6. DT Haloti Ngata (first round, 2006)
As if five Pro Bowl selections weren’t enough, Ngata’s high standing on this list can also be attributed to the timing of his arrival. The Baltimore defense quickly became a force despite the post-2001 cap purge but lacked the strong presence in the trenches to not only help control the line of scrimmage but keep blockers off Ray Lewis, who had increasingly become disenchanted with the franchise in an ugly ending to the 2005 season.
Those hard feelings were all but remedied when Newsome moved up a slot from No. 13 to the 12th overall selection to bring in the University of Oregon tackle in 2006. Not only did Lewis enjoy a renaissance of sorts over the next few years, but Ngata has made his mark as one of the better players in franchise history with a rare combination of size and athleticism.
Continue to next page for No. 5
