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Ranking the last 5 Baltimore Ravens drafts by level of instant impact

By Chris Schisler

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) /
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Ronnie Stanley #79 of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

4. 2016

The Ravens found Ronnie Stanley with the sixth overall pick. That has worked out for the Ravens. Stanley immediately became the starting left tackle of the franchise. Stanley has become one of the best (if not the best) left tackles in the National Football League. The Ravens have inked Stanley to a long-term deal. In terms of instant impact,

The Ravens got 12 starts for Stanley which is solid on the instant impact scale. Matt Judon, who was taken in the fifth round, had 27 tackles and four sacks. Tavon Young flashed serious talent in the 2016 season and came away with two interceptions. If not for injuries, Young could have started down the path of being the next Lardarius Webb for the Purple and Black.

The rest of the Ravens draft class was fairly underwhelming. Chris Moore was always a great special teams player, that counts for something. Kenneth Dixon and Willie Henry would tease big things but neither panned out. Dixon missed the first four games of his rookie season and the entire following season.

The Ravens didn’t have a horrible draft class. Stanley, Judon, Young, and Moore were all hits to varying degrees. The Ravens helped build for the several years ahead much more than they energized their current squad.

The Ravens made 11 selections in this draft including an unheard-of five players in the fourth round. Of those five fourth-round picks (Tavon Young, Chris Moore, Alex Lewis and, Willie Henry, Kenneth Dixon) they got two mild hits.

The 2016 draft class is a perfect example of a draft class that looks more appealing than it actually ever was. The Ravens took a lot of chances and to their credit, went in a bit of every direction. On paper, this could have been one of the most impressive drafts worked by Ozzie Newsome. In actuality, it boiled down to just finding the left tackle of the future. Their first pick was by far their most meaningful.

That being said nothing in this draft moved the needle. The Ravens missed the playoffs and had an up-and-down year with nothing to show for it.

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