Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 Draft Steals Of All Time

Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; NFL former player Ray Lewis shows off his ring on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; NFL former player Ray Lewis shows off his ring on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed (20) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Ed Reed, FS (Miami) 24th Overall Pick

Ed Reed recorded 64 interceptions, broke plenty of records and is going to be a first ballot Hall of Famer; yet 23 teams passed on him? The Ravens got Reed in the first round, but he was still a steal. Go back to the 2002 draft and find me a player better than Reed…you cannot do it. You had some great players in that draft. Julius Peppers and Dwight Freeney were amazing. But neither of them held a candle to the greatness of Reed.

Napoleon Harris was taken before Reed. Now if you’re thinking who is Napoleon Harris… that is exactly my point. Reed put up numbers that should only happen in a season of Madden with the setting turned to Pro. I mean these numbers are impossible to produce for 99% of people. Reed was greater than any free safety ever to play the game. He changed the game.

When the Ravens have the 24th pick nobody is thinking about getting an all time great player. In the first round you usually draft long time starters. But future Hall of Fame players falling to the late first round, now that’s a steal.

Next: 1. Ray Lewis