Ravens: The Michigan Curse strikes again with Ben Mason and Ben Bredeson

The Baltimore Ravens have forged a history as one of the best drafting teams in recent history. But when it comes to selecting players out of the University of Michigan, that same sentiment doesn’t apply.

Coached by Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, Michigan has produced its fair share of NFL talent — many of whom have gone on to be drafted by the Ravens.

The Ravens have drafted four players out of Michigan in the last six drafts. Following the trade of Ben Bredeson and the release of Ben Mason, none of them have played out their rookie contracts with the organization.

Is it a curse? A case of simple bad luck? Who knows. Whatever it is, Michigan draft picks just don’t seem to work out in Baltimore.

The Ravens have had no luck with Michigan draft picks

The Ravens have drafted five players out of Michigan in the history of their franchise. However, you could really only argue that the first of those five draft picks worked out.

In 2007, Baltimore drafted linebacker Prescott Burgess in the sixth round and he went on to play in parts of four years with the team. While he was hardly a star, Burgess was a core special teamer for nearly half a decade.

That’s good value for a sixth-round pick. The other four weren’t as successful.

Willie Henry was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. The defensive lineman’s career never got going in Baltimore as injuries plagued his development. He’s played in just four games since 2017.

Next up was Chris Wormley who was a third-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Wormley is probably the best of all the Michigan draftees, but his career in Baltimore was cut short after just three years when he was shipped to Pittsburgh.

In total, he played 39 games with the Ravens and recently signed a two-year extension with the Steelers. While Wormley might be the most successful of the bunch, it’s hard to say he worked out in Baltimore.

Then there’s the recently departed duo of Bredeson and Mason. Bredeson, a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, was traded away after just one season and likely would not have made the roster this year.

Meanwhile, Mason, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, was cut following the preseason. Rather than sign on with the Ravens’ practice squad, he chose to join the New England Patriots where he’ll likely be given a better opportunity to contribute.

It’s unfair to blame an entire university for this, just as it’s unfair to blame an organization that has found so much success when it comes to drafting and talent evaluation.

So let’s call a spade a spade. This is a curse. It’s the Michigan Curse.