OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens are heading into the 25th NFL draft of their existence, and the franchise has already established itself as one of the best in finding the next big star, whether it's football or, in one case, reality television.
No team, since 1996, has drafted more Hall of Fame players than the Ravens -- three, and counting with offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed. Over that span, Baltimore has drafted 25 Pro Bowl players, three NFL Defensive Players of the Year, one Offensive Player of the Year, two Super Bowl Most Valuable Players and an NFL Most Valuable Player.
The Ravens have certainly whiffed on some picks, but even some of those have turned out to be a pediatric dentist, a president of environmental engineering company and a winner on the first season of "The Bachelorette."
Here's a look at the Ravens' best, worst and quirkiest picks of each round:
FIRST ROUND
Best: LB Ray Lewis (1996). Lewis came into the league as the 26th overall pick, sliding down the first round because he was considered undersized. Seventeen years later, he retired with a legacy that was larger than life. His accolades include two NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards, two Super Bowl rings, 12 Pro Bowls and one Super Bowl MVP. Even though Lewis is the obvious pick here, Ogden, Reed and Terrell Suggs would've ranked as the best first-round picks for many other teams.
Worst: SS Matt Elam (2013). His disappointing career can be summed up this way: one career interception, two stints on injured reserve and two arrests. Say what you want about QB Kyle Boller and receiver Breshad Perriman being colossal busts, but Elam was never signed by an NFL team after parting ways with Baltimore.
Most famous pick: OT Michael Oher (2009). The Ravens generated national headlines when they moved up to select Oher, the inspiration for the bestselling book and Academy Award-winning movie "The Blind Side." While Oher was the best right tackle in franchise history, he will be remembered by some for not knowing the snap count (24 false start penalties in his five seasons in Baltimore).
SECOND ROUND
Best: RB Ray Rice (2008). The Ravens traded back 17 spots in the second round and still landed their all-time leader in scrimmage yards (9,214). While Rice's career ended in scandal, he was a catalyst for the Ravens' second Super Bowl title, converting a fourth-and-29 in San Diego, a play he affectionately labeled, "Hey diddle diddle, Ray Rice up the middle."
Worst: LB Sergio Kindle (2010). No one really knows what kind of player Kindle, a top-25 prospect who had character issues, could've been for the Ravens. He fractured his skull from a fall down the stairs before arriving at his first training camp. Kindle never really recovered from that, managing one tackle in two games.
Lesson learned: CB DeRon Jenkins (1996). After landing future Hall of Famers in Ogden and Lewis in the first round, the Ravens traded up in the second, wanting tight end Jason Dunn, but he was drafted one spot before Baltimore was to pick. Baltimore ended up with Jenkins, and the Ravens never traded again until the other team was on the clock and the player they wanted was still available. On a side note, Jenkins is now renovating houses and recently got featured on "Flip or Flop" on HGTV.
THIRD ROUND
Best: OL Marshal Yanda (2007). He went from being the 12th offensive lineman drafted that year to one of the NFL's most decorated guards. Known for his toughness and technique, Yanda is one of three guards in NFL history to earn at least eight Pro Bowl nods and win a Super Bowl. From 2011 to 2019, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls, which were tied with Tom Brady and Drew Brees for the most by an offensive player over that span.
Worst: CB David Pittman (2006). After targeted prospect Ashton Youboty was taken early in the third round, Baltimore was so desperate for a corner that it reached for Pittman. He was in over his head in trying to defend NFL receivers, finishing with two interceptions and one start.
From fan to teammate: CB Lardarius Webb (2009). In 2008, Webb idolized Reed so much that he got him to autograph a Ravens cap after Baltimore's playoff win in Miami. A year later, he was making plays alongside Reed. Webb is the only player in Ravens history to return a punt, kickoff and interception for a touchdown.
FOURTH ROUND
Best: TE Dennis Pitta (2010). According to GM Eric DeCosta, Baltimore was offered three later fourth-road picks for the Ravens' one in 2010. The Ravens declined and selected Pitta, who became Joe Flacco's security blanket before three hip surgeries forced him to retire.
Worst: S Christian Thompson (2012). He had one of the briefest Ravens careers of any pick in the first four rounds, getting cut 18 months after being the 130th player taken overall. Thompson, who recorded no tackles in seven games, was abruptly released after he served his four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Mike Daniels and cornerback Josh Norman were taken within 13 picks after Thompson.
Smartest pick: FB Kyle Juszczyk (2013). It took until the Ravens' 18th draft before they selected their first player from an Ivy League school, which was not forgotten by teammates. During one of his first practices, Flacco reminded Juszczyk about his assignment and the fullback responded that he already knew what it was. "Sorry, I forgot you went to Harvard," Flacco told him. Juszczyk, now with the San Francisco 49ers, has since made four Pro Bowls.
FIFTH ROUND
Best: WR Jermaine Lewis (1996). The best returner in franchise history was selected in the team's remarkable first draft. His 84-yard kickoff return for a touchdown sealed the Ravens' first Super Bowl triumph.
Worst: RB Chris Barnes (2001). He was supposed to replace Priest Holmes as Jamal Lewis' primary backup, but Barnes was so bad that he was cut even after Lewis suffered a season-ending knee injury.
A dose of reality: CB Ryan Sutter (1998). Sutter was released by Baltimore after his first training camp, but he made the cut with Trista Rehn on the first season of "The Bachelorette." Their ceremony was featured in a three-part miniseries called "Trista & Ryan's Wedding." They've been married for 16 years and have two children in Colorado.
SIXTH ROUND
Best: OLB Adalius Thomas (2000). The most versatile player in team history is also the Ravens' best player drafted after the third round. A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Thomas lined up at every position on defense in 2005.
Worst: LB Ron Rogers (1998). One team official actually questioned whether Rogers was the same player they saw on tape after watching him in his first rookie minicamp. Rogers never played in an NFL game, and he's currently the president of an environmental engineering company.
The big oops award: OL Ramon Harewood (2010). The Ravens drafted this hopeful rocket scientist one pick before the Pittsburgh Steelers selected All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Brown. Knee injuries limited Harewood to five career starts.
SEVENTH ROUND
Best: DL DeAngelo Tyson (2012). He gets the slight nod over Michael Campanaro after making a couple of starts as a rookie during Baltimore's 2012 Super Bowl season. Tyson finished with 42 tackles, three sacks and one interception, which isn't bad for the 236th player drafted that year.
Worst: S Antwoine Sanders (2003). He had the briefest career of any Ravens draft pick. Sanders was injury-waived two weeks into training camp.
Politically incorrect: TE Cam Quayle (1998). The Ravens' only Mr. Irrelevant was hand-picked by then-team president David Modell, who thought Baltimore could nickname him "the Vice President" (referring to former VP Dan Quayle). Cam Quayle, who isn't related to the former vice president, ended his NFL dreams after two years and became a pediatric dentist.