Ravens ranks as the best concept team
As for their history in the draft, the Ravens’ reputation goes before them.
Therefore, it was not much of a surprise when Brian Costello of The New York Post named Baltimore as the best draft team over the past five years.
“The Ravens repeat as our best draft team,” Costello wrote. “[Lamar] Jackson, an MVP, is their best choice, but they have nailed many choices over the past few years, from Ronnie Stanley to Marlon Humphrey and Orlando Brown. ‘
Costello examined the draft classes of each team from 2016-2020 based on factors played, Pro Bowl appearances, first All-Pro picks, MVPs and other seasonal awards. He also considered the overall success of the team during that period.
“While we will all criticize the draft classes once they are made within a few weeks, it takes 3-5 years to really know how teams performed in any draft,” Costello wrote.
Unsurprisingly, Jackson was selected as the Ravens’ top pick, but Baltimore’s entire draft class in 2018 continued to earn good reviews. Football Outsiders ranked Ozzie Newsome’s final draft class as the second best of 2010-2019, just behind the Seattle Seahawks’ 2012 class (Russell Wilson, Bobby Wagner, trade for Marshawn Lynch).
“The Ravens got a league MVP with the number 32 pick in the 2018 draft, though they passed him on (along with the rest of the league) before pulling the trigger,” said Ian Hartitz, Pro Football Focus, added. ‘The rest of the group is largely loaded, as even unlisted contributors such as WR Marquise Brown (+0.29 WAR / season), LB CJ Mosley (+0.17) and LT Ronnie Stanley (+0.17) have achieved much success during their respective NFL careers. “