Eric DeCosta says Geno Stone ‘might be Ravens best seventh-round pick’ ever

When speaking to the media during the NFL Combine, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was asked about pending free agent safety Geno Stone and what he attributes the former seventh-round pick’s success to.

“Well, Geno [Stone] … I’m very proud of Geno,” DeCosta said. “He was a seventh-round pick and probably – if [ESPN reporter] Jamison [Hensley] was here, he’d probably chime in, because he’s a historian, or he fancies himself a historian … Geno might be the best seventh-round pick that we’ve ever had – playmaker, attitude, special teams. [He had] just an excellent season [in 2023]. He has been cut, been brought back. Just, I love his cerebral nature, [and] I love his attitude on the field. He fancies himself an overachiever; I love that about him. He’s put himself in an awesome position. We’re fortunate that we have some good safety depth, and I’m not really sure exactly what that means for Geno and the Ravens, but regardless, I know he’s going to be a great pro. If he doesn’t come back and play with us, he’s going to be a great player for somebody else, and I would expect him to have a great career.”

Stone was second in the NFL with seven interceptions, only behind Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland. Stone accomplished this without being one of the team’s starting two safeties. When free safety Marcus Williams missed time with a pectoral injury, Stone stepped in and flourished on the backend of the defense.

Spotrac currently lists Stone with a three-year calculated market value of $21.6 million, with an average annual salary of $7.2 million.