The Baltimore Ravens have been a team that values the draft to the utmost degree over the course of their organizational history. They’ve used it to draft winning playmakers on all three sides of the ball, and many of the best players to suit up for the franchise have been homegrown talents.
When re-grading each first-round quarterback selection of the last 15 years, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports gave Baltimore very high marks for their two additions at the position through the draft. He started off with quarterback Lamar Jackson, who the Ravens took in the first round in the 2018 draft, mentioning that the former Louisville star is one of the NFL’s “defining talents” and giving the team a “home run” grade.
“…Jackson is one of the NFL’s defining talents; he hasn’t been the most durable, and he’s struggled in brief playoff efforts, but his world-class speed has kept Baltimore afloat, even as the team has failed to surround him with steady pass catchers.”
The final year of Benjamin’s re-grading came in 2008, where Baltimore selected Joe Flacco in the first round. The Ravens also received a “home run” grade for Flacco’s addition, with Benjamin mentioning his incredible 2012-2013 Super Bowl run.
“Flacco gets more ridicule for being even more of a throwback pocket passer, ultimately settling into an ultra-conservative approach, but his big arm was instrumental in the Ravens’ 2012 Super Bowl run and he still captained six different playoff runs over 11 seasons in Baltimore.”