ED
Eric DeCosta
GM since Jan 2019(7 years, 6 mo)
GM rankings — every move graded by contract value, sentiment, and fan votes.
F
C+
N/A
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The Verdict on Eric, in One Read
On the Contract Value Index, Eric DeCosta's front office has been significantly overpaying relative to production (F Contract Value Index). That ranks 8th of 32 on Sentiment among graded GMs. Reaction to the front office’s moves has been mixed (C+ Sentiment), drawn from current news and social signal.
About Eric DeCosta
Background and career path of the Baltimore Ravens general manager.
Path to the role
DeCosta is a homegrown Raven through and through. A Massachusetts native, he captained the football team at Division III Colby College and earned degrees in English and classical civilizations, later adding a master's in English from Trinity College. He joined Baltimore in 1996 as a player personnel assistant and climbed every rung of the ladder over more than two decades — area scout, director of college scouting, director of player personnel, then assistant general manager under the legendary Ozzie Newsome. When Newsome stepped back in 2019, DeCosta took over as general manager.
Philosophy & notable moves
DeCosta's debut offseason in 2019 was bold and polarizing: he traded away franchise quarterback Joe Flacco, signed Earl Thomas and Mark Ingram, and drafted Marquise Brown — and the Ravens responded with a 14-2 season. His defining move was committing to Lamar Jackson with a record contract in 2023. Operating from one of the most stable front offices in sports, DeCosta has continued the Ravens' trademark of finding value in the middle rounds and trusting their own board.
Fun facts
- He was named Sporting News NFL Executive of the Year in 2020.
- He has been with the Ravens for his entire NFL career, starting as a player personnel assistant in 1996.
- He holds a master's degree in English and serves on the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Colby College.
27
Transactions
27
Graded
1
Fan Votes
7 years
Tenure
League Comparison
#8
Sentiment Rank
of 32 GMs
#32
Most Active
27 moves
Contract Value
F
Poor contract value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
The Baltimore Ravens have been paying a premium this season, with several contracts that outpace the expected production level. Across 21 contracts, 3 grade out as good value and 1 look like overpays based on comparable deals around the league. The best bang-for-the-buck deal was Calais Campbell (A) at $5.5M/yr. The priciest commitment relative to production was Durham Smythe (C-) at $3.0M/yr — the tight end market may have been richer than the on-field return suggests. Cap flexibility could become a concern if these contracts don't produce at the expected level.
Public Sentiment
C+
Mixed reception
NegativeMixedPositive
The Baltimore Ravens have had mixed results under Eric DeCosta this 2026 cycle, with both praised and questioned decisions. Of 27 graded moves, 14 landed well with the fanbase, 6 drew mixed reactions, and 7 were viewed negatively. The standout move was bringing in K'Von Wallace (A+), which generated the most positive buzz. The most questioned decision was the Ben Cleveland cut (F), which drew the sharpest criticism. The fanbase remains split — some moves look promising while others need time to prove their worth.
Draft History (During Tenure)
Elite drafter — 85% hit rate (Rds 1-3)2026 Draft
All 2026 Transactions
News & Buzz
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About this general manager
Eric DeCosta is the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, in his 8th year as the lead executive. FanVerdicts covers every NFL GM and the full body of moves they've made — and asks fans to render the verdict. Cast your Fan Verdict on Eric DeCosta, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — the contract value of the deals they signed, the performance of the players they assembled, and the sentiment around recent moves — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index F, Performance D+, Sentiment C+.
Each GM grade is rolled up from the underlying transactions attributed to that GM's tenure. When a GM signs a player, that signing's Contract Value Index grade flows into the GM's portfolio score; the same player's subsequent performance and sentiment grades flow into the GM's respective summaries. Phased attribution applies for new GMs: the first three years weight the prior GM's legacy deals at 100%/66%/33%, ramping the new GM's ownership of roster outcomes.
For broader context, the NFL hub has team rankings, GM report cards, and the transactions feed. The NFL GM rankings page ranks every front office side-by-side on the same four dimensions.
