Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens: Top 5 Draft Classes of all Time

By Remy Cabache

May 28, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
May 28, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws a pass during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 20, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata (92) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 20, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) throws a pass under pressure from Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata (92) during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports /

#5 – 2006 NFL Draft

The 2006 NFL Draft is my fifth rated Ravens draft because it featured 4 players that can be considered good or better players for their entire careers.

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In the 1st round the Ravens drafted Haloti Ngata. Ngata was a staple of the Ravens defense for 9 years and was a key cog in the 2012 Super Bowl winning roster. Not only was he a force on the field, he was a leader on and off the field. When he was eventually traded to the Lions in the 2014 offseason his absence was noticeable. He made 5 straight Pro Bowls and was twice named a First-Team All-Pro.

Chris Chester was drafted in the 2nd round and was with the Ravens for 5 seasons. In the final three years with the Ravens he was a consistent starter. Though he wasn’t a great player he was a good starter, and since leaving the Ravens he has started all 16 games every year for the Washington Redskins and the Atlanta Falcons.

A Draft Class Filled With Value:

The Ravens 5th round pick in 2006 was Dawan Landry. Landry played with the Ravens for 5 years and next to Ed Reed formed a very good safety tandem. He was never the dominant player Reed was but as a fifth round pick he represented great value. What’s more, he spent 4 more years in the NFL as a consistent starter, though his Ravens days’ were his best.

The final notable pick of this draft for the Ravens was Sam Koch in the 6th round. Though punters don’t get a lot of attention, the fact that Koch has been the Ravens punter since he was drafted says it all. Not only has he been a staple of the Ravens special teams unit, he is part of the group of punters that have revolutionized punting.

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