Teams like the Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Miami Dolphins have traded away first-round picks for non-quarterbacks over the last few years. Baltimore Ravens’ General Manager Eric DeCosta, however, has taken a different approach.
DeCosta traded away offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and wide receiver Marquise Brown in lieu of extending them for big money. In doing so, he netted himself an extra two first-round picks in each of the last two NFL drafts. The money saved is a major component that can’t be overlooked, such as the Ravens then signing free-agent safety Marcus Williams to one of the highest safety contracts in NFL history.