Best Draft since 1996?

[beanfigger]

Just the simple fact that QB is as important a position as any, even multiple positions put together, and it is a very hard position to correctly project from college to pro, the draft where you get a franchise QB that is capable of putting you in real contention for several years is hard to top.

However, if we end up with more than four solid starters for a number of years from another draft, then it is certainly worth discussion. That puts both of the last two drafts in contention for me. Already seems like we have our two solid guys on the offensive side with pro bowl potential in Juice and Wagner, and we have Williams on defense. If someone else emerges like Arthur Brown or KLM or even a resurgent Elam, that draft might look better in the future than it does now.

Of course, two Hall of Famers in one draft is still tops.

[chunkywill25]

The 2014 draft has been great. Jernigan looks like a steal. Reminds me of sapp

[GrimCoconut]

As others said, it's too early to determine. Urban hasn't played a snap and is coming off an injury. Wenning could amount to nothing.

Mosley looks good, Jernigan looks like a great player. Brooks is injured but had his moments. Gillmore has been a very good TE in his role. Urban has potential but is hurt and will be coming off an injury. Taliaferro I like but he needs to fix his technique and is also hurt. Urschel has looked good in his role. Wenning is a complete mystery. Campanaro has looked good in his role but is coming off an injury.

Right now, if I'm being honest, the only successful pick you can point to outright is Mosley, but a lot of these guys have been hurt. Most of them may never develop and may bust. It's way too early to say. Right now they look great, but a lot of them have played in a limited role. Who knows how well they perform if their role expands.

Give it another two years. People wanted to ordain our last draft the best in years, and look at it now.

[BOLDnPurPnBlacK]

I agree. Amazing draft so far and that doesn't even include the udfa gems we got in the LT (names escaping me right now) and I believe rashaan Melvin was udfa.

Both impact players playing at a high level against the toughest of competition in the playoffs.

Melvin is showing that he wasn't a one hit wonder. Did anyone else notice that early against the steelers they were choosing to attack Webb and stay away from Melvin? I found that very interesting.

Couple all this with the FA we had this year landing Forsett, Owen Daniels, will hill, Darian Stewart who had arguably the 3 biggest plays against Pitt, and Steve smith who came out of the gate on fire had a lull but is now turning it back up (5 catches over 100 yds in Pitt) and then I think the must under-appreciated but possibly the biggest impact acquisition in Zuttah rounds out what could possibly be our best combined offseason ever.

This "rebuilding" era didn't take too long. So glad we have the best FO in football. One more offseason like that and were set up for another 5 years of serious contention.

Just hope we can keep Kubiak around until he finishes the job he started. And when we get healthy and have Jimmy back, hopefully a healthy pitta, KLM, and urban our front 7 rotation is gonna be even more nasty than it is now and the back end could be lock down with Jimmy, Webb and an emerging Melvin.

We're contending in a year we shouldn't be, so watch out once were healthy and have another big draft to retool. God it's good to be a ravens fan.

[arnie_uk]

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'

not for me. A franchise QB that can win a super bowl is the holy grail. And we got one. By default unless we have multiple hall of famers in another draft again that 08 one will beat it.

Let's not forget rice was a good player as well

[arnie_uk]

Ahhh, getting us on a grammar technicality I see!

not really. Question; best draft SINCE 96? Ans; franchise QB trumps all. Pretty understandable.

If the question was best draft ever, I would have ended my reply with since 96.

[Tru11]

to early for 2014

 

2012 draft been a keydraft IMO.

 

Upshaw and osemele where starters on the SB team.

Pierce was good and spelling rice and played pretty darn good in the play offs.

 

gino and Thompson are dissapointments.

 

asa Jackson provided good depth and was going to be our nickel corner this season and was at times even a starter.

 

streeter disappointment

 

Tyson is good rotation player on the dline who had his share of made plays.

INT against DET in 2013 was a great play lol,

 

2 to 3 starters and 2 decend to good backups is not bad.

if you throw in Justin tucker who was an undrafted rookie then id say it was probably our best since 1996.

especially if pierce steps up like he did in 2012.

[RaineV1]

I'd have to say the 2008 draft class due to Flacco and Ray Rice. Yeah, he ended up being a big problem later on, but Rice is a big reason why the Ravens won that Superbowl.

 

There's the 2011 draft class too, Jimmy Smith, Torrey Smith, and Mcphee.

[Inqui]

not really. Question; best draft SINCE 96? Ans; franchise QB trumps all. Pretty understandable.

If the question was best draft ever, I would have ended my reply with since 96.

Agreed, didn't think it was a complicated question.

[Inqui]

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'

There are franchises that put so much effort into finding what we have with Joe that they set themselves back years in the process. That alone is just priceless.

I think you're underrating the value of a franchise QB, but that's just me.

[52520Andrew]

Too early to tell but getting Flacco was HUGE. Gotta go 2008 as of now but we will see how the 2014 class continues to develop.