- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,196,171
- Reaction score
- 59
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the NFL's strongest first-round draft histories, which makes the conversation about their most underrated picks different from most franchises. Baltimore's best first-round selections are obvious. Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis were the franchise's first two draft picks in 1996 and became Hall of Famers. Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Joe Flacco, Ronnie Stanley, Lamar Jackson, Marlon Humphrey, and Kyle Hamilton all became foundational players, championship pieces, Pro Bowlers, All-Pros, or franchise pillars whose places in team history are secure.
The more interesting exercise is identifying the first-round picks who delivered major value without always being mentioned with the same reverence. Some played in the shadow of Hall of Fame defenders. Others were productive on offenses that were rarely viewed as explosive. A few had careers that were steady rather than spectacular, while others made their biggest impact on teams remembered for stars at other positions.
For a franchise that has usually drafted well in the first round, underrated does not mean unknown. It means the player's value, production, or role in Baltimore's winning culture deserves more attention than it usually gets. Here is a look at the most underrated first-round picks in Ravens history, with first-round selections only.
Heap is the clearest answer in this conversation. The Ravens selected him with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, one year after winning their first Super Bowl, and he became one of the most reliable offensive players in franchise history. Heap played 10 seasons in Baltimore, became a two-time Pro Bowl selection, and set the standard at tight end long before Mark Andrews emerged as one of the NFL's best players at the position.
Heap's case is strengthened by the offensive environment around him. He played through the Kyle Boller years, the end of the Brian Billick era, the beginning of the John Harbaugh era, and the early portion of Joe Flacco's career. Baltimore was often built around defense, special teams, the running game, and field position during Heap's prime, which meant his production did not benefit from the kind of pass-heavy system that has lifted modern tight ends.
Even with that context, Heap became a dependable target over the middle, a red zone threat, and a matchup problem who could line up in different spots. He finished his Ravens career with 467 receptions, 5,492 yards, and 41 touchdowns, numbers that made him one of the best offensive players in team history. He was not the greatest first-round pick the Ravens have made, but he remains one of the easiest great ones to overlook.
Boulware was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1997 NFL draft and became one of the first major defensive stars in Ravens history. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned four Pro Bowl selections, and helped give Baltimore a dangerous edge presence before the franchise's defense became nationally synonymous with Ray Lewis, Reed, and Suggs.
Boulware's career is sometimes overlooked because he played alongside one of the most famous defensive players in NFL history and later saw Suggs become the franchise's signature outside linebacker. That should not diminish what Boulware meant to the Ravens. He was an early building block for the defense, recorded multiple double-digit sack seasons, and played an important role on the 2000 team that won Super Bowl XXXV.
The Ravens' defensive identity did not begin with a single player, and Boulware's role in that foundation deserves more attention. He gave Baltimore explosive pass-rush production, helped legitimize the young franchise, and remains one of the best first-round picks in team history.
McAlister was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft and became one of the best cornerbacks in Ravens history. His size, physicality, and confidence made him an ideal fit for a defense that wanted to challenge receivers, compress throwing windows, and force quarterbacks to hold the ball against one of the league's most intimidating fronts.
McAlister earned three Pro Bowl selections, was a first-team All-Pro in 2003, and was a starter on the 2000 Super Bowl team. His career résumé should place him comfortably among the franchise's best defensive players, but he is not always discussed with the same frequency as Lewis, Reed, Suggs, and Ngata. That is understandable given the star power around him, but it also makes him underrated relative to his actual impact.
At his best, McAlister was a true No. 1 cornerback. He could match up with bigger receivers, support the run, and give Baltimore the kind of coverage presence that allowed the rest of the defense to stay aggressive. In a franchise known for elite defensive play, McAlister deserves to be remembered as more than a supporting figure.
Starks was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft and became a key part of Baltimore's first championship defense. He spent four seasons with the Ravens, started on the 2000 Super Bowl team, and delivered one of the defining plays of that postseason run when he returned an interception for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants.
Starks' Ravens career was shorter than McAlister's, which affects how he is remembered, but his impact during Baltimore’s rise was significant. He brought speed, ball skills, and coverage ability to a secondary that helped finish off one of the best defenses in NFL history. Playing cornerback on that roster meant sharing attention with Lewis, Rod Woodson, McAlister, Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa, and the rest of a historically dominant group, but Starks was more than a passenger.
For a first-round pick, the peak matters. Starks became a starter on a championship defense and made a signature Super Bowl play. That combination gives him a strong place among Baltimore's most underrated first-round selections.
Ben Grubbs, guard, 2007
Grubbs was selected with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft and became a dependable starter during an important transition period for the Ravens. Interior offensive linemen rarely become the face of a draft class, but Grubbs gave Baltimore exactly what teams hope to find near the end of the first round: toughness, reliability, and high-level play at a position that often determines whether an offense can function.
Grubbs started 70 games over five seasons with the Ravens and earned Pro Bowl recognition after leaving Baltimore, but his best value to the franchise came from helping stabilize the offensive line as the team shifted from the final years before Harbaugh to the early Flacco era. He was part of the group that helped protect a young franchise quarterback and support a physical running game built around Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain.
The Ravens have long valued offensive line play, but Grubbs can get lost in a franchise history that includes Ogden, Marshal Yanda, Stanley, and Tyler Linderbaum. He should not be forgotten. As a late first-round pick, he gave Baltimore strong starting value and helped support a playoff-caliber offense.
Smith was selected with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and became one of the more underrated defensive backs in Ravens history. His career was disrupted by injuries, which likely kept him from receiving the broader recognition his talent warranted, but when healthy, Smith was a long, physical, and highly effective outside cornerback.
His most important moment came during the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, when he competed against Michael Crabtree on the final defensive stand. That sequence became part of franchise history, but Smith's overall value extended well beyond one night. He played 10 seasons in Baltimore, started 90 games, and gave the Ravens a high-end matchup option when available.
Smith's career is difficult to rank because of his availability issues, but his peak and longevity still make him a strong fit for this list. He was a late first-round pick who became a long-term starter at a premium position, helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl, and remained trusted by multiple defensive staffs.
Mosley was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and immediately continued Baltimore's tradition of high-level linebacker play. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, earned four Pro Bowl selections in five seasons with the Ravens, and became the leader of the defense during a period when the franchise was transitioning from the last pieces of its second Super Bowl roster into a new era.
Mosley may not seem underrated because he was recognized during his time in Baltimore, but his place in Ravens draft history can still be overlooked. He followed Ray Lewis, played in a city with impossible linebacker standards, and left in free agency before spending a full decade with the franchise. Those factors can make his tenure with the Ravens feel smaller than it was.
In reality, Mosley was one of the best inside linebackers in football during his time in Baltimore. He was instinctive, productive, durable, and trusted to control the defense. For a mid-first-round pick, the Ravens got immediate elite-level production and one of the NFL's best players at his position.
Oher was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and became a reliable starter on the Ravens' offensive line, even if his career is often discussed through the lens of his national profile rather than his on-field value in Baltimore. He started as a rookie, played both tackle spots, and was a starter on the team that won Super Bowl XLVII.
Oher was not an elite left tackle, and that distinction is important. But he was a useful, durable, and versatile lineman who played 80 regular-season games for Baltimore and gave the Ravens flexibility during a strong run under Harbaugh. Not every first-round pick becomes a franchise cornerstone, and Oher's value came from being a steady contributor on winning teams.
His national fame sometimes overshadows the football evaluation, while his limitations can cause his Ravens career to be undervalued. The middle ground is more accurate: Oher was a productive first-round pick who started for a Super Bowl champion and helped Baltimore maintain one of the AFC's most physical identities.
Lewis is not underrated in the traditional sense because he remains the Ravens' all-time leading rusher and one of the most accomplished offensive players in team history. Still, his place among Baltimore's greatest first-round picks can be undersold because the franchise's identity has been so heavily shaped by defense and quarterback play.
The Ravens selected Lewis with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft, and he immediately became the offensive engine for a team that won Super Bowl XXXV. He later produced one of the greatest rushing seasons in league history, running for 2,066 yards in 2003 and earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. His combination of power, speed, and durability gave Baltimore a true offensive identity during a period when the passing game often lacked consistency.
Lewis belongs here as an honorable inclusion because his career can be remembered as great without always being placed high enough in the broader first-round conversation. Ogden, Lewis, Reed, Suggs, Jackson, and Flacco often dominate those discussions, but Jamal Lewis was one of the most important offensive players the franchise has ever drafted.
The Ravens' first-round history is strong enough that several excellent picks do not always get the credit they deserve. Heap became one of the franchise's best offensive players while playing in low-volume passing attacks. Boulware and McAlister helped shape Baltimore's defensive identity before other stars became larger names. Starks delivered championship value, Grubbs and Oher provided important offensive line stability, Smith gave the Ravens a long-term cornerback, Mosley upheld the linebacker standard, and Jamal Lewis powered one of the most important eras in team history.
That is what separates Baltimore's draft history from many other franchises. The Ravens have not merely found stars in the first round. They have found starters, tone-setters, playoff contributors, and championship pieces whose value can be easy to overlook because the franchise has drafted so many bigger names. In that context, "underrated" does not mean "forgotten". It means these first-round picks deserve a longer look.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Most underrated first-round picks in Ravens franchise history
Continue reading...
The more interesting exercise is identifying the first-round picks who delivered major value without always being mentioned with the same reverence. Some played in the shadow of Hall of Fame defenders. Others were productive on offenses that were rarely viewed as explosive. A few had careers that were steady rather than spectacular, while others made their biggest impact on teams remembered for stars at other positions.
For a franchise that has usually drafted well in the first round, underrated does not mean unknown. It means the player's value, production, or role in Baltimore's winning culture deserves more attention than it usually gets. Here is a look at the most underrated first-round picks in Ravens history, with first-round selections only.
Todd Heap, tight end, 2001
Heap is the clearest answer in this conversation. The Ravens selected him with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, one year after winning their first Super Bowl, and he became one of the most reliable offensive players in franchise history. Heap played 10 seasons in Baltimore, became a two-time Pro Bowl selection, and set the standard at tight end long before Mark Andrews emerged as one of the NFL's best players at the position.
Heap's case is strengthened by the offensive environment around him. He played through the Kyle Boller years, the end of the Brian Billick era, the beginning of the John Harbaugh era, and the early portion of Joe Flacco's career. Baltimore was often built around defense, special teams, the running game, and field position during Heap's prime, which meant his production did not benefit from the kind of pass-heavy system that has lifted modern tight ends.
Even with that context, Heap became a dependable target over the middle, a red zone threat, and a matchup problem who could line up in different spots. He finished his Ravens career with 467 receptions, 5,492 yards, and 41 touchdowns, numbers that made him one of the best offensive players in team history. He was not the greatest first-round pick the Ravens have made, but he remains one of the easiest great ones to overlook.
Peter Boulware, linebacker, 1997
Boulware was selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 1997 NFL draft and became one of the first major defensive stars in Ravens history. He was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned four Pro Bowl selections, and helped give Baltimore a dangerous edge presence before the franchise's defense became nationally synonymous with Ray Lewis, Reed, and Suggs.
Boulware's career is sometimes overlooked because he played alongside one of the most famous defensive players in NFL history and later saw Suggs become the franchise's signature outside linebacker. That should not diminish what Boulware meant to the Ravens. He was an early building block for the defense, recorded multiple double-digit sack seasons, and played an important role on the 2000 team that won Super Bowl XXXV.
The Ravens' defensive identity did not begin with a single player, and Boulware's role in that foundation deserves more attention. He gave Baltimore explosive pass-rush production, helped legitimize the young franchise, and remains one of the best first-round picks in team history.
Chris McAlister, cornerback, 1999
McAlister was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 1999 NFL draft and became one of the best cornerbacks in Ravens history. His size, physicality, and confidence made him an ideal fit for a defense that wanted to challenge receivers, compress throwing windows, and force quarterbacks to hold the ball against one of the league's most intimidating fronts.
McAlister earned three Pro Bowl selections, was a first-team All-Pro in 2003, and was a starter on the 2000 Super Bowl team. His career résumé should place him comfortably among the franchise's best defensive players, but he is not always discussed with the same frequency as Lewis, Reed, Suggs, and Ngata. That is understandable given the star power around him, but it also makes him underrated relative to his actual impact.
At his best, McAlister was a true No. 1 cornerback. He could match up with bigger receivers, support the run, and give Baltimore the kind of coverage presence that allowed the rest of the defense to stay aggressive. In a franchise known for elite defensive play, McAlister deserves to be remembered as more than a supporting figure.
Duane Starks, cornerback, 1998
Starks was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft and became a key part of Baltimore's first championship defense. He spent four seasons with the Ravens, started on the 2000 Super Bowl team, and delivered one of the defining plays of that postseason run when he returned an interception for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV against the New York Giants.
Starks' Ravens career was shorter than McAlister's, which affects how he is remembered, but his impact during Baltimore’s rise was significant. He brought speed, ball skills, and coverage ability to a secondary that helped finish off one of the best defenses in NFL history. Playing cornerback on that roster meant sharing attention with Lewis, Rod Woodson, McAlister, Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa, and the rest of a historically dominant group, but Starks was more than a passenger.
For a first-round pick, the peak matters. Starks became a starter on a championship defense and made a signature Super Bowl play. That combination gives him a strong place among Baltimore's most underrated first-round selections.
Ben Grubbs, guard, 2007
Grubbs was selected with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft and became a dependable starter during an important transition period for the Ravens. Interior offensive linemen rarely become the face of a draft class, but Grubbs gave Baltimore exactly what teams hope to find near the end of the first round: toughness, reliability, and high-level play at a position that often determines whether an offense can function.
Grubbs started 70 games over five seasons with the Ravens and earned Pro Bowl recognition after leaving Baltimore, but his best value to the franchise came from helping stabilize the offensive line as the team shifted from the final years before Harbaugh to the early Flacco era. He was part of the group that helped protect a young franchise quarterback and support a physical running game built around Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain.
The Ravens have long valued offensive line play, but Grubbs can get lost in a franchise history that includes Ogden, Marshal Yanda, Stanley, and Tyler Linderbaum. He should not be forgotten. As a late first-round pick, he gave Baltimore strong starting value and helped support a playoff-caliber offense.
Jimmy Smith, cornerback, 2011
Smith was selected with the No. 27 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft and became one of the more underrated defensive backs in Ravens history. His career was disrupted by injuries, which likely kept him from receiving the broader recognition his talent warranted, but when healthy, Smith was a long, physical, and highly effective outside cornerback.
His most important moment came during the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, when he competed against Michael Crabtree on the final defensive stand. That sequence became part of franchise history, but Smith's overall value extended well beyond one night. He played 10 seasons in Baltimore, started 90 games, and gave the Ravens a high-end matchup option when available.
Smith's career is difficult to rank because of his availability issues, but his peak and longevity still make him a strong fit for this list. He was a late first-round pick who became a long-term starter at a premium position, helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl, and remained trusted by multiple defensive staffs.
C.J. Mosley, linebacker, 2014
Mosley was selected with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft and immediately continued Baltimore's tradition of high-level linebacker play. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, earned four Pro Bowl selections in five seasons with the Ravens, and became the leader of the defense during a period when the franchise was transitioning from the last pieces of its second Super Bowl roster into a new era.
Mosley may not seem underrated because he was recognized during his time in Baltimore, but his place in Ravens draft history can still be overlooked. He followed Ray Lewis, played in a city with impossible linebacker standards, and left in free agency before spending a full decade with the franchise. Those factors can make his tenure with the Ravens feel smaller than it was.
In reality, Mosley was one of the best inside linebackers in football during his time in Baltimore. He was instinctive, productive, durable, and trusted to control the defense. For a mid-first-round pick, the Ravens got immediate elite-level production and one of the NFL's best players at his position.
Michael Oher, offensive tackle, 2009
Oher was selected with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft and became a reliable starter on the Ravens' offensive line, even if his career is often discussed through the lens of his national profile rather than his on-field value in Baltimore. He started as a rookie, played both tackle spots, and was a starter on the team that won Super Bowl XLVII.
Oher was not an elite left tackle, and that distinction is important. But he was a useful, durable, and versatile lineman who played 80 regular-season games for Baltimore and gave the Ravens flexibility during a strong run under Harbaugh. Not every first-round pick becomes a franchise cornerstone, and Oher's value came from being a steady contributor on winning teams.
His national fame sometimes overshadows the football evaluation, while his limitations can cause his Ravens career to be undervalued. The middle ground is more accurate: Oher was a productive first-round pick who started for a Super Bowl champion and helped Baltimore maintain one of the AFC's most physical identities.
Jamal Lewis, running back, 2000
Lewis is not underrated in the traditional sense because he remains the Ravens' all-time leading rusher and one of the most accomplished offensive players in team history. Still, his place among Baltimore's greatest first-round picks can be undersold because the franchise's identity has been so heavily shaped by defense and quarterback play.
The Ravens selected Lewis with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft, and he immediately became the offensive engine for a team that won Super Bowl XXXV. He later produced one of the greatest rushing seasons in league history, running for 2,066 yards in 2003 and earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. His combination of power, speed, and durability gave Baltimore a true offensive identity during a period when the passing game often lacked consistency.
Lewis belongs here as an honorable inclusion because his career can be remembered as great without always being placed high enough in the broader first-round conversation. Ogden, Lewis, Reed, Suggs, Jackson, and Flacco often dominate those discussions, but Jamal Lewis was one of the most important offensive players the franchise has ever drafted.
Final Analysis
The Ravens' first-round history is strong enough that several excellent picks do not always get the credit they deserve. Heap became one of the franchise's best offensive players while playing in low-volume passing attacks. Boulware and McAlister helped shape Baltimore's defensive identity before other stars became larger names. Starks delivered championship value, Grubbs and Oher provided important offensive line stability, Smith gave the Ravens a long-term cornerback, Mosley upheld the linebacker standard, and Jamal Lewis powered one of the most important eras in team history.
That is what separates Baltimore's draft history from many other franchises. The Ravens have not merely found stars in the first round. They have found starters, tone-setters, playoff contributors, and championship pieces whose value can be easy to overlook because the franchise has drafted so many bigger names. In that context, "underrated" does not mean "forgotten". It means these first-round picks deserve a longer look.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Most underrated first-round picks in Ravens franchise history
Continue reading...
