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11 current Baltimore Ravens outperforming their draft position

By Chris Schisler

CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Orlando Brown Jr. #78 of the Baltimore Ravens and Marshal Yanda #73 look to make blocks during the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - DECEMBER 22: Orlando Brown Jr. #78 of the Baltimore Ravens and Marshal Yanda #73 look to make blocks during the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore defeated Cleveland 31-15. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 22: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown against Damarious Randall #23 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 22: Mark Andrews #89 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a pass for a touchdown against Damarious Randall #23 of the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter in the game at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Players who became key starters:

Mark Andrews: 2018 3rd round, 86th overall pick

If you draft a tight end in the third round and he has 10 touchdowns in his second season, he’s better than the spot he was drafted. The Ravens got a Pro Bowl season out of Andrews this year. He led the team in receptions and was the most reliable weapon for the Ravens.

Three tight ends were drafted before Andrews in 2018 and now he is arguably a top three tight end in the NFL. The Ravens drafted Hayden Hurst with the 25th overall pick. The Ravens doubled down at tight end and the second one they selected ended up being the star. Nothing else really needs to be said. Andrews is way better than the spot he was drafted at.

Orlando Brown Jr.:  2018 3rd round, 82nd overall pick

The Ravens benefited from Orlando Brown Jr. failing to capitalize at the NFL Scouting Combine. The Ravens got a really good tackle way later than they should have. Brown Jr. may not be a left tackle, but he’s about as good of a right tackle as there is in the NFL. Brown Jr. is good now and he’s got some room for improvement. He could establish himself as a perennial Pro Bowler at the right tackle position.

Chuck Clark: 2017 6th round, 168th overall pick 

Chuck Clark went from being a sixth round pick to being a starting strong safety. That fact alone makes him way better than the NFL Draft process predicted he would be. With the whole Jamal Adams watch we’ve already talked a good bit about the need for Clark appreciation. Let’s take this another angle.

light. Related Story. Baltimore Ravens Q&A: Potential surprise roster cuts and more

When the Ravens took Geno Stone in the 2020 NFL Draft they could have been attempting to do what they did with Clark. Say the Ravens lose Clark in free agency after the 2023 season, Stone could be the replacement.

If Clark were to get hurt like Tony Jefferson did, Stone could be waiting in the wings. Meanwhile, Stone will play on special teams and provide value to the team as an extra defensive back. The reason the Ravens may have drafted Stone is that they wanted to repeat their successful late round strategy that worked so well with Clark.

Matt Judon: 2016 5th round, 146th overall pick

Judon just signed his franchise tag tender. The Ravens have gotten 28.5 sacks out of Judon since they drafted him in 2016. He’s never had a double digit sack season however he’s become one of the more complete outside linebackers in the NFL. He is very good against the run and is very versatile. While he’s not the 10-12 sack artist that fans want him to be, Judon is very good. Whether or not you believe he should be rewarded with a long-term deal, you have to admit that he’s outproduced fifth round expectations.

Bradley Bozeman: 2018 6th round, 215th overall pick

Bozeman is a player that I never believed would be as good as he was. He had to win me over as a starter and he did just that. What you have to love about Bozeman is twofold. First, he improved rapidly after becoming the starter at the beginning of the 2019 season. Secondly he is very versatile. He was drafted as a center and started at left guard. He could start at either position in 2020.

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