NFL draft position-by-position breakdown: Quarterbacks

The Ravens' insistence on taking the best player rather than targeting their biggest need adds to the shroud of mystery that annually surrounds the organization heading into the NFL draft.

While draft pundits have been consistent in projecting the Ravens to use their 26th overall pick on either a wide receiver or a cornerback, general manager Ozzie Newsome has shown that he's not afraid to do the unexpected.


It would be foolish to dismiss the possibility that Newsome will use the pick to further bolster a position of perceived strength or even trade it to add to the team's middle-round draft haul.

Until April 30, the first round of the 2015 NFL draft, The Baltimore Sun will examine the Ravens' depth at each position, the potential of them adding to that spot early in the draft and some of the players who they could target.

The Ravens will enter the three-day draft with 10 picks: one in each of the first, second, third and sixth rounds, and three each in the fourth and fifth rounds.

Today, we'll examine quarterbacks:

Current quarterbacks under contract: Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub, Keith Wenning, Bryn Renner

Chances that the Ravens draft a quarterback in first three rounds: None. The Ravens signed Schaub to replace Tyrod Taylor, Flacco's longtime backup who departed in free agency to the Buffalo Bills.

They also are still hopeful that Wenning, who spent last season on the practice squad after being picked in the sixth round in 2014, will eventually develop into a reliable backup.

If one of the second-tier quarterbacks that they like falls far enough in the draft, the Ravens could be tempted. However, they have far too many needs to take a flier on a quarterback before the late rounds.

Possibly on Ravens' radar: Anthony Boone (Duke), Shane Carden (East Carolina), Blake Sims (Alabama)

Outlook: As always at this time of year, the bigger question for the Ravens is not whether they'll draft a quarterback, but whether they plan to carry three on their 53-man roster. They haven't kept three since 2009.

That decision will ultimately depend on how Schaub looks in training camp and whether team officials believe that the 33-year old can be counted on after two poor seasons. Either way, the Ravens aren't in the market for a quarterback and any they bring in over the next couple of months will probably be for the purpose of having an extra arm around for the various summer workouts.

Flacco is just 30 years old and he's never missed a game in his NFL career. His production and durability have made drafting and developing another signal caller an afterthought in recent years. That will eventually change, but for now, the Ravens are happy they don't have to join the lengthy list of teams searching for a franchise quarterback.