Best Draft since 1996?

[baltimorefan328]

I was going to put this in a different thread but though it was enough to have its own topic. Feel free to merge it with another topic if its too much.

 

I was just looking back at the Ravens 2014 draft, and is this the best draft the Ravens have ever had since 1996? I mean the 2008 draft was amazing because we got our franchise quarterback and rice, but after that not too much significant impact.

 

After looking at the Ravens rookie class this year and keeping track of some of their production this draft was simply amazing and another year or two of this many hits put the Ravens in that dangerous range of amazing talent all on rookie contracts (i.e. Seattle seahawks right now/last year)

 

Round 1: CJ Mosely - I dont think I have to explain anything here

 

Round 2: Timmy Jernigan - First the fax fiasco we get dumervil, then the "diluted urine sample" and we get this first round talent in the second round. He seems to be a real good kid and is already a force to be reconed with on the defensive line

 

Round 3: Terrence Brooks - If the Ravens finally stick this kid in one position as Pees said I think he has real potential. He showed promise at times at a very difficult position to learn, also he hasnt been surrounded by the best talent as we all know the Ravens secondary woes. 

 

Round 3: Crockett Gilmore - Seems to be a pretty good blocking tight end as he was touted coming out, but I really like his receiving potential as well. He isnt going to wow you with speed but with some more mentoring he could really turn into that blocking tight end who can also sit down in soft spots in zone coverage or box guys out with his 6'6 frame

 

Round 4: Brent Urban - Injured but showed some very good promise in the preseason, jury still remains out but seems like he could be a good contributor next year

 

Round 4: Lorenzo Taliaferro - Unfortunate he found his way onto the IR but thus is the way of the Ravens season. Before that however he looked very good. Runs a little high and needs to work a little on ball security but I like him as a tough runner and he definitely contributed his rookie season

 

Round 5: John Urschel - I mean stepping into both left and right guard as a rookie and exceeding all expectations. He has played very well. Its not easy for a rookie left guard to then start next to a rookie left tackle and vice versa, but in the playoff game we see how effective he can be when playing next to an experienced veteran in Yanda.

 

Round 6: Keith Wenning - Didn't expect much of anything here, but he did show enough to make the practice squad and I look for him to maybe seize the number 2 under Flacco next year

 

Round 7: Michael Campanaro - Unfortunately has faced some injury problems this year but has show some real promise on the crossing and underneath routes. I hope Kubiak finds more ways to get him involved because he seems to be that exact welker type matchup nightmare the Ravens can really exploit.

 

So after looking through I would say the Ravens found 4 players with significant impacts (Mosely, Jernigan, Gilmore, Urschel). I put Urschel here even though he hasnt played a ton because when he has played he's played very well and held strong in a playoff game, in Pittsburgh, thats enough for me.

 

Then I would say they found 3 players with good impacts/potential to make huge impacts next year (Brooks, Taliaferro, Campanaro). Brooks I though with the exception of not going for the interception in that one game, he was playing decently. He delivered a few splash plays like the big hit (i forget which game) and as Pees said if they focused him on one position he may have made a bigger impact. He also wasnt playing with great talent around him originally so that can be very difficult for young players as well. Taliaferro looked good and although Campanaro hasnt played a ton he has looked very good and I expect him to be used more next year.

 

Then the rest (Urban, Wenning). Again Wenning didn't need to show much although it would have been nice for him to show a little more pressure on Tyrod. However even then I fully expected Tyrod to take the backup role. And Urban I thought showed some great promise in the preseason and would have likely been a part of the defensive line rotation this year had he not been injured.

 

This is an absolutely amazing draft and the fact the Ravens have so many rookies getting postseason experience this year is huge moving forward, but more importantly its huge to hopefully go up and kick the patriots butts in 5 days

 

 

 

[ravensfan160]

It's early but so far the results have been impressive. Urschel seems like a really solid young lineman which is huge because the cupboard is pretty bare there after the starters. It seems we have the answer at LG when KO inevitable gets a big payday someplace else.

[PurplePassion824]

Mosley is quickly becoming one of my favorite current Ravens.  I'll have to admit I hated the pick at first but I love it now.  I loved the Jernigan pick when we picked him.  I knew about the diluted sample and felt that we got a real steal at that pick.  Time will tell how this draft class does.

[RavensFanMania]

It's definitely a bit too early to consider it the best since 96.  That being said I agree that the potential is their.  I already own a CJ Mosely jersey and loved him in college.  Didn't think we would get the opportunity to draft him though.  Then to get Jernigan in the 2nd round.  WOW  The rest is just gravy.

 

Go Ravens!

[arnie_uk]

No, franchise QB that won us a super bowl trumps all.

[ravensfan160]

It's definitely a bit too early to consider it the best since 96.  That being said I agree that the potential is their.  I already own a CJ Mosely jersey and loved him in college.  Didn't think we would get the opportunity to draft him though.  Then to get Jernigan in the 2nd round.  WOW  The rest is just gravy.

 

Go Ravens!

Mosely and Jernigan are legit and have a chance to be All Pros. If that's the start of your draft you would really have to tank the rest to not make this draft turn out very well. Given what we've seen so far from guys like Gillmore, Taliafero, Urschel, and Camp the signs are incredibly positive.

[rmcjacket23]

2008 is the second best draft for me. When you can get a franchise QB and what essentially amounted to a franchise RB in the same draft, its a great draft no matter what else happened.

[PurpleCity5]

Yes, It looks that way. Rookies are certainty exceeding all expectations. 

[Mt. Crushmore]

This does have the appearance of a very good draft class.  Don't forget UDFA's James Hurst at LT and Zachary Orr on special teams.

 

No, franchise QB that won us a super bowl trumps all.

 

Same here

[redrum52]

It's early but so far the results have been impressive. Urschel seems like a really solid young lineman which is huge because the cupboard is pretty bare there after the starters. It seems we have the answer at LG when KO inevitable gets a big payday someplace else.

I don't see KO going anywhere.

[RavensFanMania]

Mosely and Jernigan are legit and have a chance to be All Pros. If that's the start of your draft you would really have to tank the rest to not make this draft turn out very well. Given what we've seen so far from guys like Gillmore, Taliafero, Urschel, and Camp the signs are incredibly positive.

Absolutely agree

[ravensfan160]

This does have the appearance of a very good draft class.  Don't forget UDFA's James Hurst at LT and Zachary Orr on special teams.

 

 

Same here

He took John Simon's roster spot so hopefully he turns into something more than just a special teams guy. Simon is no All Pro but he was starting for the Texans team that destroyed us.

 

Once we lose McPhee this off season what young guy at OLB do we have to groom for the future? None. It's not a huge deal since Suggs/Doom should be good for another couple years but it's something to think about. The Steelers invested a top 15 pick in an OLB and are still struggling to fill the position.

[ravensfan160]

I don't see KO going anywhere.

It's either KO or Yanda. The Ravens won't pay both. We've seen this before when we let Grubbs walk. You can't pay two guards top dollar anymore. Guards demand much more money than they used to and they are relatively easy to replace. All you have to do is look at how well Urschel is playing for us.

[rmcjacket23]

I don't see KO going anywhere.

Will be interesting. If there's one thing I know the FO knows they are good at, its finding quality guards without necessarily using top draft picks. We let Ben Grubbs go, and at the time, he was amongst the best guards in the league (some argued he was better than Yanda, which is obviously wrong now).

 

If you give Yanda an extension now coming off an All-Pro season, paying two guards large amounts of money at once might be difficult two years from now. What you might see, however, is the Ravens let Yanda play out his deal in 2015, and then re-assess. Its possible they wouldn't retain him after that, and instead choose to retain KO instead (that would be year 4 of KO's deal at that point).

 

But we will see.

[redrum52]

Will be interesting. If there's one thing I know the FO knows they are good at, its finding quality guards without necessarily using top draft picks. We let Ben Grubbs go, and at the time, he was amongst the best guards in the league (some argued he was better than Yanda, which is obviously wrong now).

If you give Yanda an extension now coming off an All-Pro season, paying two guards large amounts of money at once might be difficult two years from now. What you might see, however, is the Ravens let Yanda play out his deal in 2015, and then re-assess. Its possible they wouldn't retain him after that, and instead choose to retain KO instead (that would be year 4 of KO's deal at that point).

But we will see.

I have faith in our gm. I know we need to re-sign the Smiths, but if Flacco is restructured along with Ngata that should open up enough room, I'd assume. I'm not saying KO is on Yanda level, but he has the potential and nasty to get close. I said this before when it was time to re-sign Rice. An o line to me, is more valuable than the guy you pay to run behind it.

To keep an rb in today's league, they need to be a very special talent, to me.

[Footman DCXLV]

It's definitely way too early to say that. You'd probably have to give it five years with those guys performing to be able to make the case. 2008 is the easy pick because it gave us a history-making QB and a running back that was one of the best in the league for a couple years. We also got Zbikowski, Nakamura, and Oniel Cousins. Not Pro-Bowlers, or anything, but they did start a few games and give us some decent depth for a couple years. After that, though, You probably have to go 2011, right now. Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, and Pernell McPhee. Add in Chykie Brown, who was important for us at times. That's a pretty good draft, in hindsight.

[BMORE_96]

It's early but so far the results have been impressive. Urschel seems like a really solid young lineman which is huge because the cupboard is pretty bare there after the starters. It seems we have the answer at LG when KO inevitable gets a big payday someplace else.

the fo would kick yanda out rather than KO, a younger version of yanda. Just as nasty and also a pro bowler. "right player, right price"

[codizzle]

No, franchise QB that won us a super bowl trumps all.

Over 96? That's tough

[Bltravens]

Over 96? That's tough

Ya I don't know how the draft that got you 2 hall of famers including a MLB that won you a Super Bowl loses out to Flacco's class.  Unless Flacco wins another one that class is #2.

[redrum52]

Ya I don't know how the draft that got you 2 hall of famers including a MLB that won you a Super Bowl loses out to Flacco's class. Unless Flacco wins another one that class is #2.

Gotta rock with this. If we win another, Flacco will obviously be a key contributor, so if we get another that draft is cemented. Would still have an all pro rb if not for TMZ.

[arnie_uk]

Over 96? That's tough

title says since 96. Flacco trumps everything since 96.

[arnie_uk]

Ya I don't know how the draft that got you 2 hall of famers including a MLB that won you a Super Bowl loses out to Flacco's class. Unless Flacco wins another one that class is #2.

see above.

[arnie_uk]

Gotta rock with this. If we win another, Flacco will obviously be a key contributor, so if we get another that draft is cemented. Would still have an all pro rb if not for TMZ.

above again

[FlocksGottaFeed]

In Oz we trust. Our GM is unmatched.

[Bltravens]

see above.

Ahhh, getting us on a grammar technicality I see!

[Ravenseconbeast]

title says since 96. Flacco trumps everything since 96.

 

i still say 2014.   Flacco is one player.   Think what you are trying to prove is 'best player' since 96.    

 

This is the best draft class since 96'

 

[JoeyFlex5]

if we win a super bowl with 3 or more of these players in an active role and at least 2 of them being not only starters, but the type that can carry one side of the ball to a super bowl win, then i would say its better than 08, but joe flacco carried our team to a super bowl win and a mvp, ray rice carried our offense in the earlier years of the harbaugh era, and did things such as 4th and 29 which is the one play that allowed us to even compete for the super bowl that year, without that, we miss the playoffs, we dont win a super bowl. 

 

mosley and timmy as full time starters is very likely, almost a definite, urschel will probably find himself a starting spot, he has been too good for his draft spot, campanaro has a future on this team, he will be that shifty slot guy we have wanted for so long, there is nothing about his game that doesnt point to him being a starter one day, gilmore is a gem, hopefully he becomes a precise route runner because it could turn him into a very well rounded threat, and terrence brooks has potential but he has to realize it first, and im not as high on LT as others seem to be, doesnt seem to be much between the ears and his pad level is horrid, hes broken big runs but you couldve drove a truck through some of the holes hes had, for as big and fast as he is, he goes down too easily. 

 

takes 3 years to judge a draft class, but to compare it to 2008, we have to win a super bowl with these guys, and only then, will it be fair to make that comparison.

[TDubbs]

Wayyy too early for that comparison, its almost ridiculous to bring it up. CJ Mosley is an absolute stud, made the Pro Bowl as a rookie which is huge. The rest? They look to have potential, but have most have dealt with injuries and the story is yet to be written. 

 

The 1996 draft brought us two of the best players to ever do it at their positions. Lewis and Ogden where generational players we'll never see again. Putting that kind of comparison on (basically Mosley) but the rest of the draft is unfair, imo. 

[codizzle]

title says since 96. Flacco trumps everything since 96.

Assumed that but had to double check when you worded it as you did..

Nvm carry on

[gooftroop]

Best draft since '08.