Ravens’ current first-round picks ranked by NFL resume
· Yahoo Sports
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the NFL's strongest collections of former first-round picks, and several of them are central to the franchise's championship hopes entering 2026.
With Ravens training camp fast approaching, we're ranking and highlighting first-round picks on the roster in various ways. This most recent first-round pick ranking is based on career accomplishments, not current job security or future upside. That distinction matters for a roster that includes established stars, recent high draft picks, and young players whose best football is still ahead. It also matters because several of Baltimore's most important players do not qualify. Derrick Henry, Mark Andrews, Trey Hendrickson, Chidobe Awuzie, and several others were not first-round picks, so they are excluded from this list.
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The ranking is limited to current Ravens who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.
1. Lamar Jackson, quarterback
Jackson is the clear No. 1 and one of the most accomplished players in franchise history. The Ravens selected him with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, and he transformed Baltimore's offense while becoming one of the most dynamic quarterbacks the sport has ever seen.
Jackson's résumé includes two NFL MVP awards, multiple Pro Bowl selections, and a level of league-wide impact that goes beyond statistics. His running ability changed how defenses prepare for Baltimore, while his development as a passer has kept the Ravens among the AFC’s most dangerous teams. Among current Ravens first-round picks, no one has a stronger career case.
2. Roquan Smith, linebacker
Smith ranks second because of his sustained production, leadership, and standing as one of the NFL’s best linebackers. The former first-round pick by the Bears became the centerpiece of Baltimore’s defense after arriving in a trade, and he has continued the franchise’s tradition of elite linebacker play.
Smith has been a tackling machine, a defensive communicator, and a tone-setter for one of the league’s most physical units. He had another 100-tackle season in 2025 and remains under contract for two more years. His résumé includes Pro Bowl and All-Pro recognition, and his impact on Baltimore’s defense places him ahead of several other accomplished first-rounders on the roster.
3. Ronnie Stanley, offensive tackle
Stanley ranks third because of his peak, position value, and long-term importance to Baltimore’s offense. The Ravens selected him with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft, and he developed into one of the league’s best left tackles when healthy.
Stanley earned first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection, giving Baltimore elite blind-side protection before injuries changed the arc of his career. His availability has been the only reason he does not rank higher. When healthy, he has played at a level worthy of his draft slot and has remained one of the most important offensive players on the roster.
4. Marlon Humphrey, cornerback
Humphrey has been one of the best defensive backs in Ravens history and ranks fourth because of his Pro Bowl résumé, longevity, and versatility. The former first-round pick has played outside, inside, and in matchup roles, giving Baltimore a physical cornerback capable of fitting multiple defensive structures.
His $26 million cap hit sparks discussion, but this ranking is based on career accomplishments, and Humphrey’s résumé is strong. He has been a Pro Bowl-level cornerback, a turnover creator, and a central piece of Baltimore’s secondary for years.
5. Kyle Hamilton, safety
Hamilton is already one of the NFL’s premier defensive players, even though his career is still young. The former first-round safety has become an All-Pro-level chess piece because of his ability to cover, blitz, fit the run, play deep, and match up across formations.
Hamilton’s versatility makes him one of the most valuable defenders in football, and his role in Anthony Weaver’s defense gives Baltimore rare flexibility. He may eventually climb even higher on this list, but the players above him have longer résumés. For now, Hamilton is already accomplished enough to sit ahead of most young first-rounders in the league.
6. Zay Flowers, wide receiver
Flowers has quickly become Baltimore’s top wide receiver and one of the most important offensive players on the roster. The Ravens picked up his $27.3 million fifth-year option after back-to-back Pro Bowls, a reflection of how quickly he established himself as a core piece around Jackson.
Flowers brings quickness, route skill, yards-after-catch ability, and a dynamic element to the passing game. His career is still early, but his production and recognition already separate him from other young first-round picks on the roster.
7. Rashod Bateman, wide receiver
Bateman’s career has been shaped by flashes, injuries, and expectations. The former first-round pick remains under contract through 2029 and still has a path to a major role, but he has not fully become the consistent high-end receiver Baltimore hoped for when it drafted him.
His résumé still places him above the newest first-rounders because he has multiple seasons of NFL production and starting experience. The pressure in 2026 comes from the Ravens adding young receivers and reshaping the room around Flowers. Bateman has enough talent to climb, but he needs a healthy, productive season to strengthen his career case.
8. Nate Wiggins, cornerback
Wiggins is one of Baltimore’s most important young defensive players, but his career résumé remains in the early stages. The former first-round cornerback has the athletic profile and coverage skill to become a long-term starter in a secondary that already includes Humphrey, Hamilton, Chidobe Awuzie, and Malaki Starks.
His ranking is based on time, not talent. Wiggins has a strong trajectory, but career accomplishments require sustained production, and he is still building that résumé.
9. Malaki Starks, safety
Starks carries major expectations as a former first-round pick and projected starter next to Hamilton. His long-term outlook is strong, and Baltimore’s decision to invest in another high-end safety shows how important versatility and coverage flexibility are to the defense.
For now, Starks remains near the bottom because his NFL career is just beginning. He could climb quickly if he becomes the type of defensive back the Ravens envisioned, but this ranking rewards established accomplishments over projection.
10. Vega Ioane, offensive guard
Ioane ranks here because he is a new first-round pick being asked to become a Day 1 starter at guard. Baltimore added him to reshape the interior offensive line after Tyler Linderbaum’s departure, and his draft status gives him a clear path to an immediate role.
That said, he has not yet built an NFL résumé. His place at the bottom is not a reflection of his future, but a recognition that this is a career-accomplishment ranking. His next step is turning the first-round investment into a reliable starting production.
Final ranking
- Lamar Jackson
- Roquan Smith
- Ronnie Stanley
- Marlon Humphrey
- Kyle Hamilton
- Zay Flowers
- Rashod Bateman
- Nate Wiggins
- Malaki Starks
- Vega Ioane
The Ravens' list shows how well Baltimore has blended established first-round talent with younger building blocks under GM Eric DeCosta and, previously, Ozzie Newsome. Jackson is the franchise player and owns the strongest résumé. Smith, Stanley, and Humphrey give the roster proven veteran accomplishments, while Hamilton and Flowers are already decorated young stars with room to keep climbing. Wiggins, Starks, and Ioane are still in the early stages, but each represents the next wave of first-round investments Baltimore hopes will keep the roster among the AFC’s best.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ranking every former first-round pick on Ravens roster