When it comes to the NFL Draft no one has had more success than Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens. It all started back in 1996 when Newsome selected not one but two future Hall of Famers in Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the first round. Since then the Ravens track record has been nothing short of amazing and the list of players they’ve chosen in round one reads like a who’s who of the NFL. Peter Boulware, Chris McAlister, Jamal Lewis, Todd Heap, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Mark Clayton, Haloti Ngata, Ben Grubbs, Joe Flacco. And that’s just the first rounders! Sure Baltimore has missed from time to time (ex. Taylor, Travis) but by and large the Ravens have had an uncanny knack for landing premium talents in the draft. Did Baltimore strike gold again in 2009?
Perhaps the only thing more impressive than the Ravens track record on Draft Day is where they’ve managed to land most of those future Pro Bowlers. It seems like every year Newsome finds a way to capitalize on the mistakes of others and when a top talent begins to fall further than they should the Ravens pounce. The 2009 NFL Draft provided yet another classic example of this phenomenon and when Ole Miss OT Michael Oher dropped all the way to #23 Baltimore got aggressive and moved up a few spots, at the cost of only a fifth round pick, to secure his services. Oher had always been slightly overhyped as a pro prospect due to his unique backstory and the publicity he received from being the subject of Michael Lewis’ best-selling book The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. However, while Oher certainly had some flaws many still considered him to be a borderline Top 10 talent and in some ways his Draft Day freefall was the result of simple over-analysis. The biggest knock on Oher is that his motor tends to run hot and cold and there are also some concerns about his intelligence but he is an outstanding athlete and has everything that you look for physically. Most viewed Oher as a left tackle prospect but he will begin his career in Baltimore battling Adam Terry for the right tackle job opposite Jared Gaither. There is no questioning Oher’s sheer talent and if the Ravens coaching staff can get him to give 100% on every play and show more of a killer instinct the sky is the limit in terms of his potential. Don’t be surprised if Oher goes down as one of the steals of the ’09 Draft and becomes yet another feather in Newsome’s cap.
In round two the Ravens opted to bolster their front seven with the selection of Utah’s Paul Kruger. A college defensive end who will make the move to outside linebacker in Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme, Kruger’s path to the NFL featured a number of twists and turns. When he was 13-years-old Kruger lost his spleen and a kidney in a car accident and then in January of 2008 he suffered serious injuries to his ribs and abdomen after being stabbed while trying to act as a peacemaker during a fight. Despite entering the draft after his sophomore season Kruger is actually very mature and will be a 24-year-old rookie because he redshirted in 2004 then took two years off to serve an LDS mission. Kruger is extremely competitive with good size and a non-stop motor but there weren’t many who viewed him as a linebacker prospect due to his rather ordinary speed and marginal athleticism. However, if things don’t work out there the Ravens always have the option of bulking him up and grooming him as a replacement for the 34-year-old Trevor Pryce at defensive end. As a rookie Kruger will compete with Jarret Johnson for playing time but he will likely be brought along slowly and utilized in a situational role.
In round three the Ravens reached a bit for Nicholls St. CB Lardarius Webb, a small school star who saw his draft stock soar after some impressive workouts. Webb actually began his college career at Southern Miss but after being dismissed from the team in 2007 he transferred to Nicholls St. and earned All-American honors as a junior and senior. The first player in NCAA history to win all three weekly conference awards (offense, defense, and special teams) throughout the course of a season, Webb played safety in college but his size (5-93/4, 179) will necessitate a move to corner at the next level. Initially Webb will compete for a dime role and provide some much-needed depth but Samari Rolle doesn’t have much left in the tank and Fabian Washington is due to become a free agent next offseason so he could be fast-tracked and take on more responsibility in the near future. In round five the Ravens may have gotten a steal with T.C.U. ILB Jason Phillips, who was considered to be a solid second or third rounder before medical tests at the Horned Frogs Pro Day revealed a torn meniscus in his left knee. Phillips doesn’t have the ideal size you look for (6-03/4, 239) but he is extremely tough and super aggressive with great instincts and 4.69 speed. Because he throws his body around with such reckless abandon durability is a constant concern with Phillips but he doesn’t let injuries slow him down and has shown the ability to play through pain. Last year’s third round pick Tavares Gooden is the favorite to replace Bart Scott, who bolted as a free agent, but don’t be surprised if Phillips becomes an option if Gooden falters. At the very least Phillips will help replenish the Ravens depth while also making a major impact on special teams.
Later in round five Baltimore brought in a very intriguing prospect when they chose East Carolina TE Davon Drew. A three-year starter who actually began his college career as a quarterback, Drew is a great athlete with adequate size (6-33/4), long arms, soft hands and decent speed (4.82). More of an H-Back prospect, Drew is a much better receiver than blocker at this point but he has a lot of upside and his best football is still ahead of him. Drew is slated for the #3 job as a rookie but with the injury-prone Todd Heap about to turn 30-years-old and L.J. Smith only signed to a one-year deal the potential is there for him to compete for a much more prominent role in 2010. With their final pick of the draft in round six the Ravens added some depth at running back by selecting Virginia’s Cedric Peerman. A short (5-91/2) but stout (216 pounds) runner with 4.45 speed, Peerman was never a workhorse in college and averaged less than 100 carries per season for the Cavs but he is a solid all-around player who could excel in a backup capacity. Peerman will compete for the #3 job behind Willis McGahee and Ray Rice but that is probably the extent of his upside in the pros.
This was yet another very solid Draft Day effort by Ozzie Newsome and the Baltimore Ravens, clicking on all cylinders when it came to talent, value, upside and need. Besides, it’s never wise to question these guys because even though they will make the occasional Draft Day miscue history has shown that they hit way more often than they miss. In other words this team has earned the benefit of the doubt, even on picks that may appear to be questionable on the face. Only time will tell just how well the Ravens did in this draft but Oher has the ability to be special and should step into the starting lineup almost immediately while Kruger, Webb, Phillips and Drew could all wind up playing integral roles for the team over the next few years. There is little or no doubt that this was yet another successful effort for Newsome and the Ravens, the only real question is how many impact starters this class will ultimately produce.
