4 Day 2 picks in 2024 NFL Draft who could break Ravens' second-round curse

The Ravens could get back on track with these players.
Utah v USC
Utah v USC / Meg Oliphant/GettyImages
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 4
Next

The Baltimore Ravens are one of the best drafting teams in the NFL, as their recent history with both Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta is littered with standouts picked in the first round and promising Day 3 selections. For some reason, the Ravens haven't landed a stud in the second round of the NFL Draft for more than a decade.

Since 2010, the only second-round pick who played more than five years with the Ravens was Tyus Bowser, who was recently released after years of injuries and inconsistency. Torrey Smith was a quality player for Baltimore, but if he's the best second-round pick in a 12-year span, that's not very promising.

These four players all look like standouts that could be the first player in more than a decade to both make an impact with the Ravens and get extended past their original rookie contract. With so many positions of need after free agency ravaged their depth, all of these players could get playing time as a rookie.

4 Day 2 studs who could break Baltimore Ravens' second-round curse

4. Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon

Cornerback is deep this year, as there are multiple future starters hanging around in this range. Rutgers' Max Melton, Iowa State's TJ Tampa, and Michigan's Mike Sainristil are all solid prospects, but there's a chance Jackson ends up with the highest ceiling in this class due to his physical gifts.

A 6-3 corner with proven 4.5 speed, Jackson fits on a Baltimore defense that prioritized bigger defensive backs with length. While he can get burned by being overaggressive, his physical skills make him a top-flight turnover creator who could become a Pro Bowl talent in the right scheme.

The Baltimore Ravens should consider Khyree Jackson

Jackson is a fiery corner who is both pesky at the line of scrimmage and an absolute menace when the ball is in the air. With solid tracking skills and reactions, the Alabama transfer knocked away seven passes and intercepted three more during his lone season as a starter in Eugene.

Jackson only has one year of starting experience to his name, but he flashed so often and so brightly at Oregon that it seems unikely he makes it out of Day 2. Baltimore likes to see some production and turnovers generated from their defensive backs, which could help DeCosta sell himself on Jackson.