There's usually a pretty solid constant in the NFL Draft every year: Ozzie Newsome will sit where he is and take value when it falls to him. Occasionally the Ravens will move up.

Ozzie did so for Joe Flacco and he did so for Michael Oher, but he hasn't traded up since 2009. It nearly happened on Thursday night during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft though.

When the Chargers stunned everyone and took Joey Bosa, the Cowboys were caught off guard (they apparently wanted the Ohio State defensive end) and looking to deal. 

So Ozzie hopped on the phone and tried to make something happen.

From BaltimoreRavens.com:

Dallas was up next. “They’re listening to offers,” Newsome offered. Oz and the Cowboys had talked prior to the draft. Newsome called the Cowboys. “Still interested in moving?” When Oz received an affirmative, he made an offer. Dallas wanted more. Oz said, “No, we won’t go there.”

The player the Ravens wanted to get? Jalen Ramsey from Florida State, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Ramsey was considered the top player in the draft by a lot of people, a chess piece to use all over the field as a safety, cornerback and general wrecker of havoc. 

But the Cowboys wanted too much (maybe a third-round pick?) and the Ravens watched as they drafted Ezekiel Elliott and the Jaguars took Ramsey with the next pick.

Baltimore was in a weird spot because, as noted on the team's site, the Ravens had Laremy Tunsil in the "top 15." It's possible they had him higher than Stanley, but after his hacked Twitter account posted a video of him ripping a bonghit while wearing a gas mask, he was taken off their board.

Stanley was probably always the "cleaner" offensive line prospect (read: safer) but also high on many boards. So the Ravens went with him. They were quite happy with the move.

“Every year, about October, once the tapes start to come in, Eric [DeCosta] will give me players to watch. If I’m correct, I think the first tape that I had a chance to look at was the Notre Dame offense, and I kept noticing the left tackle [Ronnie Stanley]. I walked down to Eric’s office, and I go, ‘Is that left tackle a senior?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, he’s a pretty good player, isn’t he?’ I go, ‘Yeah, at least we see it the same way.’” Newsome added: “We value our board, and he was the highest player on our board when we picked.”

But think about what could have been if the Ravens did make a move. Everything changes as the draft picks start cascading down. 

Maybe the Ravens move and then someone trades with the Jaguars to steal Zeke from the Cowboys. 

It's a complicated little game full of smokescreens (and smoke in general in this case) that no one can ever accurately predict -- even the guys involved in the process as it unfolds.

Ronnie Stanley dabbed his way to Baltimore. (USATSI)