There are many reasons why the Baltimore Ravens are currently third all-time in NFL regular-season winning percentage (.569, behind only the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers). It all started with their first-ever selection, Jonathan Ogden, back in 1996.
Baltimore took Ogden out of UCLA with the fourth overall pick, and you can relive that moment in the video below. Enjoy the footage of a much younger Mel Kiper Jr. breaking it all down:
Ogden would become the best left tackle in franchise history, an 11-time Pro Bowler, and a Pro Football Hall of Famer. He is sixth all-time in Ravens history for games played with the franchise.
In the following video, you can revisit the moment that Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome made the ’96 draft-day calls to Ogden and fellow future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis:
The Ravens selected Lewis later in the first round, out of Miami, with the 26th overall pick.
NFL Films named Ogden the 72nd-greatest player of all time when they compiled their list in 2017.
The first round of this year’s draft will be held on Thursday night, April 25. The Ravens hold the 30th overall pick.