Ravens GM Eric Decosta On Re-signing Lamar Jackson, Roster Revamp & Draft Strategy

Baltimore Ravens GM Eric Decosta joins Adam Breneman on today's new episode of Next Up. In this episode, Eric Decosta opens up about his long journey becoming the Baltimore Ravens General Manager. Eric reveals the pivotal moment that landed him his first break in the sports industry, how patience has served him throughout his 28 years with the Ravens, and how he's quickly made a name for himself as one of the top executives in the NFL. Eric also discusses how he approached contract negotiations with Lamar Jackson, how he ultimately resigned the MVP-caliber QB, his plans to revamp the Ravens' roster, his draft strategy, and more.
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Next Up is hosted by Adam Breneman and is presented by The Mercury Podcast Network. On Next Up, Adam Breneman sits down with the biggest names in sports and lets them tell their stories, unfiltered. Adam is a former All-American and Penn State alum, media personality, college football analyst for ESPN, and co-founder of Mercury (@TheCollegeSportsCo).
TIME STAMPS
00:00 - Intro
01:32 - Catching
01:52 - Most Pivotal Moment
04:51 - Early Career
07:30 - Evaluating High Performers
09:17 - Inspiration to Become a GM
11:27 - Staying in Baltimore
15:10 - Climbing the Corporate Ladder
19:51 - Managing the Salary Cap
22:30 - Building for the Future vs. Winning Now
27:41 - Analytics vs. Intuition
32:14 - Draft Day Strategy
38:39 - High Performers
39:47 - Resigning Lamar Jackson
43:21 - Evaluating Players
46:05 - Navigating Relationships as a GM
48:28 - Other GM’s
50:37 - Cutting Players
53:40 - Managing Family Life
#ravens #baltimoreravens #NFL #ravensflock #nflfootball #podcast

[@dbennett2o14]

This was awesome.... he dropped gems that’ll last forever

[@piercechatman1773]

It’s very rare that we see a current GM interview for an hour. This interview was excellent thank you for sharing.

[@andrewfung9340]

Especially during draft season right now

[@marquisebryant5474]

No matter how the team makes me feel at times, there is no doubt the Ravens are made up of class individuals from the top down!

[@amaysharma9846]

‘How the team makes me feel at times’, brother I know the times you’re talking about and your pain is my pain 😂

[@user-dx1qd7tx1k]

Thank you for your honesty and knowledge and for holding yourself accountable

[@anthonysale4915]

Kenny Young was the ice cream thrower btw.

[@EyeofhorusTaurus]

😂😂😂

[@eadeskeith3]

🤦🏽‍♂️😂😂😂

[@jeremiahw1369]

For a second, I thought he was talking about Orlando, but he all but said Kenny is an idiot. Hilarious

[@aBilly95]

That's tough 😅

[@neilkaplan1433]

swinging gate

[@TheChosenJuan.]

I respect his loyalty, humbleness, & Insights. Super Interesting interview.

[@dustinlaratonda778]

As An ArmChair GM N Cowboys Draft Expert this was GREAT INTERVIEW!!! Well Done Men! 🫡 on to 2024 Draft!!! 👍🏽👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@twiz_42]

EDC is the best GM in any sport.

[@J27M]

Thank you for this great interview and thank you to EDC. This only made Me respect him and like him even more. I hope him and Lamar have learnt from their negotiations that ish sounded tough.

[@joanneshearer5407]

Great interview and EDC is such an asset to our Ravens!

[@jeremiahw1369]

Great interview. Very insightful.

[@collinmasterson4583]

Awesome interview

[@SkolWill1432]

This is some great stuff. I'm an inspiring GM and also feel I'm a scout guy, and the financial side kind of worries me too. I'd like to see you talk to other GM's/scouts about how they made it also. Good stuff though!

[@postverifiedlifestyle]

One of the best in the business.

[@GunnarHolbrook]

As a Ravens fan I believe we have the best GM not just in the game, but in all sports. I'd trust EDC with my savings

[@sebastianiturrino6582]

He learned from the GOAT himself ❤ I have all the faith he won't always make flashy or bold moves, he almost always makes great moves and if not he adjusts better than anyone I feel

[@adamwhittington8547]

Watch EDC cook in the draft

[@alusinekoroma7090]

I would love if the Ravens double dip in the first round. Currently doing a mock draft where I pickup Nate Wiggins and AD Mitchel at 30-31. That would be Magical!

[@Ocase4]

Love this! 😈

[@tonjabowman7208]

EDC said we do things like the eagles. No, we don't. Do you see the moves they,ve made the last two seasons. They will bring in talent to really get to the superbowl. You tried to give your 2 time MVP , Michael Gallup. You could have at least gone for Tyler Boyde . Your draft picks develop when its the contract is up , then they go and make other teams great .

[@flowknows4530]

Tonya why do you always hate on the FO. They've earned the leagues respect this year with the movement of coaches and depth players. And even after an insightful interview like this, you take fault with an Eagles comment 😂😂 just say you don't like them from now on. We get it

[@tonjabowman7208]

@flowknows4530 IM not gonna say i don't like them. What did i say that made you say that . I gave my opinion. But i feel like we could fill a couple of spots in before the draft . Depending on so many rookies when we were so close to the superbowl seems risky to me. We are not aggressive like the eagles as far as team building. I don't want us to go out and get that many players , but a couple more vets , would allow us to get best player available, which gives you a better chance at getting elite playmakers like kyle Hamilton. What did i say that was wrong. You can be the go along, get along, gang if you choose too. I am gonna express my opinion , and I like the FO .

[@nathanwells9136]

Spots could be filled already but are post June 1st signings 🤞

[@xBlake]

We really need to get rid of the Salary Cap. It doesn’t help small teams retain players they’ve developed, it just makes it equally difficult for every team. GMs can’t pay players what their worth and stay competitive.

[@jazmirsmith2697]

can’t lie don’t always agree with edc but he definitely that guy no doubt

[@sebastianiturrino6582]

I honestly don't know why, he's basically hasn't missed since 2022 season. That off season, last season and this off-season he almost hasn't missed.

[@zanehubbard]

Best in the business

[@CambriaPelletier6090]

Thank you! This was absolutely fascinating!! For all who watched the entire video- Guess who the ice cream eater was - - - - - ANSWER: Kenny Young! EDC traded Kenny Young for Marcus Peters. And MP was still a great player. I'm not sure what happened when he got to the Raiders.

[@TeaT1M3]

I need to know who the player was with the ice cream cone🤣🤣😭

[@Beaumont99]

Kenny Young

[@antoniowilliams9440]

Right. The trade for Marcus 'MP Juiceman' Peters.@@Beaumont99

[@jarednetcliff7985]

Penn State 👀👀👀👀= Chop Robinson

[@wilfredogonzales7394]

Bro I was literally thinking that 😂😂😂 EDC always cooking under the scene

[@jarednetcliff7985]

And we just lost Clowny under the radar sneaky move ​@wilfredogonzales7394

[@alusinekoroma7090]

Chop is a really disruptive player. But I don’t like his lack of nuance and production. I think Trice, Eliss, and possibly Kamara are better players.

[@alusinekoroma7090]

I would actually prefer the other Robinson from Missouri

[@rasmus5341]

So judging by this episode, Cleveland Browns' signing of Watson & Jeudy must be terrible? What a surprise

[@imranshahid4567]

Tell him to sign Isaiah Simmons 😊

[@mindme9662]

Trenton Simpson better

[@LUCK0426]

Yeah he a better PQ IMO... his teams didn't know how use him I swear thy didn't I was confused look at his game 😢

[@tdogx9545]

Simmons is a Saftey but can be moved to LB. Simpson is a LB year 2 and still on a rookie deal

[@LUCK0426]

@@tdogx9545 he's another Kyle Hamilton he don't have a position plus he can play everywhere fr

[@tdogx9545]

​@user-cq5pt3mu9x true, but there is currently a need at MLB. Simpson can fill it. His speed allows him to play Saftey as well. So similar concept difference is money. It could be spent at a position of need.

[@Twat_Swat22]

Crazy how much you can hear Ozzie in his message on how to operate the team s/o to Mr. chef aka EDC dude is a growing into a LEGEND of his own hopefully he can get some rings along the way to solidify his legacy

[@thinkfastzYT]

BENS DAD I LOFVE u

[@wastingperfectfoodburen5652]

Biscotti how is your GM allowed to publicly make that statement about a former player without any penalty????

[@EyeofhorusTaurus]

What was bad about it he never liked the draft pick said he had empathy for him and it went away immediately after he threw a ice cream cone in the trash and made a mess what’s the problem

[@leonmartinez5752]

One of my biggest things about the playoffs was why in the hell did they let Taylor Swift be on every catch of Kelsey every time he caught the ball they were showing her clapping and every time she continued doing her witch chanting and the Ravens when they caught the ball or did something nothing was ever shown that chick was showing more times than the coach of the Ravens or of any of the Chiefs players what makes you wonder what the hell's going on anymore in sports

[@leonmartinez5752]

Well pick up Emmanuel ogbah is a must because losing clowney was a big blow but you still need somebody that can get to the quarterback because you guys didn't touch mahomes in the championship and you guys have to figure that out or maybe it's just because it's rigged before the season starts.

[@_demitri]

*Re-signing

[@He_sees_all]

This guy sucks at a Gm he overpays players yet doesn’t fix the receiver problem that this team has year in and year out

[@mindme9662]

the receivers were open in the chiefs game but Lamar couldn't hit them, next

[@mindme9662]

@richgeez3187 Yes Bateman was open, last year stats show he got the most separation in the nfl, obj was open , on the drive where Zay fumbled and he caught that deep ball- it was underthrown - if he saw Zay earlier and led him it could've been walk in touchdown

[@mindme9662]

@richgeez3187 watch the game film from the last game bate is running wide, all year he gets open but Lamar doesn't give him chances the receivers were not the problem

[@mindme9662]

I'm not kidding you can't put links in youtube comments but look it up bateman literally was among the top Wrs in separation

[@mindme9662]

@richgeez3187 Maybe Lamar isn't hitting him in stride, throwing him open, anticipation, etc

[@wastingperfectfoodburen5652]

EDC made a very dumb statement about a former player where is the outrage?

[@EyeofhorusTaurus]

Wasn’t dumb the person themselves was

[@LeonGreen-uf2nc]

I think you should SALE the team and get out of the football business.Cause he don't know how to paste too cheap.You can't be cheap in the football NBA football.He let a lot of people go on a dick inside

[@cjstats1514]

Sail? Not only is he not the owner. So he can't sell it. He's one of the best GMs in the league. They also aren't cheap. They spend to the cap limit every year v

[@LeonGreen-uf2nc]

@@cjstats1514 Not not letting people go like that. Not letting people go like that. D*** going to the Super Bowl. It's not gonna be Lamar, Jackson fault, but they aint going to the Super Bowl. Gotta know what rookie they gonna bring in there. See when you're rookie. Rookie is a college player. A college player coming up to football to to the NFL look what zayflowers didrop the d*** football. They're rookies and they got some defensive players coming out of college. That's gonna get burned just like they was 2 years ago. They gotta start all over again and they don't make no sense to start all over again. If he was a if he was the best gym, they would have been won a Super Bowl so he aint the best. They're cheap. That's why I'm a Lamar Jackson fan.I was never a raven's fan always like Lamar. And I don't think they gonna have a strong offensive line to block for him again this year.Sorry to say that don't think so

[@MrTROLLEO]

Bro forgot to bring all his chromosomes today

[@LeonGreen-uf2nc]

@@MrTROLLEO I think you should sell the football team because he can't make the right decisions.He's too cheap so he gotta make sure he gives some money to donald trump cause he's a republican

[@jdubb45]

Wait... is this Kenny Young?

[@TBGMarloMike4snhs]

EDC has yet to make his most impressive move yet., Get rid of Harbaugh😤😤😤 Ravens ain't winning shit as long as he's on the sideline💯💯

[@jonathanolson6718]

man I feel you but he’s such a great leader of men tho that’s very big. The family vibe he got for the whole organization is real, this man prays with his team every game but his X’s and O’s ain’t it… we gon get one tho just cause how his players love playing for him

[@luisj8166]

😂. Harbaugh has a sb . Lamar has had top 5 teams almost yearly with nothing to show for it .

[@postverifiedlifestyle]

@@luisj8166Wtf are you talking about? lamar is by far the least supported star qb in the league other than one year when he went to the afc championship and lost to the only guy better than him. 2x mvp 3x pro bowler and an afc championship is “nothing to show for it”? Then joe burrow, josh allen, and jalen hurts all have “nothing to show for their career” as well. You sound dumb as shit Nfl fans think super bowls are the only accolade and say a player has had an unsuccessful career if they don’t have one by 27 😂 such a casual

[@postverifiedlifestyle]

@@luisj8166Also you obviously are unaware of this since you clearly don’t know much about football, but the head the ravens won the sb the players literally stopped listening to what harbaugh was saying 😂😂😂 Reported by players themselves You are an idiot Lol