When you think of the history of the Baltimore Ravens, you don’t really think of them as an offensive juggernaut, especially at the wide receiver position.
They don’t have the best track record when it comes to drafting receivers in the first round, although 2021 first-rounder Rashod Bateman will be looking to break that troubling draft trend.
Let’s take a look at the receivers that the Ravens have drafted in the first round in franchise history. Travis Taylor, Mark Clayton, Breshad Perriman, and Marquise “Hollywood” Brown have all been drafted in the first round.
Taylor was drafted with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and played in Baltimore for five seasons. In those five seasons, he totaled just 204 receptions for 2,758 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Not exactly befitting of a player drafted 10th overall.
The Ravens haven’t had a ton of success with first-round receivers
The next first-round receiver drafted was Mark Clayton out of Oklahoma. Clayton was the 22nd overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, and in five seasons with the Ravens, he totaled 234 receptions for 3,116 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Ozzie Newsome and company might have been hesitant to draft another receiver in the first round as they waited another 10 years before drafting Breshad Perriman 26th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft.
Perriman’s career didn’t get off to a great start as he missed his entire first season in Baltimore with a knee injury that was sustained in training camp. He only started four out of 27 games played and totaled just 43 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns.
Brown was drafted in the 2019 NFL Draft as the 25th overall pick. In two full seasons as a Raven, Brown has shown some flashes of greatness while also disappearing and or dropping passes.
It’s still very early on in his career, but as of now, Brown has been the best receiver that the Ravens have drafted in the first round over the course of their history.
Bateman will be looking to break the trend and find success with Baltimore.
Let’s hope that he is different and can change the fortune of the Ravens and first-round wide receivers.
It’s also good that the Ravens have hired new blood on the offensive side of the ball with Tee Martin and Keith Williams joining the coaching staff.
Perhaps they could help Rashod Bateman unlock his potential and end this troubling draft trend.