The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the more successful franchises in the NFL over the last few decades, and they can owe a good chunk of their success to some very wise executives like Ozzie Newsome and current GM Eric DeCosta for finding stars early and late in the NFL Draft.
The Ravens prioritize their own internal development above splashing the cash in free agency. While the Ravens will usually try to keep many of their big draft picks on long-term contracts, the last few decades have seen a handful of players truly start to thrive after they get a fresh start away from Baltimore.
If the Ravens had just managed to hold on to these few players for a bit longer prior to their departure, they could have been even more impressive figures in the annals of Baltimore history. These players were (mostly) solid Ravens, but they left a lot of meat on the bone.
4 NFL Draft Picks the Baltimore Ravens gave up on too soon
4. Brandon Stokley
The Ravens took a chance on Stokley in the fourth round, as his lack of insane athletic ability pushed him further down the rankings. Stokley finished his career with 5,300 yards and 39 touchdowns, though only 1,000 of those yards and seven of those touchdowns came during his five seasons with Baltimore.
The Super Bowl hero ended up on the Indianapolis Colts, where he became a quality slot receiver for Peyton Manning. In his first full healthy season with Indy, Stokley recorded 1,077 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was part of the first team in NFL history to have three receivers with 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns in the same season.
Brandon Stokley could have stayed with the Baltimore Ravens
While injuries sapped some of his effectiveness with both the Colts and Broncos, Stokley averaged a solid 45.5 yards per game between 2004 and 2008 despite being the third target (at best) in Indianapolis and a very young Jay Cutler throwing him the ball during his time with Denver.
The Ravens have seemingly needed wide receiver help for their entire existence, as Derrick Mason is the only wide receiver in franchise history with more than 4,000 yards receiving. Stokley may not have reached those heights but he would have given some struggling offenses a bit more bite at the end of Brian Billick’s tenure.
3. Tyrod Taylor
The Ravens took Taylor in the sixth round in 2011, as there were doubts about the Virginia Tech star’s ability to translate to the NFL. As has been proven, Taylor’s ability to make plays with his legs and accurate arm has helped him carve out a very long career that still has him cashing checks in 2024.
While Joe Flacco will forever be a legend in Baltimore, the Ravens tried too hard to make him work during the end of his tenure. In those last few years, they let an ideal backup quarterback slip through the cracks. He responded by eventually becoming a Pro Bowl quarterback in Buffalo.
Tyrod Taylor could have been a solid QB for the Baltimore Ravens
Taylor threw 51 touchdowns against just 16 picks in three years with the Bills, where he went 22-20 as a starter. Flacco had a worse passer rating and overall record during the same span despite a better team around him. Perhaps the Ravens could have been a bit more competitive in the pre-Lamar Jackson era.
Taylor has bounced around the league in the last few years, but the New York Jets paid him a good chunk of money due to his solid production when he needed to step in. While Jackson would eventually take over, the Ravens could have been in a better position during those last few gasps of Flacco’s Baltimore tenure.
2. Orlando Brown Jr.
The son of former Ravens tackle Orlando Brown Sr, the former No. 77 and wide receiver Marquise Brown were both traded away on their rookie contracts. While the wideout demanded a trade due to his dissatisfaction with offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the left tackle was dissatisfied with his contract and what Baltimore was willing to pay.
Brown wanted to play left tackle, and he wanted money. He eventually got his wish by being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs and signing a big contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. Perhaps Baltimore is wishing they gave him a contract, looking at where the offensive tackle spot is right now.
Orlando Brown Jr. improved after leaving the Baltimore Ravens
While the gargantuan Brown was very inconsistent with Baltimore (though his highs were quite impressive), he has since become a Pro Bowler for both Kansas City and Cincinnati. It’s easy to wonder what the offensive line would look like with him in the picture.
Perhaps Baltimore gets rid of Ronnie Stanley a bit earlier. Maybe the Ravens invest more in their shill positions in the 2024 NFL Draft. One of their main rivals in Cincinnati would also be deprived of a quality starter in an area of need. Brown, who made four Pro Bowls in a row with three different teams, could have been a star in Baltimore.
1. Matt Judon
A recent entry, Judon signed a contract with the New England Patriots in free agency during Bill Belichick’s 2021 spending spree. Judon was already a rock-solid two-way end for the Ravens, but he didn’t truly come into his own as a pass rusher until he joined Belichick’s project in Foxborough.
Judon has recorded 32 sacks in 38 games with the Patriots, exceeding the 34.5 sacks from his Ravens days it took him 76 games to tally. The Patriots still had solid defenses while Mac Jones struggled at quarterback, and Judon’s emergence is one of the main reasons why.
Matt Judon thrived away from the Baltimore Ravens
While the Ravens got incredibly lucky with Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy putting together arguably the two best seasons of their respective careers during the 2023 campaign, highly-touted edge rushers Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo haven’t lived up to all of their hype, so far.
The Ravens’ chances of getting Judon back seem to be slim, as he claimed he would love to finish his career in New England. Letting Judon go seemed reasonable at the time due to his price, but Eric DeCosta might be regretting missing out on his best pass-rush seasons.