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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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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 16: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens looks to pass in the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Bills Stadium on January 16, 2021, in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. 2018

Lamar Jackson, Mark Andrews, Orlando Brown Jr. enough said right? When the Ravens drafted Jackson they probably didn’t think he was going to take over and transform the franchise as quickly as he did. Joe Flacco got hurt a little past the halfway point and Jackson was ready. The Ravens went on a roll and ended up winning the AFC North in comeback fashion.

Mark Andrews became the favorite target of Jackson. It was instant, those two players knew it right away. The 2018 season ended with a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, though the playoffs wouldn’t have happened without a win over the Chargers. Jackson’s touchdown pass to Andrews was the difference in the game, a goosebumps-worthy memory for Ravens fans.

Orlando Brown Jr. didn’t get the start right away. John Harbaugh makes rookies wait, something that has been a thing since he took over in 2008. Brown Jr. ended up being the starter and it improved the offensive line greatly.

You can’t leave out Hayden Hurst from this conversation, especially because he was traded for the pick that ended up being J.K. Dobbins. Hurst had two solid seasons for the Ravens. It wasn’t his fault that Jackson and Andrews go together like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The connection between Jackson and Andrews isn’t something Hurst could have competed with yet he still ended up making important plays. for the Ravens.

The Ravens traded Kenny Young in 2019 for Marcus Peters. That may not quite give you the instant impact grade booster, but it’s like the cherry on top of a sundae (It doesn’t hurt).

Next. Biggest draft busts in Ravens franchise history. dark

Pre Jackson life isn’t something Ravens fans really want to go back to. The Ravens went from three straight playoff misses to three straight playoff appearances. That’s a big difference. This draft class set a lot of things in motion that has made the last few years of Ravens football as exciting as ever.

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