The Achilles tendon injury suffered by Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs illustrates the one NFL reality that is both inevitable and completely unknowable. Players will get hurt. We just don’t know who will be injured.
A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that the Ravens considers themselves lucky, given that the Ravens selected Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw with its first pick in the 2012 draft, after trading down from the 29th pick in round one. The Ravens could have gone in many different directions; it was pure fortuity that they opted to pick someone who plays a position of sudden and clear need.
Actually, the Ravens may have been better off to have had the injury happen after the draft. The Ravens, we’re told, would have been far less likely to trade down if Suggs had been injured before the draft. So they were instead able to trade down, get the guy they would have picked at No. 29, and picked up extra consideration for sliding back.