Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta revealed Thursday that the team engaged in last-minute talks to trade down from the No. 14 pick in the first round of this year’s draft — a deal that nearly sent them back to the late teens but fell apart when the other club changed course.
DeCosta, speaking on “The Lounge” podcast, said he had discussed a move that would have taken the Ravens from No. 14 to No. 17 and that the furthest he was willing to go was to 17. According to reporting by The Athletic’s Mike Silver, the would-be trade included a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft and another fourth-rounder in 2027 as compensation. DeCosta declined to name the other team during his appearance.
Local and national pundits have tried to fill that blank. Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit wrote that the Detroit Lions — who owned the 17th pick on draft night — were the most likely suitors who backed out. Reisman pointed to DeCosta’s own comment about being kept “in the teens,” the Lions’ lack of a third-round pick to offer as part of trade compensation, and the timing of a surprise pick immediately before Baltimore as clues pointing to Detroit.
Related Recipes
NBC/Peacock Sets Three-Night NBA Conference Semifinals Schedule for May 9–11: Pistons-Cavaliers, Spurs-Timberwolves
Trevor Story Stays Confident as Red Sox Seek Offensive Spark Amid Slump
Dolphins Signal Long-Term Plan With De’Von Achane Extension Amid Offseason Rebuild
Cavaliers Healthy for Game 5 as Pistons Face Injury Questions in Eastern Conference Semifinals
Reisman and others argue the Los Angeles Rams’ shock selection of quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13 may have altered Detroit’s calculus. Because the Rams selected just ahead of the Ravens, Reisman suggested, the Lions could no longer be confident a player they coveted — ultimately Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller, who was taken at No. 17 — would still be available at 17. Lions general manager Brad Holmes has publicly acknowledged that draft-night developments can quickly change a team’s trade interests, a factor Reisman cited as the likely reason the agreement unraveled.
While the Ravens missed the chance to net two extra mid-round selections, they did not leave the first round empty-handed. Baltimore chose Penn State guard Vega Ioane at No. 14, a player DeCosta later called his favorite prospect in the draft. DeCosta framed the decision as a clear preference for adding an interior lineman he valued highly rather than chasing extra draft capital.
Trending Now
Demi Moore Wows in Purple Gucci Gown as She Joins Cannes Jury
NBC/Peacock Sets Three-Night NBA Conference Semifinals Schedule for May 9–11: Pistons-Cavaliers, Spurs-Timberwolves
100% Chance of a Super El Niño This Summer, With a Rapid La Niña Return in 2027
Trevor Story Stays Confident as Red Sox Seek Offensive Spark Amid Slump
The episode offers a window into the fluid, high-stakes negotiations that characterize the first round, where a single unexpected pick can ripple through multiple teams’ plans. For Baltimore, the near-trade underscores the front office’s willingness to explore moving down for additional assets while also signaling that, when a player they covet is available, they will hold firm to secure him.
Continue Reading
