 0:31:59.000 of look at things in terms of, you know, building 0:31:59.000 --> 0:31:59.920 our team with the draft. 0:32:00.920 --> 0:32:03.920 Yeah, I would just say that, you know, not all 0:32:03.960 --> 0:32:08.200 teams do it this way, and you know, I'm proud 0:32:08.240 --> 0:32:10.360 I started out as a young guy in nineteen ninety 0:32:10.400 --> 0:32:15.200 six with coach Marchibroda and Ozzy and just watching the. 0:32:15.120 --> 0:32:19.720 Way that they work together, just that light bulb goes off. 0:32:19.960 --> 0:32:21.400 This is the way it's supposed to be. When you 0:32:21.400 --> 0:32:22.200 have your coaches and. 0:32:22.160 --> 0:32:27.040 Your scouts aligned working together on a massive project like this, 0:32:27.840 --> 0:32:32.120 you've got ownership across the board. And I think anytime 0:32:32.160 --> 0:32:34.400 you can build that, I think you really have something. 0:32:34.920 --> 0:32:36.760 I mean, if we're talking about that, you know, in 0:32:36.840 --> 0:32:39.880 terms of an advantage that we have, it goes back 0:32:39.960 --> 0:32:42.320 to nineteen ninety six, I would say probably when you 0:32:42.400 --> 0:32:45.120 were here, so you saw it from the beginning with 0:32:45.200 --> 0:32:47.480 coach Marcha Broden with Ozzy and what's kind of taking 0:32:47.480 --> 0:32:50.800 place ever since. But coaches come in here and they'll 0:32:50.920 --> 0:32:53.560 watch our draft process and they're kind of blown away 0:32:54.280 --> 0:32:56.320 by the fact that it's just so merged together, and 0:32:56.360 --> 0:32:59.040 the scouts do the work, they do the they do 0:32:59.160 --> 0:33:02.480 ninety plus ninety five plus percent of the work and 0:33:02.840 --> 0:33:04.600 lay the whole thing out. Then the coaches can kind 0:33:04.600 --> 0:33:07.880 of come in and overlay a perspective that is taken 0:33:07.920 --> 0:33:10.800 seriously and accounted for, you know, and then you know, 0:33:10.840 --> 0:33:15.239 we don't spend much time anymore having conversations about you know, 0:33:15.240 --> 0:33:16.720 what kind of a player do we want or what 0:33:16.800 --> 0:33:19.040 kind of a what kind of traits we're looking for? 0:33:19.120 --> 0:33:21.080 These kind of things are almost unspoken, and even the 0:33:21.080 --> 0:33:23.760 new coaches they kind of like fall right in, don't 0:33:23.800 --> 0:33:25.960 you think they just fall right in with this process? 0:33:26.680 --> 0:33:30.120 And guys will say, man, it's just not like this everywhere, 0:33:30.560 --> 0:33:32.320 so it's hard to describe it. But I think when 0:33:32.360 --> 0:33:34.840 you're in it, for me, it's just the way it 0:33:34.880 --> 0:33:36.720 would be the only way it is. You know that. 0:33:36.800 --> 0:33:39.240 I couldn't see it being done any differently. But it 0:33:39.240 --> 0:33:42.000 goes back to Ozzy and Eric all the way back 0:33:42.040 --> 0:33:42.600 to the beginning. 0:33:44.120 --> 0:33:47.000 John's sort of along those lines. As a coach, once 0:33:47.040 --> 0:33:49.400 you first get those players in from the draft, those 0:33:49.520 --> 0:33:53.160 however many picks in here, finally seeing them in purple 0:33:53.200 --> 0:33:55.360 and black, what are some of the things that excite 0:33:55.400 --> 0:33:57.760 you about seeing their talents and how they're going to 0:33:57.760 --> 0:33:59.080 fit into this team eventually? 0:33:59.480 --> 0:34:01.239 Well, you want to see what you thought you were 0:34:01.240 --> 0:34:03.440 going to see. You want to see a guy that's talented, 0:34:03.480 --> 0:34:05.240 like Eric said, but you hate to bring a guy 0:34:05.240 --> 0:34:07.720 in and go, man, I don't think this this is 0:34:08.120 --> 0:34:11.279 I've heard stories and I've heard stories in recruiting. Maybe 0:34:11.280 --> 0:34:13.200 it's happened in the NFL, but yeah, it has happened 0:34:13.880 --> 0:34:16.080 where you know you'd get a guy and you guy, 0:34:16.160 --> 0:34:18.880 this cannot be the same guy I watched on tape. 0:34:19.040 --> 0:34:21.640 You know, like a like there was an impostor there's 0:34:21.680 --> 0:34:25.200 an impostor that was brought in here in college and 0:34:25.520 --> 0:34:27.920 you don't want to see that. We really haven't seen that, 0:34:28.000 --> 0:34:29.920 but I've seen it. Yeah, you have seen it. 0:34:30.000 --> 0:34:31.839 Yeah, there's been a few well no, I'm not going 0:34:31.880 --> 0:34:33.560 to mention the players. So this is a few times 0:34:33.600 --> 0:34:34.560 over the years. 0:34:36.000 --> 0:34:36.520 Where we. 0:34:37.920 --> 0:34:39.840 Liked the guy and then we drafted him, and then 0:34:39.840 --> 0:34:41.520 he showed up day one and we were just like, 0:34:42.440 --> 0:34:45.319 oh my gosh. I mean, it happens right off any 0:34:45.440 --> 0:34:47.880 you probably happened to you. I mean, it just happens, 0:34:47.920 --> 0:34:50.880 right you just you just what you think you saw, 0:34:50.960 --> 0:34:53.439 you didn't see, and you shows up and you're like, man, 0:34:53.480 --> 0:34:55.919 I thought this guy was a better athlete. I thought 0:34:55.920 --> 0:34:58.640 this guy was faster, I thought this guy was whatever. 0:34:59.280 --> 0:35:01.520 And next thing you know, they're on your practice squad 0:35:01.560 --> 0:35:03.480 or they're on somebody else's practice squad. 0:35:04.880 --> 0:35:08.239 Eric, you guys went through multiple returners in particular, at 0:35:08.440 --> 0:35:09.919 punt returner last year. 0:35:09.960 --> 0:35:11.880 Are you hoping to come out of this draft with 0:35:12.000 --> 0:35:13.880 someone with returnability? 0:35:14.640 --> 0:35:17.680 It'd be nice, it'd be nice. It'd be nice. 0:35:17.719 --> 0:35:19.880 I mean, I think I think we've done a good 0:35:19.920 --> 0:35:22.080 job of sizing that up. And I think, you know, again, 0:35:22.160 --> 0:35:25.600 Chris Horton does an awesome job. I mean, our scouts evaluate, 0:35:25.680 --> 0:35:27.680 but it's based on the area that they scout or 0:35:27.680 --> 0:35:30.360 the position maybe that they scout. Chris really does a 0:35:30.400 --> 0:35:33.480 great job of taking all the returners in ranking the 0:35:33.560 --> 0:35:36.200 returners from first to worst, and so that's a big 0:35:36.239 --> 0:35:38.359 part of it. I think we have some guys that 0:35:38.440 --> 0:35:41.880 can do it. So we've got a floor, but we 0:35:41.920 --> 0:35:43.920 want a high ceiling. That's what we want, and we're 0:35:43.920 --> 0:35:44.879 gonna try to find that guy. 0:35:46.360 --> 0:35:46.480 Eric. 0:35:47.040 --> 0:35:48.720 I think we're just a couple of days away from 0:35:49.200 --> 0:35:53.040 our Darius is deadline to sign offersheets. If he's gotten those, 0:35:53.719 --> 0:35:57.279 I guess, how confident are you and him returning? And 0:35:57.600 --> 0:36:00.000 if you do, guys get that done, how's a felt 0:36:00.160 --> 0:36:01.960 maybe what you want to do in the draft so 0:36:02.160 --> 0:36:04.040 you can put him in the best position as well 0:36:04.120 --> 0:36:05.279 as well as Kyle next year. 0:36:06.400 --> 0:36:09.240 Well, I'm confident, you know, fairly confident that our Darius 0:36:09.239 --> 0:36:13.200 will be back. I don't know that it affects our 0:36:13.239 --> 0:36:15.399 decision making at the position at all. 0:36:16.280 --> 0:36:18.959 And I think it's a pretty deep safety crew. 0:36:19.040 --> 0:36:21.799 And it's you know, obviously the top guys, but then 0:36:21.840 --> 0:36:24.920 there's maybe four or five or six guys that will 0:36:24.960 --> 0:36:29.080 probably be you know, third, fourth, fifth round guys that 0:36:29.120 --> 0:36:29.720 are good players. 0:36:29.719 --> 0:36:30.920 I mean, this is a really. 0:36:30.840 --> 0:36:33.640 Nice pool of players to pick from. I think we 0:36:33.800 --> 0:36:35.560 definitely will look at that. I think we added the 0:36:35.560 --> 0:36:38.319 two young guys last year. Both guys play well for 0:36:38.400 --> 0:36:44.759 us on special teams Bowen Sinoussi. But yeah, it's a 0:36:44.920 --> 0:36:47.200 it's a good group of players this year. And again 0:36:47.239 --> 0:36:52.080 a position I mentioned corner, I would probably guess that 0:36:52.400 --> 0:36:54.279 of our eleven picks, at least one of those will 0:36:54.280 --> 0:36:54.840 be a safety. 0:36:56.960 --> 0:36:59.239 Eric, you're a last four first round draft picks have 0:36:59.520 --> 0:37:01.759 made a nim pecked right away. How do you kind 0:37:01.760 --> 0:37:03.560 of look back at that track record and allow that 0:37:03.600 --> 0:37:06.080 confidence to carry over year after year when drafting? 0:37:07.600 --> 0:37:10.279 Well, I'm never super confident. I just I always want 0:37:10.320 --> 0:37:11.759 to feel like the weight of the world is on 0:37:11.800 --> 0:37:16.320 my shoulders. You know, I started out with the greatest 0:37:16.360 --> 0:37:18.920 general manager of all time in Ozzie and you look 0:37:18.960 --> 0:37:21.719 at his first round picks every single year. 0:37:21.719 --> 0:37:23.439 I mean, it was just historic what he did. 0:37:23.480 --> 0:37:26.520 So I feel that pressure and I'll never live up 0:37:26.520 --> 0:37:29.600 to that, but it doesn't mean I can't try. And so, 0:37:30.760 --> 0:37:34.000 you know, we want to hit all our picks, not 0:37:34.040 --> 0:37:35.839 just first round picks. I mean, I'm just as hard 0:37:35.840 --> 0:37:38.239 on myself for a fourth round pick that I might 0:37:38.280 --> 0:37:39.359 have missed and what didn't I. 0:37:39.360 --> 0:37:40.640 See and what did I see? 0:37:40.840 --> 0:37:43.120 Or you know, players that end up being really good 0:37:43.120 --> 0:37:45.560 that we passed on for different reasons. You know, what 0:37:45.719 --> 0:37:48.040 didn't I see in that player? And now he's a 0:37:48.040 --> 0:37:51.640 pro bowler and you just beat yourself up over that. 0:37:53.239 --> 0:37:56.719 So yeah, I feel that pressure every year, and I 0:37:56.840 --> 0:37:59.000 welcome it. If I didn't feel that, i'd be concerned. 0:37:59.400 --> 0:38:01.160 You know, if I didn't wake up in the middle 0:38:01.160 --> 0:38:03.480 of the night come in and look at tape, I'd 0:38:03.480 --> 0:38:05.800 be waited. You know me, I'm over confident, I'm not 0:38:05.840 --> 0:38:08.160 working quite as hard, and I never want to get 0:38:08.200 --> 0:38:12.120 to that point. So kind I relish that feeling of like, 0:38:12.160 --> 0:38:13.399 oh man, I haven't done enough. 0:38:13.400 --> 0:38:13.960 I gotta do more. 0:38:13.960 --> 0:38:16.240 I got look at more tape, I talk to more people, 0:38:16.600 --> 0:38:18.160 you know, leaving myself notes in the middle of the 0:38:18.280 --> 0:38:19.040 nite things. 0:38:18.800 --> 0:38:19.279 To check on. 0:38:20.520 --> 0:38:23.880 But you know, as far as like our previous picks 0:38:23.880 --> 0:38:27.120 that we made, that doesn't give me any any confidence 0:38:27.120 --> 0:38:28.560 that we're going to continue to do it. We just 0:38:28.560 --> 0:38:31.240 got to go out and do it, and I'm confident 0:38:31.280 --> 0:38:33.279 that we will at least put forth the very best 0:38:33.320 --> 0:38:37.320 effort and get all the information and check off every 0:38:37.360 --> 0:38:39.440 box to make sure that we get to that point. 0:38:40.920 --> 0:38:44.200 Eric, not specific to the draft, but with the departure 0:38:44.200 --> 0:38:48.680 of Josh Johnson, you signed Cooper Rush. Just curious what 0:38:48.719 --> 0:38:50.800 it was you liked about him and why you capitalize 0:38:50.840 --> 0:38:52.719 on the opportunity to add him. 0:38:53.320 --> 0:38:53.520 Yeah. 0:38:53.560 --> 0:38:55.240 I mean, you know, he's a guy that we've admired. 0:38:55.440 --> 0:38:56.880 I watched a lot of football, He's won a lot 0:38:56.880 --> 0:38:59.319 of games as a backup quarterback, a cerebral guy. 0:38:59.360 --> 0:38:59.960 I think he's a town. 0:39:01.760 --> 0:39:01.960 Yeah. 0:39:01.960 --> 0:39:03.720 It just was the right player for us at that point, 0:39:04.320 --> 0:39:06.840 guy that we felt like we could invest in for 0:39:06.920 --> 0:39:09.280 a couple of years. We like the way he's been playing, 0:39:09.600 --> 0:39:12.200 and we think he's going to really I think augment 0:39:12.239 --> 0:39:14.000 the room really well and give us a chance to win. 0:39:14.040 --> 0:39:16.000 If something Heaven forbid ever happened on Lamar. 0:39:23.360 --> 0:39:27.040 Eric. I know you said an extension for Derek Henry 0:39:27.080 --> 0:39:33.000 something you guys are talking about. Just curious where that's 0:39:33.040 --> 0:39:36.560 out and how that maybe impacts things, if at all, 0:39:37.280 --> 0:39:38.959 with draft plans and running backs and such. 0:39:39.960 --> 0:39:41.600 Yeah, so we have a lot of different balls in 0:39:41.640 --> 0:39:43.759 the air right now. That's probably what I would say 0:39:43.800 --> 0:39:45.120 on that. You know, I'm not going to talk about 0:39:45.400 --> 0:39:47.160 what we're doing, what we're not doing behind the scenes 0:39:47.200 --> 0:39:48.359 business wise with these guys. 0:39:48.400 --> 0:39:49.719 I don't think it's good for. 0:39:49.640 --> 0:39:50.080 Me to do that. 0:39:50.200 --> 0:39:53.759 But I would say that aside from the draft, as 0:39:53.800 --> 0:39:55.680 you all know, like we're looking at guys that are 0:39:55.719 --> 0:39:57.640 still available free agents on the street, we're looking at 0:39:57.640 --> 0:40:02.000 resigning our own guys. You know, we were blessed to 0:40:02.080 --> 0:40:05.120 have a bunch of really good players, and we're going 0:40:05.160 --> 0:40:06.719 to try and keep as many of those guys as 0:40:06.760 --> 0:40:07.600 we can. 0:40:08.440 --> 0:40:09.160 It's a challenge. 0:40:09.200 --> 0:40:11.759 It's one of the curses I think of doing a 0:40:11.760 --> 0:40:14.000 pretty good job drafting is you've got all these really 0:40:14.000 --> 0:40:16.320 good players that you want to keep. Our goal is 0:40:16.360 --> 0:40:19.359 to keep every single one of them. We're working at 0:40:19.400 --> 0:40:22.160 doing that, and we'll also continue. 0:40:21.840 --> 0:40:23.240 To build a roster after the draft. 0:40:23.239 --> 0:40:25.840 As you guys all know, we'll be looking at guys 0:40:25.840 --> 0:40:28.399 that haven't signed yet. We've had some success in that 0:40:28.880 --> 0:40:32.799 aspect of team building the last few years, you know, 0:40:32.880 --> 0:40:34.120 and I think we'll do that as well, and there's 0:40:34.120 --> 0:40:36.479 gonna be some really good opportunities for us to fill 0:40:36.480 --> 0:40:37.400 in some holes. 0:40:37.160 --> 0:40:37.920 After the draft. 0:40:38.000 --> 0:40:41.560 I think undrafted free agency is another area. We've talked 0:40:41.600 --> 0:40:44.120 about ar Darius Right and it's a guy that was 0:40:44.120 --> 0:40:46.160 an undrafted free agent just a couple of years ago, 0:40:46.239 --> 0:40:48.799 and we see what he brought to the table, you know, 0:40:48.920 --> 0:40:51.520 this year. So that's gonna be a big component as well, 0:40:51.560 --> 0:40:53.319 and I'm really really comfortable that we'll do a great 0:40:53.400 --> 0:40:55.000 job with that as well. 0:41:04.320 --> 0:41:06.719 Hey, Eric, I know how important is for you to 0:41:06.760 --> 0:41:09.520 have these one oh one with the players with prospects, Well, 0:41:09.560 --> 0:41:11.919 you don't talk about football more like personal live knowing 0:41:11.960 --> 0:41:14.279 the player. How much of an impact has been those 0:41:14.320 --> 0:41:18.040 conversations to make a decision for the draft. 0:41:18.400 --> 0:41:21.520 Yeah, I think it's important to see these guys and 0:41:21.560 --> 0:41:23.840 to meet with these guys. You know, we get a 0:41:23.840 --> 0:41:26.920 lot of information, and sometimes that information isn't quite what 0:41:27.000 --> 0:41:29.880 we see in an interview setting, and so just getting 0:41:29.920 --> 0:41:33.400 to know these guys, their motivations, their drivers, what's important 0:41:33.440 --> 0:41:36.719 to them, how they see themselves, their humility, emotional intelligence, 0:41:37.800 --> 0:41:41.480 their competitiveness, you know, all the various things that make 0:41:41.600 --> 0:41:44.600 up who these players are. They're not just statistics or 0:41:44.640 --> 0:41:46.960 what we see on tape, and so getting to know 0:41:47.000 --> 0:41:50.520 these guys is critical. Now, I can also tell you this, 0:41:50.920 --> 0:41:54.080 sometimes you can get tricked right, And there's been you know, 0:41:54.120 --> 0:41:56.200 I could write a book on players that I interviewed 0:41:56.200 --> 0:41:57.759 and would say, oh, this is a great guy, and 0:41:57.760 --> 0:41:59.000 then now all of a sudden, you get the guy 0:41:59.000 --> 0:42:01.200 and you're like, oh no. And sometimes you interview a 0:42:01.239 --> 0:42:03.399 guy and maybe he's really quiet and seems almost shy 0:42:03.480 --> 0:42:05.920 or whatever that might be, and you end up picking 0:42:05.960 --> 0:42:07.520 them and you're like, this guy's incredible. 0:42:07.560 --> 0:42:10.360 So question, you know, the question is I think everybody 0:42:10.360 --> 0:42:11.880 would want to ask right now, is are you going 0:42:11.920 --> 0:42:14.239 to write the book you said you could write a 0:42:14.239 --> 0:42:16.400 book on that When you guys love to read that book. 0:42:17.239 --> 0:42:18.120 Maybe I may. 0:42:18.200 --> 0:42:20.760 Maybe I'll have Jerry help me, you know, my ghostwriter, 0:42:20.880 --> 0:42:21.480 Jerry Coleman. 0:42:22.040 --> 0:42:25.280 You've been quiet today. Jerry, you don't want to my questions. 0:42:27.360 --> 0:42:33.200 He's not wrong, Eric, And you said you had a 0:42:33.239 --> 0:42:36.399 lot of balls in the air. Fifth year Option deadlines coming, 0:42:36.440 --> 0:42:39.239 have you made you have two prominent players with that. 0:42:39.360 --> 0:42:42.280 Have you made a decision on that front. 0:42:42.640 --> 0:42:44.560 Yeah, there's really no updates on that front. 0:42:44.640 --> 0:42:46.399 You know. I think the last couple of years, I've 0:42:46.400 --> 0:42:49.440 waited to announce that and handle that, and I think that's. 0:42:49.320 --> 0:42:50.520 Going to be the case again this year. 0:42:51.280 --> 0:42:57.400 Thank you you're listening to the Ravens Press Past podcast. 0:42:57.440 --> 0:42:59.480 Also make sure you head over to the Lounge podcast 0:42:59.520 --> 0:43:02.640 feed subscribe to that feed and this one as well. 0:43:02.640 --> 0:43:04.360 Thank you so much for listening and we will be 0:43:04.400 --> 0:43:06.040 back with you again soon.