The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the best teams when it comes to drafting talent, especially in the first round. In 20 short years as a franchise, the Ravens have managed to find a few Hall of Fame worthy players and numerous prospects that turned into long-term members of the team.

Yet, who are the best picks in the first round for Baltimore? Who is the worthy one of the top selection the franchise has ever made? We look through the Ravens’ history to find the best of the best.

5. Joe Flacco – QB

It’s impossible to say if Baltimore gets their second Super Bowl win without franchise quarterback Joe Flacco, but it certainly seems unlikely they’d hoist the Lombardi Trophy without him. Going on a tear through the postseason that year, Flacco tied Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana for the most touchdowns thrown without an interception. It was so good, the Ravens had their hand forced and paid him like the elite quarterback he was in that stretch.

While Flacco’s results before and after that are less than perfect, he is without a doubt the first franchise quarterback the team has ever had. The long and arduous search before Flacco is why he absolutely makes this list regardless of stats.

4. Terrell Suggs – LB

Though Suggs’ star is starting to dim as he gets older and injuries begin to pile up, we can’t forget that smiling face quite yet. The loud captain of the defense once Ray Lewis retired, Suggs has continued on Baltimore’s swagger in his stead.

Suggs could very well be one of the next players in the Ravens’ history to be called Hall of Famer. His six Pro Bowl nods, two All-Pro designations, the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year awards and a pretty spectacular career on the stat sheet could all add up to a bust in Canton.

Not only is Suggs great at harassing quarterbacks, but he has been a complete defender in the run-game as well, allowing Baltimore to focus elsewhere. All of that combined makes him a player the Ravens wouldn’t dream of letting go during his prime and one that is deserving of making this list.

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3. Ed Reed – S

Despite his waffling on retirement, his showboating and laterals that made fans’ hearts stop and nagging injuries, safety Ed Reed at his best was among the best players the NFL has ever known. It might have been a short period, but Reed was a menace to offenses around the league and had to be accounted for on every snap.

To point out just how great Reed was at his best, he holds five NFL records and several more franchise ones. The longest interception return (107 yards), most interception return yards (1,590), most blocked punts returned for a touchdown (3), most career playoff interceptions (9) are all things Reed will be well known for now that he’s done playing.

If Reed had not sullied his legacy with stints with the Houston Texans and New York Jets and maybe had fewer injuries, he could not only shoot to the top of this list, but make a serious case for being the best defender the NFL has ever seen.

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2. Jonathan Ogden – LT

This is where some fans might begin to gripe about my list. I have left tackle Jonathan Ogden over safety Reed for a few reasons. The top is how long Ogden played and how high of a level that was each season. The second is Ogden was a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Fame player at a position not exactly known for getting recognition, making it all that more impressive.

You could make a case for Reed being a bigger contributor to the team’s success, but I’ll counter with the Ravens’ offense doesn’t go anywhere for a decade-plus without Ogden paving the way.

1. Ray Lewis – LB

If you didn’t know who was going at the top, I’d have to question if you are really a fan of the team. Of course Ray Lewis, the team’s face for 16 years deserves to have the top spot. The guy even has a statue built outside the stadium to commemorate that fact.

Lewis is a two-time Super Bowl champion, 13-time Pro Bowler, 10-time All-Pro player with two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards to his name. He’s likely to add first-ballot Hall of Famer to the list in 2018 as well. When you tally up his awards and what he has meant to not only the Ravens, but the city of Baltimore, Lewis is the unquestioned greatest first-round pick in the team’s history.