A pair of Ravens legends land on an elite list a quarter century in the making
Two Ravens legends claim their place on a list of the best draft picks of the past quarter century.
Few can wake up in the morning and honestly say they are the best at something. It's a title that carries great responsibility and, depending on one's perspective, immense pressure. Hearing one's name called by the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL Draft is the culmination of a lifetime's worth of work and dedication. Fans, teammates, coaches, and the media hope their team has landed a baller.
Through the years, Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta have elevated this franchise with key free-agent acquisitions and home-run draft choices. Recently, two of Ozzie's discoveries, Ed Reed and Lamar Jackson, landed on an elite list that is certainly worthy of discussion.
Ed Reed and Lamar Jackson land on a list of the top 25 draft picks of the past quarter century
Here's one that's worth your attention. Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon cooked up his ranking of the Top 25 NFL Draft Picks from the 1st Quarter of the 21st Century. Naturally, the temptation was to investigate to see if any Ravens were on the list. Two made the cut. Ed Reed cracked the list at 19. Lamar Jackson landed a little higher, earning a top-ten mention at number nine.
Reed, a 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, was a five-time First-team All-Pro and a three-time Second-team All-Pro who was named to nine Pro Bowls. He also won a Super Bowl.
Jackson's career story is still being written, but it's off to a good start. He's won two MVP trophies. He has also notched three First-Team All-Pro mentions and a spot on four Pro Bowl rosters in his first seven NFL seasons.
Reed earned his place on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. Perhaps Lamar will earn similar honors when he determines it's time to hang up his cleats.
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