Since taking over as the Baltimore Ravens’ general manager in 2019, Eric DeCosta has established himself as one of the most calculated and forward-thinking executives in the NFL. Inheriting the reins from Ozzie Newsome—a Hall of Fame tight end and a Hall of Fame-level front office architect—was never going to be easy. But DeCosta, Newsome’s longtime understudy, has carved out his own legacy by mastering the NFL Draft process through a blend of data analytics, meticulous scouting, and philosophical conviction.
As DeCosta himself often says, “The draft is our lifeblood.” That sentiment runs through every facet of the Ravens’ team-building operation, and nowhere is his strategic brilliance more evident than during the three-day marathon that shapes franchises for years to come.
The Ravens have long preached a “best player available” (BPA) philosophy, a tradition that dates back to Newsome’s tenure. But DeCosta has refined that mantra to account for context.
“We’re not just taking the best player on our board blindly,” DeCosta explained in a recent pre-draft press conference. “It’s about balancing value with need. If the grades are close, we’ll lean toward the position that helps us right now or a year from now. But we’re never going to stretch and reach just because we feel we have to check a box.”
Under DeCosta, the Ravens have consistently found elite talent—like All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton (2022), explosive wideout Zay Flowers (2023), and bruising running back J.K. Dobbins (2020)—by trusting their board while factoring in future roster construction.
DeCosta is a firm believer in accumulating draft picks, seeing them as lottery tickets with exponential long-term value. He often refers to them as “currency,” and that mindset has shaped Baltimore’s frequent trade-down strategy.
“You give yourself more swings, more chances to find that difference-maker,” he said. “I’d rather have three fourth-rounders than one late third-rounder in a lot of cases.”
The philosophy paid off in 2020, when Baltimore traded back multiple times and still landed key contributors like linebacker Malik Harrison and offensive lineman Tyre Phillips. DeCosta views volume as protection against the draft’s inherent unpredictability—where even the best scouting departments hit on only about half of their selections.
Another aspect of DeCosta’s draft strategy lies in his appreciation of the NFL’s compensatory pick formula. The Ravens are perennial leaders in this area, often letting aging veterans walk in free agency in exchange for future third- or fourth-round picks.
It’s no accident.
“We’re strategic about it,” DeCosta admitted. “We understand how the formula works, and we build our offseason decisions around it. Sometimes it’s painful to lose good players, but if you get an extra Day 2 pick, that can be another starter or Pro Bowler in a couple of years.”
In 2021, Baltimore famously netted two fourth-round compensatory picks after the departure of linebacker C.J. Mosley and wide receiver John Brown—turning one into eventual starter Ben Bredeson (later traded) and using the other to maneuver for higher-value players.
DeCosta has integrated analytics more deeply into the Ravens’ draft process than ever before. While traditional scouting remains the backbone, the front office supplements evaluations with predictive models, athletic score metrics, and historical comparisons.
“We believe in layering data on top of film,” DeCosta said. “It’s about reducing risk. If a guy’s production and testing numbers align with historical success profiles, that gives us more confidence.”
For example, Baltimore targets offensive linemen with specific arm length and agility metrics—parameters tied to past Pro Bowlers. Likewise, the team uses age-adjusted production models for receivers and pass rushers, rewarding breakout performers who dominate at younger ages.
This method helped the Ravens identify sleeper picks like tight end Isaiah Likely (2022, fourth round) and offensive tackle Daniel Faalele (2022, fourth round), who met key thresholds in both performance and athleticism.
Perhaps no part of DeCosta’s strategy is more rigorous than the process of stacking the Ravens’ draft board. Months of scouting culminate in marathon meetings where scouts, coaches, and executives debate every prospect’s value.
“We spend a ridiculous amount of time on it,” DeCosta said. “That board is sacred. We want to make sure when it’s our turn to pick, we trust it implicitly.”
The Ravens organize their board horizontally (by round grade) and vertically (by position) and assign final grades only after watching every snap, talking to college coaches, and consulting character reports. The process is democratic but decisive—once the grades are set, they aren’t altered on draft day.
“We don’t want to be making decisions under pressure,” he added. “The hay is in the barn.”
One of DeCosta’s subtler strategies involves drafting not just for the present, but with the future in mind. He often selects players who may not start right away but are projected to replace veterans down the road.
“You always have to be looking a year or two ahead,” he explained. “By the time a rookie is fully ready, you might have a hole to fill. That’s how you sustain success.”
That thinking led to the selection of Odafe Oweh in 2021 despite his rawness, as Baltimore anticipated losing edge rushers to free agency. Similarly, the drafting of safety Geno Stone (2020, seventh round) turned out to be critical when the team needed affordable depth following roster turnover.
While talent is the top priority, DeCosta is adamant that character cannot be overlooked.
“We want Ravens,” he said. “Guys who love football, who are coachable, tough, and wired the right way. If there’s a red flag, we need to understand it completely—or we move on.”
The Ravens invest heavily in psychological evaluations, background checks, and interviews. DeCosta leans on the team’s “Red Star” system, inherited from Newsome, which highlights prospects with elite intangibles.
One such Red Star was linebacker Patrick Queen, who has blossomed into a tone-setting defender and vocal leader. Another was tight end Mark Andrews, who exemplifies professionalism on and off the field.
A hallmark of DeCosta’s tenure is his close alignment with head coach John Harbaugh. Unlike some NFL teams where the front office and coaching staff operate in silos, the Ravens prioritize synergy.
“Eric and I are in constant communication,” Harbaugh said. “He knows what we need. I trust him, and he trusts us to coach up whoever he brings in.”
DeCosta echoes that sentiment. “It’s not just about picking good players—it’s about picking players that fit what we do.”
That cohesion has created a smooth pipeline from draft room to locker room, ensuring that rookies are not only talented but also scheme fits who contribute quickly.
Draft day chaos is inevitable. Boards get upended, trade offers flood in, and a target can vanish a pick before your turn. But DeCosta has proven to be unshakable under pressure.
“You can’t panic,” he said. “You stay true to your board, trust the work you’ve done, and adapt when needed.”
In 2022, when the Ravens traded wideout Marquise Brown during the draft, DeCosta seamlessly pivoted, acquiring the pick that became center Tyler Linderbaum—now a core piece of the offensive line. That kind of poise and adaptability is what separates elite GMs from the rest.
Since assuming GM duties, DeCosta’s drafts have consistently yielded production:
- 2019: Marquise Brown, Jaylon Ferguson, Justice Hill
- 2020: Patrick Queen, J.K. Dobbins, Malik Harrison
- 2021: Odafe Oweh, Rashod Bateman, Brandon Stephens
- 2022: Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Travis Jones
- 2023: Zay Flowers, Trenton Simpson
Not every pick has been a home run, but few teams extract more value from each draft class. The Ravens’ reputation as a draft-savvy organization remains intact under DeCosta’s stewardship.
Eric DeCosta’s approach to the NFL Draft is a masterclass in preparation, strategy, and vision. He honors the franchise’s legacy while pushing it forward, balancing analytics with gut instincts, volume with value, and short-term needs with long-term planning.
“I love the draft,” DeCosta said. “It’s our chance to build something lasting—to find the next great Raven.”
With his process-driven philosophy, Baltimore’s draft room remains one of the sharpest in the league. As long as DeCosta is running the show, expect the Ravens to keep turning picks into pillars—and strategy into sustained success.
