The Baltimore Ravens' recent drafts haven't lived up to the franchise's gold standard. But the 2016 draft class is making an immediate impact and is a big reason why the Ravens are in the thick of the playoff race.
Of the 11 drafted players, three are starters (left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Tavon Young and guard Alex Lewis) and three are impact backups (running back Kenneth Dixon, linebacker Matt Judon and wide receiver Chris Moore). If Baltimore can get production out of its picks in the second round (linebacker Kamalei Correa) and third round (defensive end Bronson Kaufusi), this draft class could be a special one.
Grade: B-plus
Best rookie: CB Tavon Young. His emergence helped fill the void left by an injured (and struggling) Shareece Wright. Young, a fourth-round pick, has impressed with his ball skills. He has a knack for being around the ball. He ranks second in passes defensed with seven, to go along with two interceptions and one fumble recovery. He also returned a blocked extra point for a score. At 5-foot-9, Young doesn't have great size, but he makes up for it with his aggressiveness.
Most improved rookie: LT Ronnie Stanley. The No. 6 overall pick hit a rough patch with penalties and poor technique when he returned after missing four games with a foot injury. But Stanley is starting to look like a franchise left tackle over the past couple of weeks. He also received an endorsement from Baltimore's five-time Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda. "Ronnie is going to be a player in this league," Yanda said.
Most disappointing rookie: LB Kamalei Correa. The second-round pick began training camp as the starting inside linebacker next to C.J. Mosley. But Correa proved to be very raw, and he was soon replaced by Zach Orr. Correa only has 48 snaps on defense this year. He was a healthy scratch in Weeks 11 and 12.
The jury is still out on ... DE Bronson Kaufusi and WR-PR Keenan Reynolds: Kaufusi, a third-round pick, broke his ankle in early August and was done for the season. He really needs to work on his lower-body strength if he wants to play next season. Reynolds, a sixth-rounder, has to show better hands in fielding kicks and catching passes as he transitions from being a college quarterback. He is currently on the practice squad.
Undrafted rookie check in: DT Michael Pierce continues the Ravens' tradition of finding impactful undrafted rookies. It's been impressive to see Pierce crack into the rotation of one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL. He forms a wall inside with Brandon Williams and is an underrated piece of the league's top run defense.