Ravens GM pulls no punches on why other teams keep getting the draft wrong

Baltimore Ravens fans have grown used to seeing other teams scramble around the NFL Draft like it’s a blindfolded treasure hunt. Meanwhile, general manager Eric DeCosta sits back, stacks his picks, and watches good players fall into his lap. At this point, it’s hard to view it as anything other than a masterclass in patience and value-hunting.

And this week, Baltimore’s GM explained why that approach continues to work. Spoiler: it’s not complicated. In fact, it’s shockingly obvious.

“Teams simply don’t do any better drafting than anyone else,” DeCosta said. “They all do about the same... [Some believe the] draft is inherently sort of a luck-driven process. I don’t [fully] believe that. But there is an element of luck involved. So if you accept that premise, then you’re trading up for a player that you think is better than anybody else. Most of the time, [the other teams are] not gonna draft that player. That player is probably gonna fall to you. [And] there is no guarantee that player is gonna be better... All things being equal, the fact that no one really knows... the only rational approach is to get more at-bats, is to pick more.”

Eric DeCosta's draft philosophy is simple: Draft smart and often

This is how Baltimore keeps its roster stocked year after year. There are no wands. There are no cloaks. It’s not wizardry. It’s probability. The more picks you make, the more chances you have to find players who stick. Period. It’s not even about getting flashy. It’s about giving yourself more lottery tickets and letting your coaching staff do the rest.

Other teams obsess over moving up, burning capital to chase “their guy.” Baltimore just lets the board do its thing. Over the past two drafts, the Ravens have made 20 selections. That’s six more picks than an average team's draft (one pick per seven rounds over two drafts). That’s six extra shots at finding a Mark Andrews, a Travis Jones, or even a hidden gem like Isaiah Likely or Geno Stone.

DeCosta doubled down on that mindset:

“What we’ve seen over the last five years, everyone seems to be drafting... the same players. That’s kind of what the draft has become... [So] for me, the idea of having more picks means I have a chance of getting more [value].”

And he’s right. In 2025 alone, the Ravens walked away with 11 players, including a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate in Malaki Starks, a pass-rushing menace in Mike Green, and a wave of depth that touches every phase of the roster. Eight of those picks came on Day 3, where Baltimore routinely turns other teams’ leftovers into long-term pieces.

If the goal is sustained success, this is the blueprint. Don’t chase. Don’t guess. Just keep swinging.

Because while half the league is still trying to outsmart the board, the Ravens are outworking it — one pick at a time. So yes, other teams continue screwing it up. And DeCosta just explained why.