Tag: Eric DeCosta

Mar 1, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano (OL22) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Ravens giddy over potential options with No. 14 pick

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Eric DeCosta and the Ravens are feeling a renewed sense of excitement around their second life with the No. 14 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The first-rounder was part of the agreement in place with the Raiders that would’ve sent pass rusher Maxx Crosby to Baltimore and the 14th pick to Las Vegas in a multi-pick trade voided by DeCosta. The Ravens cited concerns over Crosby’s physical, and they quickly moved to sign former New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson.

The Ravens are not “rebuilding” from DeCosta’s vantage point but have a new head coach for the first time 19 years and have plenty of prominent players to replace. Center Tyler Linderbaum signed a massive contract with the Raiders, and former coach John Harbaugh lured free agent tight end Isaiah Likely to New York to play for the Giants.

“We recognize the fact that we want to add some additional talent on the offensive and defensive line, certainly, but we’ve also got a bunch of other positions that we have to address as well,” DeCosta said.

DeCosta said he sees a slight drop in talent after the middle of the first round, putting the Ravens in position to stay put and find a blue-chip player or use the asset to move back and accumulate additional selections. New head coach Jesse Minter said he has found players who could be available as late as the sixth round who fit needs and scheme for Baltimore.

“There’s a lot of talent on both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Minter said. “Any good football team, it’s always been that way, where you’re good on the line of scrimmage. No matter if you’re coming off a year when you’re the best offensive line or the best defensive line, I think you’re always looking to keep those areas as a strength.”

DeCosta didn’t deny the Ravens are high on multiple tight ends in the draft. How good? The GM said the Ravens might draft more than one. Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq is similar to Likely and projects as a top-20 pick. If an elite offensive lineman falls into the lap of the Ravens, DeCosta sounds inclined to add one with multiple interior line spots open entering the 2026 season. Utah’s Spencer Fano has met with the team multiple times.

“I think Fano can play wherever you want him to play,” DeCosta said. “He can play tackle, he can play guard. He’s a good athlete, tough. He’s a good player.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) reacts after tips a Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) pass during the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Ravens’ Kyle Hamilton inks extension, becomes NFL’s top-paid safety

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens All-Pro Kyle Hamilton signed a four-year contract extension that makes him the highest-paid safety in NFL history, general manager Eric DeCosta announced Wednesday.

While DeCosta did not reveal the sum total, multiple media outlets reported that it’s worth $100.4 million with $82 million guaranteed. The $25.1 million average annual value eclipses the $21.25 million pocketed by Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph.

“We started really kind of engaging with Kyle and his group just before we broke on vacation,” DeCosta said. “But I would say that talks started to heat up about three weeks ago. Appreciate the dialogue that we had with those guys. I think the deal really does speak to how we feel about Kyle — highest-paid safety in the NFL.

“That’s a responsibility that we don’t take lightly. We’ve had a few players over the years become the highest paid at their position. And I think when you are the highest paid, that’s an important distinction. And I think Kyle has proven that he’s going to carry that very well, and we expect him to continue to be an impact player in our defense for years to come.”

The Ravens picked up Hamilton’s fifth-year option on April 30.

Hamilton, 24, was the No. 14 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 48 games (36 starts) in the regular season, with 250 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions (one for a TD) and four forced fumbles.

He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

“Well deserved, as you all know,” DeCosta said. “Phenomenal player, phenomenal person. A great leader. I’m very, very proud of Kyle. Everything he brings to the community, on and off the field, his family. We think this really recognizes his impact on our team and in the community.”

–Field Level Media

East Rutherford, NJ -- December 15, 2024 -- Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens and Tyrone Tracy Jr. of the Giants in the first half. The Baltimore Ravens came to MetLife Stadium to play the New York Giants.

Ravens pick up option of Kyle Hamilton, decline Tyler Linderbaum

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Baltimore Ravens picked up the fifth-year option on All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton while declining the same commitment to offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum on Wednesday.

General manager Eric DeCosta said he intends for the 2022 first-round picks to continue to wear a Ravens uniform for years to come.

“We are exercising the fifth-year option for Kyle Hamilton with the goal of working toward a multi-year contract extension,” DeCosta said in a team statement.

“While we will not apply the fifth-year option to Tyler Linderbaum, it is our intention for him remain a Raven long term.”

Hamilton, 24, was the No. 14 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has appeared in 48 games (35 starts) in the regular season, with 250 tackles, seven sacks, five interceptions (one for a TD), four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

He was a first-team All-Pro in 2023 and is a two-time Pro Bowl selection. In 2026, he will earn $18.6 million.

Linderbaum, 25, was take 11 picks after Hamilton in the same draft. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, he has played in 49 regular-season games (all starts) over three years.

Had the Ravens picked up his option, he would have been paid $23.4 million in 2026. Instead, he will play out the final season of four-year, $13.23 million rookie deal as DeCosta hopes to negotiate an extension.

A May 1 deadline (Thursday) is in place for teams to exercise the fifth-year option for 2022 first-round draft selections.

–Field Level Media

Jan 11, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) in the second quarter in an AFC wild card game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

GM non-committal on Mark Andrews’ future with Ravens

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Although Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta spoke glowingly about Mark Andrews on Tuesday, he wasn’t ready to commit to having the veteran tight end on the roster this season.

Andrews, 29, is entering the final season of his four-year, $56 million contract, however the Ravens could save $11 million against the cap by releasing or trading him.

“I never know what’s going to happen, and I would never want to say this or that, but I can tell you this: Mark Andrews is a warrior, and he’s played his butt off for us, and his competitiveness, his talent, his attitude, his leadership is so valued here,” DeCosta said. “He’s a great player, and we’re in the business of keeping as many great players as we can, so there’s always a lot of unpredictability with the draft. You just never know.”

Andrews has spent his entire career with the Ravens, however his last game was a crushing one. He dropped a pass on a two-point conversion with 1:33 remaining in the fourth quarter that would have tied the AFC divisional round game against the Buffalo Bills.

Andrews, an All-Pro who has spent seven seasons with the Ravens, finished the game with five receptions on seven targets for 61 yards. He also lost a fumble in the fourth quarter that the Bills recovered and turned into three points. That was just his second career lost fumble.

Andrews recorded 55 catches for 673 yards with a team-high 11 touchdowns in 17 games last season.

Fellow tight end Isaiah Likely, 24, set career highs last season in receptions (42), receiving yards (477) and touchdowns (six).

–Field Level Media

Nov 20, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) spikes the ball after running for a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens GM punts Lamar Jackson questions

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta punted questions about the status of franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson, who recently requested a trade in an ongoing stalemate with Baltimore that could stretch into the 2023 season.

DeCosta said he would focus on “draft questions” at a press conference Wednesday, during which media was rerouted when team public relations officials interrupted a question about Jackson to enforce the “draft only” line of questioning.

Asked if the Ravens would approach the draft differently in light of Jackson’s trade request, DeCosta said, “I don’t think we really are.”

No contract matter in the NFL currently carries as much weight or drama as Jackson’s. He serves as his own agent and used social media to clap back at critics who pointed to the number of conversations and intricate peripheral details an agent would be handling during this time for a player.

Jackson said he was offered a three-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $131 million by the Ravens, implying he’s doing just fine without a paid rep handling contract talks.

By using the non-exclusive franchise tag, the Ravens left open the possibility other teams could sign Jackson to an offer sheet. Baltimore would have the opportunity to match any offer, but no team has taken the first step to potentially pry Jackson away from the Ravens.

One player the Ravens are known to appreciate in the draft is former Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson. Later this week, DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh will host Richardson in what will be the third known meeting between the projected first-round pick and the Ravens.

Harbaugh said on March 27 at the NFL owners meetings the Ravens were committed to Jackson. He stepped back, at least partially, on his “200 percent” confidence rating that Jackson would be with the Ravens this season.

“It’s an ongoing process. I’m following it very closely. I’m looking forward to a resolution. I’m thinking about Lamar all the time, thinking about him as our quarterback. We’re building our offense around that idea,” he said in Phoenix.

Richardson is not a polished passer in the pocket but has a strong throwing arm. He also ran a 4.4 40-yard dash at 244 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) speaks with the media after day one of training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Jessica Rapfogel-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens WR Rashod Bateman to GM: ‘Stop pointing the finger at us’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman blasted general manager Eric DeCosta’s self-assessment that he hasn’t fared well at the position in recent drafts.

“If I had an answer, that would probably mean I would have some better receivers. … We’re gonna keep swinging,” DeCosta said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

“There have been some guys that have been successful players for us that were draft picks. We’ve never really hit on that All-Pro type of guy, which is disappointing, but it’s not for a lack of effort. … It’s one of those anomalies that I really can’t explain, other than to say that we’re not going to stop trying.”

That answer didn’t sit well with Bateman, who took to Twitter on Thursday before later deleting the tweet.

“How bout you play to your player’s strength and & stop pointing the finger at us and #8 (quarterback Lamar Jackson) … blame the one you let do this … we take heat 24/7,” Bateman wrote. “And keep us healthy … care about US & see what happen..ain’t no promises tho … tired of y’all lyin and capn on players for no reason.”

Injuries have played a role in the first two NFL seasons for Bateman, who was selected by the Ravens with the 27th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. He had 46 catches for 515 yards and one touchdown in 12 games during his rookie season, and 15 receptions for 285 yards and two scores in 2022.

Tight end Mark Andrews led the Ravens in catches (73), receiving yards (847) and touchdown receptions (five) last season. Demarcus Robinson led the team’s wide receivers in catches (48) and receiving yards (458), while Devin Duvernay had three touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops back to pass against the Buffalo Bills during the first quarter of an AFC Divisional Round game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens GM: Lamar talks will not be influenced by Dak’s deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2019; Denver, CO, USA; Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long (75) in the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said Tuesday that he isn’t going to let one deal affect another.

DeCosta’s comments came one day after Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott signed a four-year, $160 million contract. That deal reportedly included $126 million guaranteed.

DeCosta’s comments also come with 2019 NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson looking for a lucrative long-term deal of his own.

“If you go to the Bentley dealership or the Range Rover dealership, you know what the cars are going to cost. You’re not going to get much of a discount,” DeCosta said. “They all cost about the same and you go in there with the idea that you’re either going to buy the car or you’re not going to buy the car.

“… In the end, they’re all very big contracts. They’re outstanding players. They’re quarterback deals. They’re marquee players and you know you’re going to pay a lot, but you’re going to get a lot in return.”

DeCosta admitted that he’s in no race to get the deal done with the 24-year-old Jackson, who is entering the final season of his four-year, $9.47 million rookie contract. Jackson is slated to make $1.771 million in 2021.

“Every negotiation is different. Every player is different. Every GM is different,” DeCosta said. “We have a strategy and we have a relationship. Lamar has played three years, and you know what, he’s a good player. We really feel good about him. I think he really feels good about us. It’s up to us to get a deal done.”

Jackson has appeared in 46 regular-season games with the Ravens and is 30-7 as a starter. He’s thrown for 7,085 yards with 68 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. He’s also had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons and has 19 touchdowns on the ground.

In the playoffs, he is 1-3 as a starter, and his completion percentage is just 55.9 percent compared to 64 percent in the regular season. He has thrown three touchdown passes and five interceptions in the playoffs.

–Field Level Media