Ravens Superstar Among Best Draft Values of Century

There have only been a handful of quarterbacks selected in the back half, bottom of or out of the first round of the NFL draft entirely since the turn of the century who have gone on to have successful careers.

While the hit rate on players at the position picked in the top 15 is much higher, there are instances where teams find their franchise quarterbacks and eventual NFL legends later. The Baltimore Ravens landed a star signal caller who fits both descriptions with the last pick in the first round in 2018 when they selected Lamar Jackson No. 32 overall out of Louisville.

The Ravens had to part ways with a pair of second-round picks to move back up to take him and it turned out to be the most impactful trade not only in franchise history but has already proven to be one of the greatest draft steals of all time in the NFL. It earned Jackson the No. 3 spot on NFL.com's Eric Edholm list of the top five best draft values of the millennium at quarterback.

"The 2018 draft class was notable for its five first-round quarterbacks, four of whom are still starting in the league now," Edholm wrote. "Josh Allen is the only one, though, who can boast a career similar to that of Jackson, selected 25 picks after Allen went to the Bills at No. 7 overall."

Jackson was the last first-round pick of Ravens' Hall of Fame general manager Ozzie Newsome's illustrious career at the helm of the team's front office and the best possible inheritance he could've bestowed upon his successor and close friend, Eric DeCosta.

"It has unquestionably been one of the best picks of the Ravens' strong drafting history, and that it came in GM Ozzie Newsome's final draft added another feather to his Hall of Fame cap," Edholm wrote.

All four of the other quarterbacks who were taken ahead of Jackson that year came off the board in the top 10 picks with the biggest indictment on the rest of the league's evaluating skills being the selection of Josh Rosen 22 spots before him at No. 10 overall by the Arizona Cardinals who traded up five spots from 15.

The only two quarterbacks listed ahead of Jackson on the list are completely justified. Coming in at No. 2 was Aaron Rodgers, who fell to No. 24 overall in the 2005 draft and went on to be a four-time MVP, 10-time Pro Bowler, four-time First Team All Pro selection and won a Super Bowl in 2010. Claiming the top spot is none other than Tom Brady who is unquestionably the biggest draft steal of any position in NFL history. After not hearing his name called until No. 199 overall in the sixth round of the 2000 draft, he went on to become a 15-time Pro Bowler, seven-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Super Bowl MVP and the three-time league MVP and First Team All Pro selection.

Coming into the league, Jackson proved to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time in college football, becoming the youngest recipient of the Heisman Trophy at just 19 years old. Despite only being in the NFL for less than a decade with fewer than 100 career starts in the regular season, Edholm believes Jackson has "already established himself as one of the great dual-threat quarterbacks in league history."

Jackson's laundry list of accolades he has accumulated during his first seven years in the NFL, with only six being full-time starters, includes being a two-time league MVP and nearly achieving his third in back-to-back years after producing the best dual-threat season in NFL history in 2024.