The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. Although the franchise only took off in 1996, the resume of outstanding draft picks rivals some of the league's most historic franchises. Whether it was Ozzie Newsome or Eric DeCosta behind the wheel, the Ravens’ front office nails the scouting and drafting process each year.
Baltimore has drafted various current and future Hall of Famers. In the franchise’s first NFL Draft, they selected offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Ray Lewis with their two first-round selections. Both were cornerstones in Baltimore for over a decade and now reside in Canton, Ohio. One of their greatest draft picks of all time is ball-hawking safety Ed Reed.
Eric Edholm of NFL.com ranked the five best safety draft picks in the 2000s, and Reed took the number one spot on the list. While he was a highly touted prospect in 2002 and was a first-round pick, at 24th overall, the talent he brought to Baltimore’s defense was immeasurable. Edholm wrote:
“In the running for the best safety to ever play the game, Reed absolutely was a steal as a late first-round choice. His selection was one of the career-defining moves by former Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome.”
Ed Reed highlights Ozzie Newsome’s Hall of Fame general manager career
Newsome was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999 for his tremendous career as a tight end for the Cleveland Browns. However, his career as a general manager is worthy of a Hall of Fame induction, and his heist of Reed is one of the many instances that show why he deserves the honor.
Reed should be seen as the best safety of all time, and if not, at minimum, he is in the top three in league history. While other greats like Pittsburgh Steelers playmaker Troy Polamalu and San Francisco 49ers heavy hitter Ronnie Lott were terrifying defensive backs to go up against, no one patrolled the field like Reed did.
He was one of the most intelligent safeties the league has ever seen, earning the respect of top-tier quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. The former Miami Hurricane finished his career with 64 interceptions, seventh all-time, seven pick-sixes, and was named the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year. He was a key reason why Baltimore’s defense was near the top of the league almost every year of his Ravens’ tenure.
Reed is among the many great draft picks in Baltimore’s rich history. Other notable steals include Lewis, offensive guard Marshal Yanda (who ranked third on the offensive line version of Edholm’s list), and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (who also ranked third on Edholm’s quarterback steals). With another strong draft class coming in, maybe rookie safety Malaki Starks can join Reed as one of the greatest safety steals in the 21st century.