Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome Shines Again After Stellar Draft

There are plenty of reasons why the Baltimore Ravens have made the playoffs in six of the last eight seasons, with a pair of division titles and a Lombardi Trophy on the mantle.

But all of those reasons can be traced back to their conductor: general manager Ozzie Newsome.

A former first-round pick, three-time Pro Bowler and 1999 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Newsome has become synonymous with how to build and sustain a successful NFL franchise. He’s been particularly proficient at procuring top talent through the draft, consistently showing the ability to not only hit on early picks but also finding quality contributors in the middle and late rounds.

The Ravens’ 2016 draft class is still in its original packaging, but it sure looks like Newsome knocked another one out of the park.

With his first selection, Newsome upgraded the left tackle position with Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley, who was regarded as possibly the top tackle in the 2015 draft class before he chose to return to South Bend for another season. Stanley refined his already polished skill set even further, and was then the first tackle off the board this time around.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock had high praise for Stanley, comparing him to arguably the best young left tackle in the entire league:

I think he compares favorably to the Cowboys’ Tyron Smith. That’s high praise. I saw him play a lot of football at Notre Dame. He’s a dancing bear. He was offered several Pac-12 basketball scholarships, so that tells you something about his feet. His pass protection skills are almost as good as Laremy Tunsil’s, but right now Stanley is a better run blocker. Plus, Stanley is totally clean off the field, which is about to come into play.

Stanley gives the Ravens an instant upgrade over disappointing and expensive veteran Eugene Monroe, as well as a young blindside protector to ensure quarterback Joe Flacco’s safety for years to come.

On Day 2, Newsome switched gears and addressed the defensive side of the ball.

With a need for a young, versatile edge defender, the Ravens selected Boise State’s Kamalei Correa, whose athleticism will allow him to make an …

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