Ebony Bird
FanSided

NFL Draft: Biggest offensive busts in Ravens franchise history

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 4: Defensive end Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Breshad Perriman #18 of the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 4: Defensive end Cameron Wake #91 of the Miami Dolphins breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Breshad Perriman #18 of the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on December 4, 2016 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: A detailed view of the pick is in for the #6 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – APRIL 28: A detailed view of the pick is in for the #6 overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

8. Gino Gradkowski:

Career stats with Baltimore: three seasons, 40 games, 16 starts

Hey look, another failed fourth round pick for the Ravens! This time, in the form of Delaware center Gino Gradkowski.

Gradkowski was supposed to be the replacement for Matt Birk and captain the Ravens offensive line for years to come. Instead, Gradkowski became one of the worst starting offensive linemen the Ravens have ever fielded.

Gradkowski would start just 16 games in his three-year stint with the Ravens, all of which came in 2013. Despite an 8-8 record in 2013, that 2013 season will be remembered as one of the worst the Ravens have ever had. A large chunk of that fell on the offensive line, where a majority of the five starters struggled (with the exception being Marshal Yanda). However, Grandkowski somehow found a way to stand out among the rest and was straight up awful for the entirety of the season.

Centers are supposed to be the captains of the offensive line. Calling out defensive alignments and identifying blitz packages is a must for centers, and Gradkowski simply never had what it takes to be that guy. Flacco was sacked a career high 48 times in 2013, and I have to imagine a majority of that falls on the hands of perhaps the Ravens worst offensive linemen in team history.

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