Who said it was?
How often do the Ravens really go pure BPA? When a real talent we weren't expecting to be available drops, like Hamilton, we do, of course but otherwise, our first pick matches up with our biggest need more drafts than not.
DeCosta talks about how need and positional value factor into the Ravens board. I think going pure BPA is something only teams with great or terrible rosters can go into the draft planning to do.
Right, but BPA isn't really "regardless of position". Never has been.
No team is ever going into any draft with only one positional need. The Ravens have at least 3-4 positional needs that I would argue are largely interchangeable with each other at this point.
I think if there's a run on OTs, we'll either sit pat and take somebody else, or move out of the first round entirely. I think any OT they take in the first round they're going to want some indication they think that player can be a long term LT. Otherwise, I think they're extremely confident they can get a RT on day 2 or even day 3. Especially in this class.
Plus, my opinion... Tackle isn't the critical need people think it is in the short term. Long term its a huge need, but we literally were the #1 seed last year with Stanley, Moses, Mekari and Faalele. Three of those guys are back. I get we'd like to upgrade those spots, but the sky isn't falling if we don't.
Offensive Tackle, Pass Rusher, Cornerback. I think we could take any of those three in the first round and it would make perfect sense. WR a distant fourth, for me.