If there’s one moment that encapsulates the unpredictable nature of professional sports, it’s undoubtedly the NFL Draft. Many teams have experienced highs and lows based on the decisions made on that pivotal night, often with more franchises lamenting their choices than celebrating them. Fortunately for the Baltimore Ravens, the winds of fate blew in their favor during the 2018 draft.
In a bold move that could have easily resulted in backlash against coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens decided to trade up in the draft to snag Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick. This decision was backed by majority owner Steve Bisciotti, and it came laden with risk—if Jackson hadn’t panned out, it might have signaled the end of Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore.
Fast-forward a few years, and what seemed like a roll of the dice is now a celebrated decision. Recently, Harbaugh sat down with Ravens insider Garrett Downing to reflect on that critical draft day. While Jackson wasn’t considered the top-rated quarterback during the selection process, the dynamic conversation around him soon became undeniable. Harbaugh expressed, “That was a different kind of year because there were a bunch of quarterbacks. We had the conversations about Lamar in the draft meetings all the way through, on the phone, how many times did we talk? But we didn’t want anybody to know… The conversations kind of came back around and it ended up being ‘Can we build an offense around Lamar Jackson?’ …And we decided that we could.”
Looking back now, it’s easy to see this as a genius move, but the reality is that it was far from a straightforward decision. The Ravens were not guaranteed to land Lamar that night; it required a perfect storm of teamwork, strategy, and a little bit of luck.
Harbaugh recalled the intensity of draft day: “That wasn’t the end of it because we still had to get him. I remember draft day… I had stepped out because we had made the pick of Hayden, and still Lamar was kind of in the back of everyone’s mind… I come back in and they’re buzzing. He looks at me and he whispers, ‘Lamar.’”
After weeks of secret discussions and strategizing, the Ravens emerged with a cornerstone player who would soon electrify the NFL landscape. Since his arrival, Jackson has transformed from a promising rookie into a bona fide star, shaking up defenses much like a hurricane during storm season.
Harbaugh and Bisciotti recently drew intriguing connections between drafting Lamar Jackson and the previous franchise hero, Joe Flacco. Both quarterbacks not only carried the weight of their respective eras but also changed the narrative for the Ravens. As Harbaugh pointed out the team was in dire need of a quarterback when he first came on board, Bisciotti remembered back to how Flacco was picked at a similarly crucial moment in the team’s history.
“I’ll never forget it… I had taken over in 2004 and then Kyle Boller didn’t work out like we had hoped he would. And then, Steve McNair comes in and his body breaks down and then 2.06 turns into a terrible 2.07 which leaves us with the eighth pick in the draft… You’ve got to have the quarterback… We went back and got Joe and Cam said that this guy has as much upside as Matt Ryan… We can do just as well with Joe,” Bisciotti shared candidly.
No matter how you slice it, the Ravens have been exceedingly fortunate in their quarterback draft decisions, landing both a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Flacco and a dynamic playmaker in Jackson. Their success illustrates a profound truth about sports: sometimes it’s about trusting your instincts and the talent evaluation capabilities of those you surround yourself with.
Reflecting on the fact that every other NFL franchise passed over Jackson during the 2018 draft only amplifies the Ravens’ triumph. Their legacy will forever highlight how a seemingly small, strategic conversation on a few stadium steps birthed what could very well be the next great chapter in the Baltimore Ravens’ history—a chapter filled with athletic brilliance and unforgettable moments. As Ravens fans and football enthusiasts alike can attest, that gamble transformed not just a franchise but also the contours of the game itself.
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