Should Ravens draft a QB in 2008 draft?

[tex_fan]

I know it is very early and Kyle Boller is signed for another year and is doing well. But still next years draft has a deep QB class, and it is likely that guys like Colt Brennan and John David Booty will fall to mid and later first round. My questions is, should Baltimore draft a QB for future or not?

[Baltoman07]

Best player available....if it's a QB.....so be it.

[Purpleguy]

I think we need to look at a cornerback in next year's draft.

[Mista T]

BPA only. Perhaps scrounge lower rounds for an upgrade over Troy Smith.

[StingerNLG]

BPA only. Perhaps scrounge lower rounds for an upgrade over Troy Smith.

Which brings up an interesting scenerio.

If the Ravens were to draft another QB in the upper rounds, regardless of what happens to Steve McNair and Kyle Boller, how do you feel if you're Troy Smith?

I imagine a 2nd round QB pick would start over Troy Smith, Heisman or not.

Then again, I think the rest of the year is going to determine whether or not we need a QB high in the draft.

[Mista T]

If they draft a first or second (high round) QB and he looks great in training camp and pre-season who gives a hoot about Troy Smith, Boller, or even McNair's feelings for that matter? The future of the team is more important than any individual player don't ya think?

I don't give a shit about individual players. QB is a non-issue. If we can pick up a better #3 cheap (5th round or lower), it's OK, but if not, it's no BFD.

We need to invest in our DEs, secondary and LBs. This defense needs some youth. We are likely set at QB, RB, OL, WRs for five years -- why waste a draft pick?

[Big Bird]

The Ravens are a defensive team. See Chicago Bears from past.

Our O is OK but just OK. The QB position appears to be adequate. If we let down on the defense, it will weaken because of age previously as previously posted. This places unneeded pressure on the O.
We don't want that pressure. I agree with best player VS QB. If the best player is O or D, it really makes no difference.

[tex_fan]

I think it is very much still open to debate if the Ravens are adequate for next year at the QB position. McNair will be another year older and more fragile, Boller still most likely only a proven backup caliber and Smith a proven nothing. I still think they need to go after a franchise type QB in the draft next season because they need to look down the road. If you think otherwise you are only kidding yourself because look around the division. The QB counterparts are Carson, Ben, and now Quinn. The Ravens are the odd man out. Nobody they have now compares to these young franchise types period. The other teams in the division are set and we are still searching for the most important position on any NFL team as far as the future.
I can't believe I am saying this, but that makes sense. I still hope Boller will come out and play like the guy we drafted as the number 1 pick, but it is not too early to look towards the future.

[Dade]

I think the Ravens have to draft a QB 1st round. McNair is old and will likely play one more season, Boller is a proven backup only and Smith is unproven.

All successfull teams have a franchise QB. We need one to have our offense be taken seriously.

[TTRaven]

I don't give a shit about individual players. QB is a non-issue. If we can pick up a better #3 cheap (5th round or lower), it's OK, but if not, it's no BFD.

We need to invest in our DEs, secondary and LBs. This defense needs some youth. We are likely set at QB, RB, OL, WRs for five years -- why waste a draft pick?

I think QB is a big issue with the Ravens. Mcnair is practically done, and Boller is still a huge question mark. He's looked decent in limited time, but he still has yet to prove that he can be that consistent QB that we need. The window for this team is about to close shut. We need to look towards the future and find a QB who can match up with the likes of Roethlisberger and Palmer. I honestly think that the Ravens will draft our QB of the future on day 1.

[festivus]

We are thin at corner and LT. Going into next year we are relatively deep at qb, with a decent starter and a decent backup.

Just once I would like to see us put out on the field an *excellent* quarterback. That would really be something.

We'll see who's available, I guess.

By the way. . . If we don't solve this red zone problem, and our pass defense doesn't tighten. . . We may end up drafting earlier then 'mid-round'.

Fingers crossed. . .

[Jggjaron]

I think We stick with Best Player Available, It has worked for us in the past.

[hurting]

I voted yes. I think the philosiphy should be to always try to find the next Tom brady at QB in rounds 5-7. Obviously BPA is the way to go in the early rounds and if a stud just happened to drop to the Ravens Ozzie would probably pull the trigger. But I think they should always be looking to find someone better than your current #3 QB. And you just might find a Brady or Romo.

[sailorsam]

Best player available....if it's a QB.....so be it.

it's worked pretty well so far. funny, though, how in the last two years, when the Ravens needed help on the lines, the BAPs were Ngata and Grubb.:)
I'd think, why not go in the FA market?
while we're discussing qbs...I suspect Derek Anderson will be benched by the end of next season. some of us are old enough to remember Steve DeBerg, who put up some good numbers and won some games for the 49ers before too many picks led him to be replaced by Joe Montana. Methinks the Brownies have too much invested in Brady Quinn not to start him. But I do think Derek A has proven himself to be a legit NFL qb.
...and Chris Redman might be available...

[RavenFanatic2k6]

Too early to tell. If we can get a legitimate prospect like Andre Woodson, Matt Ryan, or Brian Brohm, yes, go for it. Unfortunately, we probably aren't going to have that chance, unless we have a poor second half.

The other guys, like Brennan, Henne, Booty, etc, I don't take the chance. None of them are sure thing, can't miss guys. Most likely scenario - keep McNair, Boller, and Smith. Give Smith another year to hone his skills, then reassess following 2008, when Boller is scheduled to be a FA and McNair will probably be done. Then you make the decision, re-sign Boller, can Smith start, can Smith be a capable backup, do you need to draft a QB, etc. Not this year, IMO.

[ExiledRaven]

I'm withholding judgment on everyone's favorite QB until he plays Va-Tech. Then I think we'll have a lot better judgment.

Others all depend, I think Brennan getting hurt really messed him up.

Course all of this depends on the offense playing to win and score all the points they can instead of playing scared like has been happening all year.

Also, apparently this year the Texas Tech QB might have all the tools to be a real NFL QB outside the system down there.

It's really too early to tell with a lot of this.....but as a first pass here is my not so great opinion.

#1 Woodson
#2 Brohm (just not as good as last year)
#3 Ryan (I want to see what he does against Va Tech)

After this it's really a wash though.....I don't want Henne or Booty, period.

[UKRavenStockers]

Brohm's still perfectly good. He's still getting yardage, he's still getting touchdowns, he's still finding open receivers. You can't expect your QB to play defence.

[flraven]

as always, best player available.

[ExiledRaven]

Brohm's still perfectly good. He's still getting yardage, he's still getting touchdowns, he's still finding open receivers. You can't expect your QB to play defence.

Point taken. Regardless, I think all of the "big three" of Woodson, Ryan, and Brohm will likely be gone before #20.

[UKRavenStockers]

I think you can pretty much guarantee that Brian Brohm will be a Falcon if they have a shot at him. Atlanta need a QB, Brohm is Petrino's guy, Brohm knows Petrino's offence, Petrino knows Brohm inside out. He's a bigger lock than Jerry Jones finding a way to land Darren McFadden (just the Browns are trying to make it a bit more difficult than just using a top 5 pick on him straight off the bat.

[highwater]

I think you can pretty much guarantee that Brian Brohm will be a Falcon if they have a shot at him.

I agree -- there has even been some speculation that the Falcons are tanking the season for that reason, so they can be in a draft position to nab Brohm. I don't believe they are tanking the season, but I do believe that they will draft him if he's available at their slot. Petrino likes him and knows him, so it makes sense.

In any event, he'll be off the board before we draft, I'm sure.

[ExiledRaven]

Well, let's see what team we're looking at here.

NFC East
Washington - No (Campbell)
Philadelphia - No (if not McNabb, then they still have Feeley and Kolb)
New York Giants- No (Manning)
Dallas - No (Unless something happens to Romo or he gets traded)

NFC South
Atlanta - YES (essentially a lock for Brohm)
Carolina - YES (Carr is pretty awful and Delhomme just isn't quite getting it done)
Tampa Bay - Maybe (Garcia is a winner, but he's 37, I don't know if they'll keep on hoping Simms will work)
New Orleans - Nope (Brees is great, offensive line, not so much!)

NFC North
Green Bay - No (Unless they really hate Rogers)
Minnesota - Maybe (depends on how Jackson finishes the year)
Chicago - YES (Both QBs are bad)
Detriot - Nope (They have Stanton sitting on the bench this year)

NFC West
San Francisco - Nope (Smith still has some time, and need an o-line)
Arizona - Maybe (Does leinart still have it?)
St. Louis - No (Bulger signed to monster extension)
Seattle - No (Hasselbeck is a solid above average option right now)

AFC East
New England - No (Ha...)
New York Jets - No (Pennington is an eggshell, but Clemens has promise)
Buffalo - No (Trent Edwards in the wings)
Miami - No (Jon Beck in the second)

AFC South
Indy - No (Ha...)
Houston - No (Just got Schaub)
Tennessee - No (Vinsanity)
Jacksonville - Maybe (Garrard is playing well, but you never know...)

AFC North
Pittsburgh - No (Big Ben)
Cincinnati - No (Palmer just has no line this year)
Cleveland - No (Anderson & Quinn, they're set)
Baltimore - Maybe

AFC West
Denver - No (Cutler)
Oakland - No (Just used the #1 overall this past year)
San Diego - No (Rivers, Volek on the bench)
Kansas City - No (giving up on Croyle and using a 1st round pick on a QB doesn't make a lot of sense but you never know)

So here is what we have
Unlikely: Dallas (Romo's contract)
Maybe: Baltimore, Jax, Arizona, Minny, Tampa Bay
Yes: Atlanta, Carolina, Chicago

Anyhow, long story short, here are the options

1) McNabb is somehow out of Philly and a trade is made between Chicago and the Eagles, Ravens might potentially get interested.

2) Romo doesn't resign, or gets franchised. Cleveland ends up with a draft pick in the high 20s, meaning Jones doesn't have the ammo to get McFadden. He might be willing to grab another first round pick and a serviceable spot starter/vet to play 1 year to groom a player he can grab in the second. The Ravens would be in a good spot for this if McNair or Boller were to be traded to Dallas along with a first round pick for Romo. Jones then has 3 1sts and plenty of power to get McFadden and can still likely make some moves in the second round to grab a guy like Dixon, Ainge, Brennan, or Henne to groom for a year. Ravens have Boller or McNair as a backup for a year, then Smith is ready to roll. This will never happen and I am dreaming, but it's fun to babble about

3) Potentially one of the "big three" falls into the Ravens laps, likely Ryan or Woodson depending on how the record shakes out at the end of the year and how noted teams turn out.

4) A second-level guy will be around that the team might be high on. Dixon, Ainge, Brennan, and Henne will likely be around at the 20s. One of em might be lightning in a bottle. Hell, some of them will be around at that point in the second round. Henne may be an option just because he plays in a horribly outdated offense and he's got experience playing (and losing...) big games. Brennan might be good too, he's used to throwing the ball all over, not freaking out if he makes a mistake, and the run and shoot has all sorts of places the QB can make a mistake. Injuries hurt his stock badly

5) Boller or Smith gets a chance to play NE/SD/Indy and lights em up. Unlikely, but if it does, then suddenly the Ravens go from "where the hell is our next QB" to being able to pick any position (like grabbing a great corner or defensive end....)

[UKRavenStockers]

I think you can remove Jacksonville from the maybes, Garrard has probably been the 3rd best QB in the AFC this year.

[ExiledRaven]

Right, I guess I am in the "what happens the rest of the season" might matter...but I think you'll probably end up right on that one.

In the end, I'd not be upset with Brennan at all if that's what it is in the first.

[UKRavenStockers]

Right, I guess I am in the "what happens the rest of the season" might matter...but I think you'll probably end up right on that one.

In the end, I'd not be upset with Brennan at all if that's what it is in the first.

That's fair enough, there still is a long way left this season but Garrard looks like he's tied that job down in Jacksonville for a good old while.

As for us taking Brennan, I want to see how the rest of this season goes. If our QB play bombs in our 6 game stretch during the bye then I'll be all about finding a new QB in the draft (doesn't have to be round one, I was all over picking up Trent Edwards on day one this year), but for right now I think you've gotta look at corner and defensive end as our biggest needs right now. It's interesting that our offensive sucks so much right now but we don't need to spend a pick on a WR, HB we've just put cash into, TE is locked down, O-line we've just spent a load of picks on, QB is the only spot open really, or maybe we're not being ruthless enough with our offensive talent?

[ExiledRaven]

maybe we're not being ruthless enough with our offensive talent?

Without question. and I agree, CB and DE are big needs, time to spend some money/draft picks on the D again. QB is really the only slot on the O that makes sense unless some truly can't miss type prospect falls into our laps on the offensive side (even then it might be better to trade down and get more value...)

[Big Bird]

QB position is interesting. This may well be McNair's last year. That leaves Kyle Boler and our Heismann trophy winner on the bench. I think drafting a QB next year depends a lot on what Kyle can do this year.

My hopes are that Kyle will be at least as good as an average QB. That is all the Ravens really need with the defense & running game it has. Our Heismann guy can learn from the bench - something Kyle never had a chance to do until last season.

Summary: If kyle is "plays decent" the remainder of the year, he stays as No. 1. Otherwise we are looking at a draft/trade. Lets hope not.

[4G63]

I'm kinda partial to Dennis Dixon of Oregon....he has a great arm and is very mobile, which is something we could use.....if not him, I would give my first-born for Tim Tebow in 2009!!! That kid is gonna be a stud for someone in the NFL!!! Why not the Ravens?

[Greg]

Carping about his road record without consideration of how good the team was around him is idiotic.

Archie Manning's win/loss record sucks (home and road), but would you take him as a starting QB?

Boller got that road record throwing to Travis Taylor, Clarence Moore, and Joe, my pizza delivery guy.

Again, since Mason has been here what do the stats say about Boller. Once he got a legitimate WR oddly, his numbers started improving.

[paulie]

There is a better chance of me making the Olympics at age 52 in underwater basket weaving than Boller being a starting NFL QB.

Spike
You being trapped underwater until you finish weaving an entire basket . . .
Now there is an idea we could all get behind! :rolling:

[4G63]

Boller is pathetic for a NFL QB. He had 1, maybe 2 good passes the WHOLE game. The TD to Mason was prolly the best pass I've ever seen him make as well as actually making a good pass on 4th-10. BUT THAT WAS IT!!! He missed Devard Darling down the sideline. He constantly throws off his back foot, even when he's not pressured. I forget who it was, but it was a comp to a receiver that was underthrown. If it was thrown properly, it would have been a TD!!! I'm sick of Boller and Billick's playcalling!!!! That's what this team needs!!!!!!!

[4G63]

Why would anyone at this stage in his pro career be surprised that Boller still sucks? I have tried to tell these posters here this repeatedly for the past several years. Nobody wanted to listen but now act like it is some kind of a surprise. :eek: :hammer:

I just found this site last year, but I can understand your frustration. He should be our backup QB for a long time....he doesn't have "it" as a starting QB. We, in my opinion, had the best overall Ravens team ever last year (including SB year), and couldn't get it done for numerous reasons argued to death.

My question to everyone on this board is: Do you honestly think we would have gone 13-3 with Boller under center? I certainly don't think so, nor will we ever go 13-3 with him under center!! If Billick had used his brain last week in Buffalo, he could have made Boller look like a stud by handing off to McGahee at the end of the game. We would have won that game and Boller would have had a road win!! But Billick, as usual, tried to out-think the opponent, instead of using the "KISS" principal: Keep It Simple Stupid!!! And as we all saw last week, Boller failed to deliver!

[Greg]

Well, I think we have found a couple of new HC and QB coaching candidates here.

[4G63]

Well, I think we have found a couple of new HC and QB coaching candidates here.

Never said I should be HC or QB coach......just stating the obvious! You can't answer my question because you know I'm right. WE HAD THE BEST OVERALL RAVENS TEAM EVER LAST YEAR and couldn't get it done with a healthy McNair under center. What makes you think we could go 13-3 with Boller under center? Do you think they were the right calls on 2nd and 1 in Buffalo last week? Hell, even the coach in hindsight said they were the wrong calls!

I actually wouldn't mind the dink-and-dunk offense we have now if we were scoring TD's in the RZ, instead of kicking FG's!! It serves 2 purposes: 1) controls the clock, which keeps our aging 'D' off the field and 2) keeps the opposing 'D' on the field much longer, which opens up the running game. Remember a healthy Jamal back in the day, when he might only get 2 or 3 yds a carry early, but as they kept running him later in the game, he would start busting off 5 or more yard carries? Thats what we should be doing now. Buffalo was a perfect example. McGahee didn't have any big runs early in the game, but slowly wore them down because their 'D' was on the field so long!!

[Mr OC]

Haven't heard much about this guy:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=146278

I know he hasn't played the upper echelon of college talent, but his numbers are good and he did hang 59 on Navy at Navy.

[Mista T]

Haven't heard much about this guy:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=146278

I know he hasn't played the upper echelon of college talent, but his numbers are good and he did hang 59 on Navy at Navy.

I posted something on Flacco awhile back. I did see him rack up 30/41 for 434 yards and four touchdown passes in Annapolis. Forgettabout Navy's porous defense: Flacco was poised and his passes were like ropes, right on the money. Accurate & strong-armed. When blitzed, he moved well and smartly threw the ball away when receivers were covered. He really reminded me of Derek Anderson. He might make a good 5th round pick.

At 6'6", with his big arm & mobility, I'd love to see him in purple next summer.

[4G63]

The only thing about guys like Flacco are the conferences they play in. The D's are slow and the teams aren't very good. I'm not saying he doesn't look promising, but you've got to keep that in mind.....

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Flacco may go way before the 5th round...

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-3-817/Anyone-Need-a-Quarterback-.html

[4G63]

Flacco may go way before the 5th round...

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-3-817/Anyone-Need-a-Quarterback-.html

Hmmmmmmmmm.......

[4G63]

Actually, knowing the Ravens, they'll probably pick him in the second round, instead of a good CB, because he fits the "mold" of a pocket passer......I just don't like the level of his competition nor his lack of mobility.......

[tex_fan]

Joe Flacco looks to me better than some of overhyped one season wonders like Dennis Dixon, I would love to see Flacco play for Ravens. Even the draft gurus like Mel Kiper (who has him rated as the fifth best senior QB) and Todd McShay are high on this guy.

[Mista T]

Sorry to see that Flacco is not a well-kept secret! I saw him as a 5th rounder due to 1-AA, but it looks like others are noticing him. I am hoping that Boller plays on par with his overall performance level since Dec 2005, to grab the starter's job next season and then see the Ravens be able to invest in a stereotype NFL QB chosen in lower rounds as a bona fide true competitor for 2009. (Sorry, but I don't see enough out of the undersized Troy Smith to believe that he will ever start in the NFL).

[RavenDavey]

Anybody heard of Josh Betts?

Currently 3rd on the depth chart for Colts, played after Ben at Mia of Ohio. Good college stats, good size at 6'2-215lbs...maybe a trade instead of drafting???

[tex_fan]

Calm down Tex, despite some of the worst play calling in recent times, I think Brian Billick knows more about football than you and me. If Billick thinks that Boller has improved lets wait and watch Boller perform on the field for a few weeks. Don't forget some football players do take time to develop, if only you can remember that Romo was on bench for first three years of his career. I don't claim to be a football pundit, but the little I know about the game tells me that Kyle Boller do have all the measurables to succeed in NFL. I remember you went quite when your lover McNair was struggling in not too distant past, at least give the poor guy some games to show us what he can do.