Ozzie’s deepest Ravens draft in a long time gets praise…

I like this Ravens draft for its depth. They didn’t get a lot of “Blue-Star” players (instant starters and impact players), but they did bring in a bunch “Red-Star” players (rotational help at several positions).

Nationally and internationally the consensus grade on the Ravens draft is an “A“… I know, you can’t really grade the results of any draft for at least two years afterwards, but I think the world’s “experts” like the quantity of depth Ozzie has added to the roster at positions of need—plus, the Ravens just got a lot younger as a team.

As referenced by Garrett Downing of the Ravens official website, Pundits from across the country have weighed in on Baltimore’s 2016 draft class, and the initial reviews are overwhelmingly positive.

Baltimore received a handful of “A’s” and didn’t get a grade lower than a “B” from the national media.

I agree with the RotoWord review: Rotoworld, Evan Silva—Grade: A
“Not only did this draft bring quantity to a Ravens roster that has deteriorated over the past three years, it attacked virtually all of Baltimore’s needs, often with multiple additions at each specific weakness. Newsome took two offensive linemen, one a certain Week 1 starter. He drafted three pass rushers. He selected two corners and couldn’t resist the value offered by deep threat Moore, underrated DT/DE Henry, and all-purpose back Dixon in a dominant fourth round. Baltimore’s roster has gotten old and stale and needed a major youth injection. This draft accomplished that and then some.”

Let’s not overlook the undrafted free agent haul, too. There are some gems in this group, too—guys who were rated higher than they fell during the draft:

OLB Victor Ochi, Stony Brook
6-1, 246 pounds; 16.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks

ILB Cavellis Luckett, Middle Tennessee State
5-11, 238 pounds

P/K Will Lutz, Georgia State
6-0, 190 pounds

OL Anthony Fabiano, Harvard
6-5, 290 pounds

C Matt Skura, Duke
6-3, 295 pounds

OG Jarrell Broxton, Baylor
6-4, 327 pounds

DT OJ Mau, Gardner Webb
6-1, 310 pounds; 60 tackles, 4.5 sacks

OT Stephane Nembot, Colorado
6-6, 322 pounds

DE/OLB Maro Ojemudia, Michigan
6-2, 255 pounds

DT Michael Pierce, Samford
6-0, 309 pounds