As Eric DeCosta entered Day 3 of the NFL draft, he had an inventory of six or seven gamers he hoped to take with the Ravens’ first fourth-round choose (No. 113 general). The Ravens received one with vast receiver Devontez Walker. Then they received one other 17 picks later in T.J. Tampa.
The Ravens doubled up at cornerback as a result of the worth was simply too good, choosing Tampa out of Iowa State within the fourth spherical.
DeCosta mentioned the Ravens had an “open freeway” to choose one of the best gamers obtainable on Day 3 no matter place. He adopted by way of on that, getting big worth by taking a second cornerback following first-round choose Nate Wiggins.
Tampa was projected by draft analysts to be an early Day 2 choose. He was ESPN’s top-ranked participant coming into the day. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had Tampa ranked as his No. 55 general prospect within the draft. NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah had him at No. 84.
“They all the time say the draft is unpredictable,” Tampa mentioned. “There’s positively a chip on my shoulder from right here on out for all of the groups that skipped me and all of the corners that went earlier than me. I will use that as gasoline daily.”
DeCosta mentioned the Ravens would have taken Tampa a lot earlier, through the second day, had they not already chosen Wiggins.
“We see the size, we see the dimensions, we see the leaping skill [and] his skill to play the soccer,” DeCosta mentioned. “He is a tricky man. He tackles properly. We’re excited.”