Fansided

2021 NFL Draft winners: 10 teams that crushed it

By Nicholas McGee

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; BYU quarterback Zach Wilson poses with jersey after being selected as the second pick by the New York Jets during the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; BYU quarterback Zach Wilson poses with jersey after being selected as the second pick by the New York Jets during the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 11
Next
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Rashod Bateman (Minnesota) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over video call after being selected by the Baltimore Ravens as the number 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Rashod Bateman (Minnesota) with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell over video call after being selected by the Baltimore Ravens as the number 27 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Baltimore Ravens

Every year, all the Ravens ever do is let the draft board come to them, and it works consistently.

That was again the case in 2021 as Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman fell to Baltimore with the 27th pick in the first round, giving the Ravens perhaps the most well-rounded receiver in a remarkably deep class at the position.

Four picks later the Ravens turned the 31st overall selection they got from the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Orlando Brown Jr. into Odafe Oweh, the unpolished but fearsome athlete whose physical gifts will give him the chance to excel off the edge at the highest level.

He could hardly have asked for a better landing spot with which to hone his pass-rushing talents than Baltimore, with the Ravens also looking to get the most out of fifth-round edge rusher Daelin Hayes from Notre Dame.

Third-round guard Ben Cleveland should have the chance to compete for a spot on the interior of the offensive line, a problem area for Baltimore last season, and Lamar Jackson received more help in the form of Oklahoma State wide receiver Tylan Wallace with one of their two fourth-round picks.

The Ravens’ offense has fallen short in successive postseasons but, courtesy of a draft focused heavily on that side of the ball, Baltimore has taken steps to ensure that does not happen again in 2021.

Home/NFL Draft