2001 NFL Draft
Draft Grade A
Ravens Selections:
- Round 1: Todd Heap, TE (Arizona State) 31st Overall Pick
- Round 2: Gary Baxter, CB (Baylor) 62nd Overall Pick
- Round 3: Casey Rabach, OL (Wisconsin) 92nd Overall Pick
- Round 4: Edgerton Heartwell, LB (Western Illinois) 126th Overall Pick
- Round 5: Chris Barnes, RB (New Mexico State) 161st Overall Pick
- Round 6: Joe Maese, LS (New Mexico) 194th Overall Pick
- Round 7: Dwayne Missouri, DE (Northwestern) Pick 231
Five of the Ravens seven draft picks ended up being a starter on the team at one point. Any time that happens the general manager deserves a ton of credit. Newsome brought in a Ravens legend, drafting Todd Heap with the 31st overall pick. Heap quickly emerged as one of the Ravens signature players. In his prime he was one of the top tight ends in the game. Heap is now in the Ravens ring of honor and is one of the most cherished players in the team’s history.
Gary Baxter started his career as a nickel cornerback and became a starter for the Ravens dominating defense. Baxter had six interceptions in his tenure with the Ravens. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2004 but Baxter had a good run with the Ravens. Casey Rabach eventually earned the starting center position before signing with the Redskins. He was a good player who was just beginning to reach his peak when he left the Ravens.
Edgerton Heartwell was looked at as somebody who may have been the next Ray Lewis. While he didn’t live up to the expectation he was a very good linebacker in the Ravens 3-4 defense. Heartwell was a big play linebacker with speed. This was a very strong draft class by the Ravens.
Next: 2002 NFL Draft