The Baltimore Ravens have long been a franchise that prides itself on stability, competency, and consistency. And there’s no better way to establish those principles than through the NFL Draft.
The Ravens have been considered one of the NFL’s best drafting teams for a long time now, and one look at this list will shed light on why that’s the case. Numerous franchise cornerstones have been acquired via the draft over the years.
Of course, not every great Ravens player was drafted by the team. The likes of Derrick Mason, Kelly Gregg, Justin Tucker, Bart Scott, and even Rod Woodson all had successful stints with the organization, but none of them were drafted by the Ravens.
So who are the greatest draft picks in Ravens history?
A few honorable mentions before we start should go out to the likes of Ray Rice, C.J. Mosley, Brandon Williams, Sam Koch, Jarret Johnson, Mark Andrews, Jimmy Smith, Jermaine Lewis, Ronnie Stanley, and Torrey Smith who all barely missed this list.
15. Edwin Mulitalo, OG, Ravens (129th overall – 1999)
The Ravens have found plenty of success drafting in the middle rounds throughout their history, and one excellent example of this comes with their fourth-round selection of Edwin Mulitalo.
Mulitalo never received the national accolades or praise that he probably deserved, but he was still a rock-solid starting left guard for almost a decade in Baltimore.
The former Arizona standout was selected 129th overall in 1999, and he soon took over the starting left guard job as a rookie. He was a staple of the Ravens’ offensive line from 1999 all the way until his departure in 2006.
Mulitalo helped lead the franchise to their first Super Bowl victory in 2000 and he should be celebrated as one of the best value draft picks in Ravens history.
14. Marlon Humphrey, CB, Ravens (16th overall – 2017)
There are a couple of active players on this list (you could probably guess the other one), and it’s always difficult when trying to rank guys who are still playing. Especially when they’re as young as Marlon Humphrey is.
Humphrey may only be 25-years-old at the time of writing, but he’s already established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in Ravens history. The 16th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Humphrey has more than lived up to expectations in the NFL.
He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time first-team All-Pro, and widely seen as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. In reality, he’s only scratching the surface of what he might accomplish in Baltimore.
Humphrey may very well continue to climb this list as the years go on, but for now, it’s hard to justify him cracking the top-10. He still deserves consideration, though.
13. Chris McAlister, CB, Ravens (10th overall – 1999)
Marlon Humphrey may one day hold the title of “best cornerback in Ravens history.” But for now, that honor has to go to Ravens great Chris McAlister.
Drafted 10th overall in that excellent 1999 draft class, McAlister quickly emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in football. He made three Pro Bowls and was named first-team All-Pro once during his 10 years in Baltimore.
McAlister was a crucial part of that 2000 Ravens defense that walked away as Super Bowl champions and he was the first true shutdown cornerback in franchise history.
The Ravens wanted a true No. 1 corner when they drafted McAlister 10th overall. They got just that and more.
12. Todd Heap, TE, Ravens (31st overall – 2001)
Much like with Humphrey, we may very well see Mark Andrews eventually establish himself as the best tight end in team history. But given his longevity, it’s hard to argue that anyone but Todd Heap deserves that honor right now.
Heap was drafted with the 31st overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft. Fresh off a Super Bowl victory, the Ravens were looking for another cornerstone to build around on offense.
While Heap was never a star, he did make two Pro Bowls early in his career, and he held down a key role in the Ravens’ offense for 10 years until his departure in 2011.
Heap currently ranks second all-time in receptions and receiving yards in Ravens history and ranks first in receiving scores. He absolutely deserves a spot on this list.
11. Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens (5th overall – 2000)
Jamal Lewis is one of the greatest Ravens players of all time and one of the best running backs of his generation. Some will argue this is even too low for the longtime Ravens great.
Drafted fifth overall in 2000, Lewis burst on the scene as a rookie and quickly established himself as one of the best backs in the NFL. He returned from a knee injury in 2002 and quite frankly never looked back.
Lewis remains the Ravens’ all-time leading rusher with a whopping 7,801 yards over just six years including his historic 2,066-yard season in 2003.
The only reasons he doesn’t rank higher come down to his lack of longevity, the value (he was the fifth overall pick, after all), and because the Ravens have just made so many great draft picks over the years.
Nonetheless, Jamal Lewis is obviously a legend.
10. Adalius Thomas, OLB, Ravens (186th overall – 2000)
If you’re looking for arguably the greatest late-round draft pick in Ravens history, look no further than Adalius Thomas. Thomas is perhaps the most versatile player the Ravens have ever had (sorry, Patrick Ricard).
Originally drafted as a defensive end, Thomas was a do-it-all chess piece in the Ravens’ defense playing everywhere from defensive line to linebacker to even some snaps at cornerback and safety.
Altogether, Thomas played seven years in Baltimore racking up a unique stat sheet that included 38.5 sacks, six interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, 58 tackles for loss, and three total touchdowns.
On a defense that also featured the likes of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, Thomas was a force in his own right. Given that the Ravens drafted him just 13 picks before Tom Brady, he deserves to crack the top-10.
9. Peter Boulware, OLB, Ravens (4th overall – 1997)
That legendary 2000 Ravens defense had a number of important pieces, but few were as integral to the team’s success that year as Peter Boulware.
Boulware was the first truly great pass rusher the Ravens had. Through his first seven seasons, Boulware racked up 67.5 sacks and, at the time of his retirement in 2005, was the team’s all-time sack leader.
He lacks the longevity of others on this list as injuries eventually caught up to him, but from 1997 to 2003, Boulware was one of the most important players on a stacked Ravens team.
A member of the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, it’s safe to say that Boulware lived up to the hype of being the fourth overall pick.
8. Haloti Ngata, NT, Ravens (12th overall – 2006)
The Ravens and Browns agreed to swap picks in 2006 to allow the former to move up one spot and select big Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata. It was the first time the Ravens had ever selected a defensive lineman in team history, and it’s fair to say that it certainly worked out.
Ngata was a cornerstone of the Ravens’ defense for nearly a decade and one of the best nose tackles in recent NFL history. In nine years in Baltimore, Ngata earned five Pro Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro selections, and three second-team All-Pro honors.
The most recent induction into the Ravens’ Ring of Honor, Ngata was a key part of the Ravens’ Super Bowl XLVII winning squad and he will go down as one of the most important players in franchise history.
Ngata busted narratives and shed labels all the way to being one of the best draft picks in the history of the Baltimore Ravens.
7. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (32nd overall – 2018)
This is the player who might be the most heavily debated on this list. How do you rank a 25-year-old quarterback who has only played four years in the NFL, but someone who has also won an MVP and made multiple Pro Bowls?
Lamar Jackson may have fewer than 50 starts to his name at the time of writing, but he’s already on pace to be one of the greatest Ravens of all time. It’s just very difficult to gauge where he ranks right now.
Drafted 32nd overall in 2018, Jackson was the fifth quarterback taken in his draft class. The Ravens moved back into the first round to grab him, and that’s easily one of the best decisions the team has made in their history.
Still on his rookie contract, it’s hard to say where Jackson will end up on this list by the time he ultimately retires. But one thing is absolutely clear: he has a chance to go down as the greatest Ravens draft pick of all time.
6. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens (18th overall – 2008)
There will be some who disagree with ranking Joe Flacco over Lamar Jackson. After all, Flacco never won an MVP (a regular-season one, at least). Jackson’s peak has already been higher than Flacco’s.
But careers aren’t made in four years. What Flacco did for the Ravens over the course of over a decade established himself as the greatest quarterback in the team’s short history.
Flacco’s greatest contribution was when he helped lead the Ravens to their second Super Bowl victory in 2010, a game in which he earned Super Bowl MVP honors.
For as great as Jackson is, it’s hard to rank him ahead of Flacco until the Ravens find postseason success under his guidance. As of right now, Flacco has accomplished more for the Ravens than Jackson has.
5. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Ravens (10th overall – 2003)
It’s still hard to believe the Ravens were able to land Terrell Suggs with the 10th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft given the career he had at Arizona State. Some 20 years later, however, the Ravens aren’t complaining.
T-Sizzle spent a whopping 16 years in Baltimore where he established himself as a franchise icon and likely a future Hall of Famer. He finished his career with a team-record 132.5 sacks, seven Pro Bowl appearances, one first-team All-Pro selection, and a Defensive Player of the Year honor.
Suggs is one of the greatest defensive players of his era and someone who will undoubtedly go down in history as one of the greatest Ravens players to ever live.
Those nine teams that passed on him (most of them, at least) after his disappointing Combine performance may never live their mistake down.
4. Marshal Yanda, OG, Ravens (86th overall – 2007)
It was really, really difficult to rank these top four (or even five) players. If you’re looking for the best pure value draft pick in Ravens history, you probably aren’t going to do much better than Marshal Yanda.
Drafted 86th overall in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Yanda put together a Hall-of-Fame-worthy resume complete with eight Pro Bowl nods, two first-team All-Pro selections, five second-team All-Pro honors, and an inclusion in the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team.
A high school tackle, the Ravens envisioned Yanda as a guard in the NFL. They were right as the former Iowa standout is one of the best guards in recent NFL history.
The best non-first-round pick in Ravens history, Marshal Yanda deserves is an obvious choice for the top five on this list.
3. Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens (4th overall – 1996)
It feels wrong to leave Jonathan Ogden, arguably the greatest offensive tackle in the history of the NFL, out of the top two. But given who’s ahead of him, it was the only way to rank these players.
What is there really to say about Ogden? The first draft pick made in Baltimore Ravens history, Ogden will go down as one of best picks to team has ever made.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer started 12 years in Baltimore, making the Pro Bowl in all 11 years he spent as a full-time starting left tackle.
He is quite literally one of the greatest football players of all time, but solely because of his high draft status (and the two guys ahead of him), he doesn’t rank in the top two.
2. Ed Reed, S, Ravens (24th overall – 2002)
The debate will always rage on about who was the better player between Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. This discussion isn’t really about that, and you could probably flip these two and still have a very acceptable list.
In this case, we went with Lewis over Reed, just be a smidge. The 24th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Reed is one of the best safeties to ever play the game and a name that will always be synonymous with the Ravens organization.
He’s a former Defensive Player of the Year, a nine-time Pro Bowler, an eight-time All-Pro, a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, and one of the NFL’s all-time leaders in interceptions.
None of that even includes his value on and off the field as a leader. Ed Reed is a legend, but a legend who just misses out on the top spot on this list.
1. Ray Lewis, LB, Ravens (26th overall – 1996)
Ray Lewis is the greatest draft pick in Ravens history, and many would agree he’s the greatest Ravens player of all time. Much like Reed, Lewis wasn’t a high draft pick as teams were concerned about his size at the time.
All Lewis did was become maybe the best linebacker in NFL history, one of the best defensive players to ever live, and one of the most iconic players of his generation.
A 13-time Pro Bowler, 10-time All-Pro, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, and a Super Bowl champion, Lewis is one of the most decorated players in recent memory.
Is he the greatest Ravens player of all time? That much is still up for debate. But it’s hard to argue that the 26th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft isn’t the best draft pick in Ravens history.