In an unprecedented measure, the Los Angeles Rams traded up to the top spot in the 2016 NFL Draft on Thursday, sending their first-round selections in 2016 and ’17 along with this year’s 43rd. 45th and 76th overall picks to the Tennessee Titans in order to do so. The deal, which also nets LA two Day 3 selections, puts the team in prime position to land whichever quarterback they deem the best in the class.

As an additional side effect, the trade shakes up the top of the draft, changing the landscape for those picking directly behind them, including the Baltimore Ravens.

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A week ago, the Ravens probably approached this draft with a few scenarios in mind. General manager Ozzie Newsome could either stay at No. 6 overall and grab one of top prospects on the board (though likely not one of the truly elite prospects such as Florida State’s Jalen Ramsey or UCLA’s Myles Jack) or seek out a trade partner willing to move into their spot to jump ahead of the San Francisco 49ers for a quarterback. With the Rams all but guaranteed to take North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz or Cal’s Jared Goff with the first pick, Baltimore may find itself without either option.

As it stands, the Cleveland Browns own the No. 2 pick and seem likely to take whichever quarterback the Rams pass over. In such a scenario, the leverage Newsome could have wielded in a deal for a QB-hungry team no longer exists. Conversely, with Wentz and Goff off the board — two players Baltimore would not have considered — a truly elite prospect could slip to No. 6.

The draft could play out as follows. The San Diego Chargers snag Ramsey as most expected them to do prior to Thursday’s trade with the Dallas Cowboys taking Ohio State edge rusher Joey Bosa one pick later. At that point, either Jack or Ole Miss’ Laremy Tunsil has to fall to the Ravens, either of which would send them running to the podium at the first available opportunity.

As discussed on this week’s edition of The Bank, Baltimore Sports & Life’s new Ravens podcast, Newsome probably favors players capable of making an early impact rather than projects with high ceilings. Tunsil could start at left tackle on Day 1 and allow the team to either use Eugene Monroe as a high-end backup or move on entirely to save cap space. As for Jack, he could form one of the most promising and fearsome off-the-ball linebacker duos with C.J. Mosley. While some may favor one over the other, few would argue against whichever prospect ends up in Baltimore.

And as the Ravens have demonstrated in the past, they rarely miss on top-15 picks presented with those opportunities. Their last such selection, 2006’s Haloti Ngata, anchored one of the best defensive line’s in football for roughly a decade. Before that, the team landed Terrell Suggs at No. 10 in 2003 and Jamal Lewis at No. 5 in 2000. Newsome and his staff have demonstrated an uncanny ability to avoid mistakes when picking at the very top of the first round, and they appear primed to add another field-tilter this year. While that would have likely played out positively for the Ravens before the Thursday’s blockbuster trade, the deal only serves to help them.

Jason B. Hirschhorn
Jason B. Hirschhorn

Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. He has bylines at NFL.com, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and other outlets.

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