Ravens Overpaid For McGahee

**TL24x7** · 03-31-2007, 10:45 AM

History suggests that the Ravens' overpaid, so says 24x7 columnist Rick Johnson today in Mr. J's Neighborhood.

Here's a peek:

When the Ravens coveted a player such as Jenkins, Taylor, Darling or Terry, they grossly overpaid. With Terry, assuming he would be unavailable when the Ravens picked sixteen spots later, the Ravens traded two net picks to move up for the Orangeman from Syracuse. With Ngata, the Ravens gave new nemesis Browns GM Phil Savage a sixth round pick to move up one spot. With McGahee, assuming no other free agent or potential draft RB will be available comparable to McGahee, the Ravens gave up three more picks including two 3rd rounders.

When the Ravens delay gratification or trade down to obtain more picks they are successful. Jamal Lewis and Chris Chester quickly come to mind. And when the Ravens stand pat and draft where they are originally assigned they are also successful—though beyond the first round not as much as advertised.

Vote up on the home page:

What is the worst trade in Ravens' history?

1996: Trading a 3rd, 4th & 7th to move up to the second for Deron Jenkins

1996: Trading a 2nd for TE Harold Bishop

1999: Trading a 3rd and conditional 5th for Scott Mitchell

2003: Trading a 2nd and a 1st (2004) for Kyle Boller

**ExiledRaven** · 03-31-2007, 11:38 AM

Boller looks like the winner, if only because of the quantity of picks sacrificed to get one of a disappointing class of QBs. In 2004 the Ravens might have been able to select Jackson of the Rams and thus not even need to trade for McGahee. The key problem is that these trades, especially in the draft, cover need positions. What if the Ravens stood pat at #10 and don't pick Terrell Suggs? Ozzie would have been insane not to take him, in fact, everyone I knew was jumping up and down ecstatic we got T-sizzle. But the team needed a QB. Does boller or grossman last until 45? Nope. Next QB selected? Simms at the VERY END of the first day.

There are a few more interesting trades not listed:

Errict Rhett, Anthony Weaver.

I am assuming the "Trade UP" reference is this one:

Don't Trade Up

Whatever the Ravens do on Saturday, the one move they should avoid is trading up in this year's selection order. Their batting average when doing so has been less than stellar. Since the Ravens' inception, they have traded up six times on draft day to obtain a higher pick in the selection order of the same year of that draft. Each time it was to fill a need position. CB DeRon Jenkins (1997), WR Travis Taylor (2000), DE Anthony Weaver (2002), QB Kyle Boller (2003), WR Devard Darling (2004) and OT Adam Terry (2005) were all drafted with picks procured in trades to move up in that year's selection order. Only Boller, Darling and Terry are on the current roster. For those three players, the Ravens have used two first-round picks, two second-round picks, two third-round picks, a fifth-round pick and a sixth-rounder in the past three years. Ravens fans are patiently waiting the return on investment.

It's a very nice article by Rick though. Insightful and displays the problem with the draft in general. How can you hit all the time, how can you trade away all these chances at stars? It's very difficult.

I think the bolded section of the quote cannot be ignored. If the team doesn't find a wide receiver or doesn't find a QB, backup tackle, etc then bad things happen with fan meltdowns and questions about what the team is going to be able to do.

Might each of these trades be deviations from the "BPA" approach? If so, hopefully this year's draft is devoid of reaching for offensive linemen.

**bassgtrst** · 03-31-2007, 11:51 AM

Thats insane that anyone still gives Ozzie a hard time for trading up for Ngata.

It was a 6th round pick!! We did that to ensure that Philly didnt get Ngata.

I garuntee that if Oz hadnt moved up and we got stuck w/ Bunkley, and it came out that we could have had NGata for a 6th, Oz would still be in hot water.

When will people learn that OZ knows what he is doing??

**Sports Steve** · 03-31-2007, 12:20 PM

I don't think we overpaid. This team needs to spread the defense against us and McGahee will do that. Remember we did get some addtional picks in the 4th round. We'll be ok and right back in the chase for the super bowl.

**Sports Steve** · 03-31-2007, 12:21 PM

In OZZIE I trust

**camdenyard** · 03-31-2007, 12:23 PM

Nobody knows if the Ravens overpaid until we see what kind of production they get out of McGahee. If he gets 1,500 yards and 15 TDs for example, do you think we'll hear a peep about overpaying?

**duffybr** · 03-31-2007, 01:46 PM

Our roster has very little room for new players.
Several of our picks our going to wind up on the practice squad or playing for cleveland.
This year, and maybe next, the later draft picks aree expendable, in part because we are getting so many comp picks. Why would oz keep every draft pick this and next year knowing we do not have roster spots or cap space to keep the players. The way I see it we traded and got mcgahee in exchange for guys we would have cut or who would have been stolen off the practice squad by cleveland.

**Reedrules** · 03-31-2007, 02:47 PM

How can anyone say whether we overpaid or not when McGahee hasn't even played a down yet? Just like evaluating draft picks you really need to give it a few YEARS before determining if we overpaid or not

**PurpleRulz** · 03-31-2007, 02:54 PM

Originally Posted by bassgtrst

Thats insane that anyone still gives Ozzie a hard time for trading up for Ngata.

It was a 6th round pick!! We did that to ensure that Philly didnt get Ngata.

I garuntee that if Oz hadnt moved up and we got stuck w/ Bunkley, and it came out that we could have had NGata for a 6th, Oz would still be in hot water.

When will people learn that OZ knows what he is doing??

It is assinine to suggest we "overpaid" to move up to get Ngata. Does the suthor of that article realize that the player selected by the Stains with that 6th round pick was cut from the team? Ngata was also a huge part (no pun) of our defense and he is getting better.

The jury is still out of Adam Terry, but he has looked good playing at LT.

As for the other times we have moved up? Pitiful. As nuch of a bust as Boller was, I will say that the trade up for Devard Darling was the worst trade in our team's history, because we have gotten zero out of him. Darling will go the way of Randy Hymes. The Boller trade though is 1A as far as the worst trade in team history. That we gave up a first rounder to get him is even more sickening. Boller is horrble.

**PurpleRulz** · 03-31-2007, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Reedrules

How can anyone say whether we overpaid or not when McGahee hasn't even played a down yet? Just like evaluating draft picks you really need to give it a few YEARS before determining if we overpaid or not

Because we are at the dead point of the offseason, so we will get a series of meaningless articles and threads. These guys need to find something better to write about.

**purplepoe** · 03-31-2007, 03:53 PM

Just to clarify.

We didn't "give up" a 1st rounder for Boller.

We had 2 first round picks in 03 and none in 04.

Boller "cost" us a 2nd round pick.

PP

**Sports Steve** · 03-31-2007, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by duffybr

Our roster has very little room for new players.
Several of our picks our going to wind up on the practice squad or playing for cleveland.
This year, and maybe next, the later draft picks aree expendable, in part because we are getting so many comp picks. Why would oz keep every draft pick this and next year knowing we do not have roster spots or cap space to keep the players. The way I see it we traded and got mcgahee in exchange for guys we would have cut or who would have been stolen off the practice squad by cleveland.

Players in the 4th round won't cost you as much to sign. AD Thomas came in the later rounds. This is were OZZIE has always been a real star.