The Ravens front office has earned a reputation as one of the best in the NFL. Back in December, The Athletic collected data from 40 executives across the four major sports leagues – NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL – asking them to rank the top five front offices in their respective sport.
The Ravens earned the No. 1 spot in the NFL and the No. 3 spot overall. They trailed only the 2025 NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder and 2024 World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
Baltimore has a great chance to join them as champions in their respective sport with a Super Bowl LX title. Their dynamic duo of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry will lead that pursuit.
Last week, NFL.com’s Lead Draft Writer Eric Edholm began his series highlighting the top draft values at each position since 2000, starting with wide receiver. While Baltimore has had some solid receivers throughout their 29-year history, none have quite reached the heights of those listed.
However, the Ravens have had a player featured on three of the five lists compiled so far. QB Lamar Jackson, RB Derrick Henry and OG Marshal Yanda all landed in the top 5 at their respective positions.
Lamar Jackson at No. 3 Among Quarterbacks
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson earned the No. 3 spot among quarterbacks, just behind the GOAT Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. Back in 2018, there were 5 quarterbacks drafted in the first round. But, only one “can boast a career similar to that of Jackson,” writes Edholm.
Edholm notes that Josh Allen fits that description, but he was taken at No. 7 overall. That was 25 spots in front of the Ravens superstar. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome made the savvy move to jump up 20 spots to snag Jackson.
“It has unquestionably been one of the best picks of the Ravens’ strong drafting history,” writes Edholm. “That it came in GM Ozzie Newsome’s final draft added another feather to his Hall of Fame cap,” Edholm continues.
Even though Lamar Jackson has not led the Ravens to a Super Bowl yet, Edholm writes that “his credentials are above scrutiny,” despite making just 94 career starts.
“He’s already established himself as one of the great dual-threat quarterbacks in league history,” writes Edholm.
Derrick Henry Just Below Frank Gore Among Running Backs
Ravens running back Derrick Henry landed the No. 2 spot among running backs. He’s just behind the NFL’s third-leading rusher of all-time, Frank Gore.
Edholm notes that Henry “had his share of doubters” to start his career, but has “forged his way into becoming one of the NFL’s elite backs.”
“With 11,423 rushing yards and 106 rushing touchdowns, Henry has already secured his place among the game’s best backs ever, in any era,” writes Edholm. His unique blend of power, size, durability and “sweet feet you rarely see in a 247-pound frame” have enabled the Ravens star to rise to the No. 2 spot.
“After working in a timeshare his first two seasons, Henry established himself as one of the great lead backs in modern football, helping revive a dormant Titans franchise, then giving the Ravens a boost in his first season in Baltimore in 2024,” writes Edholm.
While Henry dropped to the No. 45 pick during the 2016 NFL Draft, “his value is above reproach,” writes Edholm. The Ravens running back has led the league in rushing twice, earning 5 Pro Bowl nods and 3 All-Pro nods.
Ravens Ring of Honor Member Marshal Yanda at No. 3 Among All Offensive Linemen
Ravens guard Marshal Yanda landed at No. 3 among all offensive linemen, just behind Jason Kelce and Jahri Evans. As the No. 86 pick in 2007, “Yanda’s ascension into one of the league’s most dependable blockers as a late third-round selection makes him one of the more remarkable value picks of his era,” writes Edholm.
“The Ravens rightfully have earned a reputation as one of the best drafting teams of the century because of picks such as Yanda,” writes Edholm. While Yanda started his career at right tackle, the Ravens Ring of Honor Member excelled after shifting inside to guard. He earned 8 Pro Bowl nods, 7 All-Pro nods and a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team.
Yanda missed a total of 31 games across his 13-year career, with 25 of those coming across two injury-riddled seasons. But, the Ravens legend “became a model of versatility, technical mastery and physicality (especially as a run blocker),” writes Edholm.
“He was a tone-setter as one of the club’s most trusted leaders,” writes Edholm.
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