Who are our top 5 best/worst draft picks of all-time?

[Blackbirds Rule]

On nfl.com they are doing every teams top 5 best and top 5 worst draft picks of all time. They won't unveil ours until April 24th. Who do you guys think are our top 5 best and worst picks.

Here are our Top 5 Best

1. Ray Lewis ( I think this is unanimous amongst all of us)
2. Jonathan Ogden ( 1st and only HOFer for us thus far)
3. Ed Reed ( I can see this being swapped with Ogden maybe but I give it to Ogden)
4. Joe Flacco (Super Bowl MVP and clutch play puts him here)
5. Terrell Suggs ( Defensive POY and play puts him here)

Just missed cut Jamal Lewis, Peter Boulware, Haloti Ngata, Todd Heap, Jamie Sharper, Chris Mcallister, and Ray Rice

Here are our Top 5 worst

1. Dan Cody ( 2nd round pick but we got zilch from him)
2. Sergio Kindle ( another 2nd round pick that we got nothing from)
3. Travis Taylor (That WR class was horrendous with Plaxico and Coles being the only good ones drafted)
4. Kyle Boller ( he won some games and lost alot more his inconsistency killed alot of our prime years for our defense)
5. Mark Clayton ( injured alot had one good year but ultimately never panned out)

Just missed cut Terrence Cody, Dwan Edwards, Adam Terry, and Jimmy Smith (on bubble)

Who do you have?

[ravensfan2430]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365091604' post='1424773']
On nfl.com they are doing every teams top 5 best and top 5 worst draft picks of all time. They won't unveil ours until April 24th. Who do you guys think are our top 5 best and worst picks.

Here are our Top 5 Best

1. Ray Lewis ( I think this is unanimous amongst all of us)
2. Jonathan Ogden ( 1st and only HOFer for us thus far)
3. Ed Reed ( I can see this being swapped with Ogden maybe but I give it to Ogden)
4. Joe Flacco (Super Bowl MVP and clutch play puts him here)
5. Terrell Suggs ( Defensive POY and play puts him here)

Just missed cut Jamal Lewis, Peter Boulware, Haloti Ngata, Todd Heap, Jamie Sharper, Chris Mcallister, and Ray Rice

Here are our Top 5 worst

1. Dan Cody ( 2nd round pick but we got zilch from him)
2. Sergio Kindle ( another 2nd round pick that we got nothing from)
3. Travis Taylor (That WR class was horrendous with Plaxico and Coles being the only good ones drafted)
4. Kyle Boller ( he won some games and lost alot more his inconsistency killed alot of our prime years for our defense)
5. Mark Clayton ( injured alot had one good year but ultimately never panned out)

Just missed cut Terrence Cody, Dwan Edwards, Adam Terry, and Jimmy Smith (on bubble)

Who do you have?
[/quote]

I'd switch Cody and Clayton. I'm convinced we didn't use him correctly. He started to play well for a short time with the Rams

[MARYLANDMIKE21224]

TOP FIVE :
RAY LEWIS
J.O.
ED REED
T. SUGGS
JAMAL LEWIS

WORST FIVE:
JAY GRAHM
YAMON FIGURS
TRAVERS GOODEN
DAN CODY
KYLE BOLLER

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='MARYLANDMIKE21224' timestamp='1365092621' post='1424785']
TOP FIVE :
RAY LEWIS
J.O.
ED REED
T. SUGGS
JAMAL LEWIS

WORST FIVE:
JAY GRAHM
YAMON FIGURS
TRAVERS GOODEN
DAN CODY
KYLE BOLLER
[/quote]

Jay Graham, Yamon Figurs and Gooden were 3rd round picks. 3rd round picks aren't supposed to be dominant or become probowl players. They are fringe starters and depth players for the most part. 1st and 2nd round picks are the only ones I see that can be busts.

[Gordo52]

Boller, Cody, Cody,

[CARavensFan]

Top Five:
Ray Lewis
Jon Ogden
Ed Reed
Terrell Suggs
Jamal Lewis

Potential: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Haoti Ngata

Bottom Five:
Dan Cody
Sergio Kindle
Travis Taylor
Kyle Boller (More based on what we gave up to get him, he got the short end of the stick in the way that he was thrust into the starting job when he wasn't ready)
DeRon Jenkins

Potential: Terrance Cody, Michael Oher (based on the level of play that was expected versus what he actually brings to the table

FYI - The guys I put in the "potential" category are guys who are still early enough in their careers that they could move higher on my list based on how their respective careers play out, or in the case of the guys at bottom move their way out of being considered busts.

[jaege]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365091604' post='1424773']
On nfl.com they are doing every teams top 5 best and top 5 worst draft picks of all time. They won't unveil ours until April 24th. Who do you guys think are our top 5 best and worst picks.

Here are our Top 5 Best

1. Ray Lewis ( I think this is unanimous amongst all of us)
2. Jonathan Ogden ( 1st and only HOFer for us thus far)
3. Ed Reed ( I can see this being swapped with Ogden maybe but I give it to Ogden)
4. Joe Flacco (Super Bowl MVP and clutch play puts him here)
5. Terrell Suggs ( Defensive POY and play puts him here)

Just missed cut Jamal Lewis, Peter Boulware, Haloti Ngata, Todd Heap, Jamie Sharper, Chris Mcallister, and Ray Rice

Here are our Top 5 worst

1. Dan Cody ( 2nd round pick but we got zilch from him)
2. Sergio Kindle ( another 2nd round pick that we got nothing from)
3. Travis Taylor (That WR class was horrendous with Plaxico and Coles being the only good ones drafted)
4. Kyle Boller ( he won some games and lost alot more his inconsistency killed alot of our prime years for our defense)
5. Mark Clayton ( injured alot had one good year but ultimately never panned out)

Just missed cut Terrence Cody, Dwan Edwards, Adam Terry, and Jimmy Smith (on bubble)

Who do you have?
[/quote]


I still think there is hope for Jimmy Smith. I would like to thik there was hopefor Cody as well, but...

As far as best, top three you have without argument. After that it gets murky. All the guys you listed as well as your "just missed' and others could get one of the last two spots and it would still be right. Any chance of some ties?

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='CARavensFan' timestamp='1365093927' post='1424801']
Top Five:
Ray Lewis
Jon Ogden
Ed Reed
Terrell Suggs
Jamal Lewis

Potential: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Haoti Ngata

Bottom Five:
Dan Cody
Sergio Kindle
Travis Taylor
Kyle Boller (More based on what we gave up to get him, he got the short end of the stick in the way that he was thrust into the starting job when he wasn't ready)
DeRon Jenkins

Potential: Terrance Cody, Mic[color=#FF0000]hael Oher (based on the level of play that was expected versus what he actually brings to the table[/color]

FYI - The guys I put in the "potential" category are guys who are still early enough in their careers that they could move higher on my list based on how their respective careers play out, or in the case of the guys at bottom move their way out of being considered busts.
[/quote]

How is Oher even in the potential for bust. He's never missed a game for us and has played very well on the right side of the line. Now he's proven that he's not an elite or even an above average L,T but we didn't draft him to be one. We got him late 1st round and he has played both sides of line with no complaints. If we were to place a bust on any lineman that we drafted I would vote for Gaither. When he played he was an elite type LT but he was lazy and unreliable. I don't hink they're many RT's that are better than Oher, however a whole lot of LT's are but not RT's. If we ever got a stable good LT and we allowed Oher to stay at RT with Yanda next to him we've got a very good line.

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='jaege' timestamp='1365094402' post='1424808']
I still think there is hope for Jimmy Smith. I would like to thik there was hopefor Cody as well, but...

As far as best, top three you have without argument. After that it gets murky. All the guys you listed as well as your "just missed' and others could get one of the last two spots and it would still be right. Any chance of some ties?
[/quote]

They can all be tied. I didn't want to leave anyone off of our best picks list. I really like Jimmy Smith the only reason I say he's on the bubble is because we've yet to see him play a full season at CB. If he plays next year with no injuries he'll take a few steps closer to the best list. You'll always have learning curves playing against the elite wr's. I just wanted him to get his lumps his first 2 years. Now he will get some this 3rd year due to him not playing very much. I will say that he's always healthy for us in the playoffs and has made some great plays. The hit on Crabtree was phenomenal and the inerception of Brady in last years AFC championship game are my two favorite plays from him.

[CARavensFan]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365094616' post='1424813']
How is Oher even in the potential for bust. He's never missed a game for us and has played very well on the right side of the line. Now he's proven that he's not an elite or even an above average L,T but we didn't draft him to be one. We got him late 1st round and he has played both sides of line with no complaints. If we were to place a bust on any lineman that we drafted I would vote for Gaither. When he played he was an elite type LT but he was lazy and unreliable. I don't hink they're many RT's that are better than Oher, however a whole lot of LT's are but not RT's. If we ever got a stable good LT and we allowed Oher to stay at RT with Yanda next to him we've got a very good line.
[/quote]

I would argue that he was drafted to be out LT of the future, until the playoffs last year they were trying to get him to be an LT and before that as well. Going back to RT has been a fallback for Oher.

Has he been durable and reliable his whole career? Yes. Has he become the OT that people expected from him when we traded up to get him 23rd Overall? I would argue no.

Don't get me wrong I think that Oher is a great player and if he was intended to be an RT from the get-go he would be a great player, I merely pointing out that he hasn't lived up the expectations that came with his draft position, which in my mind would be the definition of bust.

[uhhhh]

Top 5:
1. Ray Lewis (duh)
2. J.O.
3. Ed Reed
4. Jamal Lewis
5. Sizzle

Just missed out: CMac, Todd Heap, Haloti, Peter Boulware

Worst 5:
1. Kyle Boller
2. Travis Taylor
3. Dan Cody
4. Sergio Kindle
5. Adam Terry

Just missed out: David Pittman, Chris Chester, Yamon Figurs, Mark Clayton

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='CARavensFan' timestamp='1365095110' post='1424821']
I would argue that he was drafted to be out LT of the future, until the playoffs last year they were trying to get him to be an LT and before that as well. Going back to RT has been a fallback for Oher.

Has he been durable and reliable his whole career? Yes. Has he become the OT that people expected from him when we traded up to get him 23rd Overall? I would argue no.

Don't get me wrong I think that Oher is a great player and if he was intended to be an RT from the get-go he would be a great player, I merely pointing out that he hasn't lived up the expectations that came with his draft position, which in my mind would be the definition of bust.
[/quote]

I got you if we had hopes for him being our next great LT of the future than this is definitely a bust. Since he's still able to contribute at a good level on the other side of the line takes him out of the bust equation IMO. If he couldn't play RT and we were trying him at G or C and he couldn't play there either he would be a huge bust then.

For the reliable and durable point. Has he missed any games? Has he complained about having to go from the LT spot to the RT spot and vice versa? When we went to Denver against Dumervil and Von Miller did they constantly harass Flacco? Miller had 17 sacks and aside from the one play was a non factor going against Oher the entire game. My opinion is that he's barely average on the left but he's really close to elite on the right side. I'd love for us to be able to keep him there. I also like that if our LT can't play or gets hurt he has the ability to play that side and not get Joe killed.

[cushrinada1986]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365091604' post='1424773']
On nfl.com they are doing every teams top 5 best and top 5 worst draft picks of all time. They won't unveil ours until April 24th. Who do you guys think are our top 5 best and worst picks.

Here are our Top 5 Best

1. Ray Lewis ( I think this is unanimous amongst all of us)
2. Jonathan Ogden ( 1st and only HOFer for us thus far)
3. Ed Reed ( I can see this being swapped with Ogden maybe but I give it to Ogden)
4. Joe Flacco (Super Bowl MVP and clutch play puts him here)
5. Terrell Suggs ( Defensive POY and play puts him here)

Just missed cut Jamal Lewis, Peter Boulware, Haloti Ngata, Todd Heap, Jamie Sharper, Chris Mcallister, and Ray Rice

Here are our Top 5 worst

1. Dan Cody ( 2nd round pick but we got zilch from him)
2. Sergio Kindle ( another 2nd round pick that we got nothing from)
3. Travis Taylor (That WR class was horrendous with Plaxico and Coles being the only good ones drafted)
4. Kyle Boller ( he won some games and lost alot more his inconsistency killed alot of our prime years for our defense)
5. Mark Clayton ( injured alot had one good year but ultimately never panned out)

Just missed cut Terrence Cody, Dwan Edwards, Adam Terry, and Jimmy Smith (on bubble)

Who do you have?
[/quote]

1. Dan Cody
2. Sergio Kindle
3. Travis Taylor
4. Kyle Boller
5. [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence_Moore"]Clarence Moore[/url]
6. The entire 2004 Draft Class(Look it up and try not to cry)

[The Raven]

Best:

1. Ray Lewis
2. Jonathan Ogden
3. Ed Reed
4. Joe Flacco
5. Terrell Suggs

Honorable mentions: Ray Rice, Jamal Lewis, and Ngata

Worst

1. Kyle Boller.
2. Dan Cody
3. Travis Taylor
4. Yamon Figurs
5. Mark Clayton

Honorable Mentions: Tavares Gooden, David Pittman, and Patrick Johnson

[CARavensFan]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365095960' post='1424828']
I got you if we had hopes for him being our next great LT of the future than this is definitely a bust. Since he's still able to contribute at a good level on the other side of the line takes him out of the bust equation IMO. If he couldn't play RT and we were trying him at G or C and he couldn't play there either he would be a huge bust then.

For the reliable and durable point. Has he missed any games? Has he complained about having to go from the LT spot to the RT spot and vice versa? When we went to Denver against Dumervil and Von Miller did they constantly harass Flacco? Miller had 17 sacks and aside from the one play was a non factor going against Oher the entire game. My opinion is that he's barely average on the left but he's really close to elite on the right side. I'd love for us to be able to keep him there. I also like that if our LT can't play or gets hurt he has the ability to play that side and not get Joe killed.
[/quote]

I completely agree, if you notice what I originall said about guys that I listed in potential categtory I said that it was for guys who haven't played enough to place one way or the other. Oher hasn't missed games, but he also hasn't lived up to the expectations that come with his draft position.

If he stays on the right side and remains a stud for the next several years then I wouldn't mention him as a bust, maybe just a slight disappointment based on what was expected. My main reasoning for putting him there is that he has lived up to his expectation that were given to him when he was drafted.

[berad]

Good topic. Hard to move any of those "best" guys out of their slots. 3 are all-time greats and the other two are paving their own legacies in the NFL.

But I'd like to give some props to guys drafted outside of the first-round like Rice, Jarret Johnson, and Yanda - who have way outperformed their draft status.

Five worst are up for debate, here's my shot...

1. Travis Taylor
2. Kyle Boller
3. Mark Clayton
4. Oneil Cousins
5. David Pittman

Guys like Gooden, Figurs, Adam Terry, Terrence Cody, and Chester deserve mentions. I didn't include guys who's careers were severely impacted by injuries i.e. Dan Cody and Kindle. Didn't seem fair to me.

[rlh445]

To me, there is like a top 15 . We have been blessed as a franchise to get so many good players through our drafts. No matter who is on the eventual list, I'm sure we won't get many complaints.

[CARavensFan]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1365098992' post='1424867']
Good topic. Hard to move any of those "best" guys out of their slots. 3 are all-time greats and the other two are paving their own legacies in the NFL.

But I'd like to give some props to guys drafted outside of the first-round like Rice, Jarret Johnson, and Yanda - who have way outperformed their draft status.

Five worst are up for debate, here's my shot...

1. Travis Taylor
2. Kyle Boller
3. Mark Clayton
4. Oneil Cousins
5. David Pittman

Guys like Gooden, Figurs, Adam Terry, Terrence Cody, and Chester deserve mentions. I didn't include guys who's careers were severely impacted by injuries i.e. Dan Cody and Kindle. Didn't seem fair to me.
[/quote]

Good point about the injuries, that would make my list a little different.

[JoeyFlex5]

ummm what is the criteria for the best draft picks? players that we drafted that were really good? how about value and a steal? what about ray rice in the late 2nd round? what about dennis pitta in the 4th? jermaine lewis in the 5th? jamie sharper in the 2nd? adalius thomas in the 6th? jarrett johnson in the 4th? YANDA IN THE 3RD??? yeah i had to google these facts but if ur talking about the ravens best draft picks, i dont think the absolute best players weve ever had that we drafted, i think the smartest draft picks, the genius moves ozzie makes to find extremely productive players so late in the draft, i think of the draft picks themselves, instead of just the player we got with that pick.

[Ravenseconbeast]

Now make one for best/worst FA.

I got few ripes ones on my mind...:-D

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1365103802' post='1424935']
Now make one for best/worst FA.

I got few ripes ones on my mind...:-D
[/quote]

Top 5 Best FA's

1. Sam Adams
2. Rod Woodson
3. Anquan Boldin
4. Derrick Mason
5. Shannon Sharpe

honorable mention Cory Redding, Matt Birk, Justin Bannan, Bernard Pollard, Jacoby Jones, Willis Magahee, Trent Dilfer, and Steve McNair

Top 5 worst FA's

1. Elvis Grbac (to his credit we did have our best passing ranking and we did lose Jamal for the whole season)
2. Domonique Foxworth
3. Lee Evans
4. Billy Cundiff
5. T.J. Houshmanzadeh

dishonorable mention Leon Searcy, Frank Walker, Tony Banks, L.J. Smith, Kordell Stewart, Anthony Wright, Jeff Blake, Stoney Case, Scott Mitchell, Jim Harbaugh, and Ryan McBean.

How was that?

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1365097743' post='1424845']
Best:

1. Ray Lewis
2. Jonathan Ogden
3. Ed Reed
4. Joe Flacco
5. Terrell Suggs

Honorable mentions: Ray Rice, Jamal Lewis, and Ngata

Worst

1. Kyle Boller.
2. Dan Cody
3. Travis Taylor
4. Yamon Figurs
5. Mark Clayton

Honorable Mentions: Tavares Gooden, David Pittman, and Patrick Johnson
[/quote]

i agree completely... and more - whatever list doesn't have Joe Flacco at 4 (behind Ray, Ogden and Ed Reed - all HoF) it's not worth reading... he is the best QB the franchise ever had and a SB MVP (sizzle, little ray, jamal and ngata are all great players but their impact for the team cannot be compared with joe's)

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365105722' post='1424958']
Top 5 Best FA's

1. Sam Adams
2. Rod Woodson
3. Anquan Boldin
4. Derrick Mason
5. Shannon Sharpe

honorable mention Cory Redding, Matt Birk, Justin Bannan, Bernard Pollard, Jacoby Jones, Willis Magahee, Trent Dilfer, and Steve McNair

Top 5 worst FA's

1. Elvis Grbac (to his credit we did have our best passing ranking and we did lose Jamal for the whole season)
2. Domonique Foxworth
3. T.J. Houshmanzadeh
4. Leon Searcy
5. Frank Walker

dishonorable mention Tony Banks, L.J. Smith, Kordell Stewart, Anthony Wright, Jeff Blake, Stoney Case, Scott Mitchell, Jim Harbaugh, and Ryan McBean.

How was that?
[/quote]

how can you not put Evans in the bottom 5? we lost the chance to a ring and a 4th for him! take TJ (was on the cheap anyway) out and slot him in

[Blackbirds Rule]

[quote name='horus13corvineus' timestamp='1365105995' post='1424960']
how can you not put Evans in the bottom 5? we lost the chance to a ring and a 4th for him! take TJ (was on the cheap anyway) out and slot him in
[/quote]

I mentally blocked out Evans and Cundiff as ever playing for us. Cundiff and Evans are 3 and 4. Housh rounds out the bottom 5. Frank walker and Searcy are saved by my faux pas.

[Guest Mr. Nobody]

[quote name='Blackbirds Rule' timestamp='1365106614' post='1424967']
I mentally blocked out Evans and Cundiff as ever playing for us. Cundiff and Evans are 3 and 4. Housh rounds out the bottom 5. Frank walker and Searcy are saved by my faux pas.
[/quote]

phew, panic over, looks much better (as for the worse) now lol

[redrum52]

Best

Jonathan Ogden
Ray Lewis
Ed Reed
Haloti Ngata(People don't realize how much of an impact he has on the defense. Also kept Ray going down the line in his career)
Terrell Suggs

Marshall Yanda, Jamal Lewis, Chris McAllister, Ray Rice, Joe Flacco and Jermaine Lewis deserve mention.


Worst

Travis Taylor
Kyle Boller
Demetrius Williams ( next wr taken was Brandon Marshall)
Oniel Cousins
Sergio Kindle (I still don't think it was narcolepsy that brought him down those stairs)

Tried not to include players who were injured and I feel Clayton gets a bad rap because of qb play and being used incorrectly.

[The Raven]

[quote name='horus13corvineus' timestamp='1365105824' post='1424959']
i agree completely... and more - whatever list doesn't have Joe Flacco at 4 (behind Ray, Ogden and Ed Reed - all HoF) it's not worth reading... he is the best QB the franchise ever had and a SB MVP (sizzle, little ray, jamal and ngata are all great players but their impact for the team cannot be compared with joe's)
[/quote]

This might be considered blasphemy, but I can see Joe Flacco becoming the third, or maybe even our second best draft pick. Not now, of course, but somewhere down the road. He's gonna need to ball out to do that though.

[berad]

[quote name='CARavensFan' timestamp='1365102237' post='1424905']
Good point about the injuries, that would make my list a little different.
[/quote]

Granted, they didn't do anything for the franchise so it is still considered a wasted pick but what if their injuries hadn't happened? In Kindle's case it was miraculous that he even suited up for us after that.

[TDubbs]

[quote name='redrum52' timestamp='1365108024' post='1424998']
Sergio Kindle (I still don't think it was narcolepsy that brought him down those stairs)
[/quote]

Haha, not a chance! It's called too much alcohol and not enough water! It's a shame really, the man is a raw physical beast, could have been a big time playmaker for us.

[gametyme]

Best:
Lewis, Ogden, Reed, Flacco, Webb (I put Webb ahead of Suggs based on him being a third rounder from Nicholls State. Total steal and many teams didnt even know he existed when we drafted him)

Worst:
Boller, D. Cody, Kindle, Terry, T. Taylor