(S10) - PT 1 - New Faces

[ItsJustBarry]

Baltimore concluded the S10 draft by taking safeties in consecutive 2nd round picks. With their defense declining rapidly, they drafted while looking towards the future. Their optimism that their offense can be competitive for at least another couple seasons left them the ability to draft a pure position of need times two.

First up, we have Steven Oats out of Penn State. Being Hawks General Manager’s alma mater, it’s no surprise Oats was high on the draft board. While he didn’t flash exceptional speed at the combine, his punishing hitting power was stunning to watch. Although he’ll need some time to develop and catch up to the speed of the NSFL game, He’s a bright spot in the future of Baltimore.

Next up, the pick that had the majority of experts scratching their heads. Out of Michigan, safety Damien Arnold. Unlike most, I had Arnold 3rd on my draft board for defensive backs. I was excited to see he was still available late in the 2nd round and Baltimore was afforded the opportunity to draft a skill player while also filling a position of need. With Baltimore’s secondary aging rapidly, I would expect to see Arnold step up in a big way soon.