The Baltimore Ravens have long been praised for their front-office consistency and ability to hit on picks, but this week, they were officially put in elite company.
In a recent Sports Illustrated feature by Matt Verderame, five Ravens were named the greatest draft picks of all time at their respective draft slots, including three first-rounders who helped shape the franchise’s identity.
This wasn’t your average mock or hype piece. Verderame looked at every pick from every draft going back to 1967 and asked the question: Who is the best player ever taken at each specific pick in the modern era? It’s part deep-cut NFL history, part Ravens highlight reel.
Baltimore’s draft history stands out for the kind of impact that doesn’t fade over time.
Ravens land five players on all-time NFL draft value list
No. 24 – Ed Reed, S, 2002
If you’re talking value, impact, and iconic moments, you’re talking about Ed Reed. As Verderame puts it:
“Reed was a standout at the University of Miami and transformed into arguably the greatest free safety of all time. Reed was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year, a five-time first-team All-Pro, a nine-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl champion. He also posted 64 interceptions and 1,590 return yards off them, an all-time record.”
Drafted at No. 24 by Ozzie Newsome, Reed was the prototype for the modern ball-hawking safety. His instincts, vision, and ridiculous ability to flip the field made him a once-in-a-generation player.
No. 26 – Ray Lewis, LB, 1996
Ray Lewis was the Ravens. The franchise’s first true superstar and spiritual anchor, Lewis is considered one of the greatest defenders in NFL history. Verderame didn’t hold back:
“Lewis is on the Mount Rushmore of middle linebackers, alongside greats such as Dick Butkus, Derrick Brooks and Mike Singletary. Lewis played 17 seasons and was named a Pro Bowler on 12 occasions, was a seven-time first-team All-Pro, earned two Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named Super Bowl XXXV MVP. A first-ballot Hall of Famer, the two-time Super Bowl champ finished up with 1,568 solo tackles, an all-time record.”
No. 26 overall? That pick helped launch the foundation of one of the league’s toughest identities.
No. 32 – Lamar Jackson, QB, 2018
How often do you get a two-time (should have been three-time) MVP at the very end of the first round? That’s what happened in 2018 when the Ravens traded back into the draft to grab Lamar Jackson at No. 32.
“Jackson is the biggest dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. Taken out of Louisville with the last pick in the first round, Jackson has helped redefine what is possible at the position, becoming a two-time MVP. He’s also the best rushing quarterback ever, enjoying multiple 1,000-yard rushing campaigns including a record 1,206 rushing yards in 2019, on the way to his first MVP trophy.”
31 teams passed on the most electric player to ever touch the football field. Not a bad move for Baltimore to trade back into the first round to guarantee a fifth-year option for Jackson.
Also named:
- No. 83 – Orlando Brown Jr., OT (2018): A third-round steal who turned into a Pro Bowl tackle and eventually brought in a massive draft haul via trade with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- No. 139 – Isaiah Likely, TE (2022): Already a dangerous playmaker and key piece in the offense, Likely has the potential to be TE1 down the line. Mark Andrews' time in purple could be over after the 2025 season, giving Likely even more reason to keep himself on top.
There are a couple of Ravens on the team who were drafted relatively recently and could eventually make their way into the top spot. Two names come to mind. Kyle Hamilton and Nnamdi Madubuike. Hamilton was drafted No. 14 and Madubuike was selected 71st.
Darrell Revis and DeMarco Murray occupy the 14th and 71st spots currently. While Revis Island will be a tough one to beat, not many safeties have the abilities Hamilton does. Murray, meanwhile, had one amazing season in a rather average career. Madubuike has already shown he's got All-Pro-level talent, now it's just putting it together consistently year over year.