The only intriguing aspect about today's draft for the Ravens is whether they will select a quarterback. Basically, all the suspense is gone because it's safe to assume the Ravens, despite the return of second-team All-Pro Jonathan Ogden, will draft a quality offensive lineman early.
But what about a quarterback for the future? If there has been an Achilles' heel of the Ravens as far as the draft, it has been their lack of success in grooming a young quarterback. The failure has transcended two owners, two directors of scouting and two pro personnel directors. And while Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome has been the constant of this franchise since it moved to Baltimore from Cleveland for the 1996 season, there is one blemish on an otherwise sparkling resume.
He can't pick quarterbacks.
The Ravens can find late-round picks and free agents who become Pro Bowl players. Their first-round selections have been outstanding, including two all-but-certain future Hall of Famers - Ogden and Ray Lewis - on their first two picks in team history.
But when it comes to quarterbacks, the Ravens stink.
They've selected guys like Wally Richardson, Chris Redman, Wes Pate and Derek Anderson. At least those guys were mid- to late-round draft picks. But the Ravens even blew it when they traded up to take Kyle Boller with the No. 19 overall pick in 2003.
Today might be the time to take the risk again, and it will be interesting to see whether they are bold enough to take one, especially early in the draft because of their shortcomings.
Starter Steve McNair is 34 and injury-prone. He made it through last season without a serious injury, but it's doubtful that will happen again. Boller, the backup, is in the last year of his contract. Unless McNair gets injured and Boller plays well, he's history. Even if he does play well, do the Ravens sign him to a long-term deal with McNair still having three years left on his contract?
The Ravens still have second-year quarterback Drew Olson on the roster, but he appears to be more of a stop-gap solution instead of the player to build the offense around. The perfect time appears to be now, when a rookie could learn from McNair and Boller, and develop.
"We have evaluated the quarterbacks with as much importance as we have any other position in the draft," Newsome said. "People around the league will say we are concentrating on the offensive line. We've spent as much time on the quarterbacks."
