Ravens Get Terps OT Gaither

The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Ravens selected Terps OT Jared Gaither in the NFL Supplemental Draft today. The Ravens used the 31st selection of the 5th theoretical round, meaning they forfeit that pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. That's right, a fifth rounder for a 6-9, 324 pounds OT. Redskins and Steelers fans begin drooling now. Only one other player, a CB from Georgia Tech, was taken.
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For those of you who don't know, the NFL Supplemental Draft uses a bid system. Teams are given theoretical "picks" based on a weighted system based on the results of the prior season. The Ravens had the 31st pick of the theoretical 1st through 7th rounds. That means that any team, other than the Colts, that had bid a 5th round pick would have gotten Gaither. The supplemental draft has always been underutilized, but Bernie Kosar was selected in the 1985 version after he delayed his decision to go pro until after the regular draft so his hometown Cleveland Browns could take him in the supplemental.

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Here is what ProFootballTalk had to say about Gaither earlier in the day:

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A league source with knowledge of the evaluation of Maryland tackle Jared Gaither believes that Gaither will be selected in the fifth round.

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The source says that, if Gaither were in the April draft pool, he possibly would be a first-day (i.e., round one, two, or three) selection.

The word on Gaither is that he's immature, and that he doesn't fully appreciate his physical gifts. He lost his academic eligibility because he hated school. And given that teams didn't have time to do their due diligence, teams will be less willing to take a chance on him.

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Here is another consideration: Gaither is going to want 2008 2nd/3rd round money. The Ravens are going to stick him in the 2007 5th round 31st pick slot. There's a good chance he will hold out. I'm kind of with the Ravens on this one. Who ever said that these kids lose money by staying in school need look only at Gaither.