If there’s a single moment that captures the unpredictable essence of professional sports, it must be the NFL Draft. Numerous teams have faced their share of highs and lows based on the choices made on that crucial night, often leading to more regrets than celebrations. Fortunately for the Baltimore Ravens, fortune smiled upon them during the 2018 draft.
In a daring maneuver that could have easily drawn criticism towards coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens opted to trade up in the draft to select Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick. This decision had the backing of majority owner Steve Bisciotti and carried significant risk—had Jackson not succeeded, it could have signaled Harbaugh’s departure from Baltimore.
Fast-forward a few years, and what initially appeared to be a gamble is now celebrated as a brilliant move. Harbaugh recently spoke with Ravens insider Garrett Downing to reflect on that significant draft day. While Jackson wasn’t viewed as the top quarterback leading up to the selection, the buzz surrounding him became unmistakable. Harbaugh noted, “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, it’s easy to view this as a masterstroke, but the truth is that it was a complex decision. The Ravens faced uncertainty in securing Lamar that evening; it took an ideal combination of teamwork, strategy, and a touch of luck.
Harbaugh recalled the pressure 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 covert discussions and planning, the Ravens landed a cornerstone player who would soon electrify the NFL. Since his debut, Jackson has evolved from a promising rookie into a genuine star, wreaking havoc on defenses like a hurricane.
Recently, Harbaugh and Bisciotti made intriguing comparisons between drafting Lamar Jackson and the previous franchise icon, Joe Flacco. Both quarterbacks bore the burden of their respective eras while helping reshape the Ravens’ narrative. Harbaugh emphasized the team’s urgent need for a quarterback when he first joined, while Bisciotti reminisced about how Flacco was selected at a similarly pivotal moment for the franchise.
“I’ll never forget it… I had taken over in 2004 and then Kyle Boller didn’t pan out as we had hoped. Then, Steve McNair came in, but his body broke down, leading to a tough draft situation that left us with the eighth pick… 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 openly.
Regardless of perspective, the Ravens have been remarkably fortunate in their quarterback selections, acquiring both a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Flacco and a dazzling playmaker in Jackson. Their accomplishments underscore a key lesson about sports: sometimes, success hinges on trusting your instincts and the talent assessment skills of those around you.
The fact that every other NFL team overlooked Jackson during the 2018 draft only magnifies the Ravens’ success. Their legacy will highlight how a seemingly trivial strategic discussion on a few stadium steps led to what could become the next glorious chapter in the Baltimore Ravens’ history—one filled with remarkable athleticism and unforgettable moments. As Ravens fans and football lovers can attest, that risk not only transformed a franchise but also reshaped the game itself.
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