Being selected in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens is quite a distinction.
Three Hall of Famers.
A league MVP and one of the most dynamic rushing quarterbacks we’ve ever seen.
The fifth man in NFL history to run for 2,000 yards in a season and the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.
A longtime franchise quarterback who put together one of the best postseason runs ever.
The team’s all-time sacks leader.
The most dominant defensive tackle in team history.
A four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher.
The man with more touchdown catches than any other Raven.
An occasional pain in the neck with multiple Pro Bowl selections at the cornerback position.
A trio of disappointments at wide receiver.
The first Ravens rookie to make a Pro Bowl.
A rock-solid five-year starter at guard.
Two starting cornerbacks who shined in Super Bowls.
An offensive tackle who started every game he played as a Raven despite not living up to the hype created by a movie.
The failed heir apparent to Ed Reed.
The franchise left tackle longed for since the retirement of Jonathan Ogden.
A talented tight end whose biggest flaw was not being the Pro Bowl talent Baltimore drafted two rounds later.
A Pro Bowl cornerback voted team MVP at age 22.
That promising playmaker that’s been so darn elusive at the wide receiver position.
And Kyle Boller.
There are no guarantees with general manager Eric DeCosta recently acknowledging luck being a bigger factor in the draft than many want to admit, but history suggests promising odds for the Ravens coming away with a difference-making talent — even as late as the 28th overall pick. Three of Baltimore’s four first-round picks coming later than 28th qualified for at least one Pro Bowl.
The 25 first-round picks in franchise history have accounted for 64 Pro Bowl selections, one league MVP, two Super Bowl MVP honors, five AP Player of the Year awards, two Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, and three first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions.
Enjoy pondering the possibilities on Thursday night.
Below is a look at the Ravens’ previous first-round picks with the spot selected in parentheses:
1996: Jonathan Ogden (fourth), Ray Lewis (26th)
1997: Peter Boulware (fourth)
1998: Duane Starks (10th)
1999: Chris McAlister (10th)
2000: Jamal Lewis (fifth), Travis Taylor (10th)
2001: Todd Heap (31st)
2002: Ed Reed (24th)
2003: Terrell Suggs (10th), Kyle Boller (19th)
2004: none
2005: Mark Clayton (22nd)
2006: Haloti Ngata (12th)
2007: Ben Grubbs (29th)
2008: Joe Flacco (18th)
2009: Michael Oher (23rd)
2010: none
2011: Jimmy Smith (27th)
2012: none
2013: Matt Elam (32nd)
2014: C.J. Mosley (17th)
2015: Breshad Perriman (26th)
2016: Ronnie Stanley (sixth)
2017: Marlon Humphrey (16th)
2018: Hayden Hurst (25th), Lamar Jackson (32nd)
2019: Marquise Brown (25th)
Remembering Ravens first-round picks with 2020 draft upon us
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
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