Ravens: Top 30 Moments in Team History

Aug 2, 2014; Canton, OH, USA; Jonathan Ogden at the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement at Fawcett Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsApril 20, 1996 – Ravens select linebacker Ray Lewis and left tackle Jonathan Ogden in their first NFL draft, both future Hall-of-Fame players

April 20^th, 1996 – Ravens select linebacker Ray Lewis and left tackle Jonathan Ogden in their first NFL draft.

Brett Foote:

Talk about starting off your newly minted NFL franchise with a bang.  The Ravens selected offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden with the 4th overall pick in the 1996 draft, then followed that by taking linebacker Ray Lewis with the 26th overall pick.

Ogden played for 12 seasons, racking up 6 first team All-Pro selections and 11 Pro Bowls.  Easily one of the best offensive linemen of all time, Ogden was selected to the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 2000’s. Effective both as a pass protector and run blocker, he helped pave the way for running back Jamal Lewis’ 2,000+ yard season in 2003.

Ray Lewis, perhaps even more than Ogden, requires no introduction.  Widely regarded as one of the greatest linebackers and best defensive players in NFL history, Lewis was a 13 time Pro Bowler and won two Super Bowls with the Ravens.

Lewis’ list of accomplishments from his 17 year career is long.  He was a two time NFL defensive player of the year (one of six players to win twice), Super Bowl XXXV MVP, and member of the NFL All-Decade team of the 2000’s, to name just a few.

Lewis, when eligible, is a shoo in to join Ogden in the NFL Hall of Fame as the second Raven in Canton.

Next: The beginning of an era