Looking back at current Ravens combine performances

With the 2018 NFL combine fast approaching, here is a look back at how some of the Ravens’ best players performed during their day at the combine.

The Ravens selected their Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Joe Flacco, with the 18th pick overall in 2008. While the standard combine drills do not have a major influence on a quarterback’s draft stock, Flacco put up decent numbers. He finished first in the three cone run and second in the shuttle run for the position. His 40-yard dash speed was less impressive, good for only 10th out of all of the quarterbacks who competed that year.

Marshal Yanda, who turned out to be an incredible value as he was selected 86th overall in the 2007 draft, only participated in the 40-yard dash and finished 11th for his position group. Similarly, Terrell Suggs only participated in the 40-yard dash, posting a less than stellar time of 4.84 in 2003. Still, the Ravens selected Suggs 10th overall, and he has gone on to be mainstay for the team.

C.J. Mosley, a rising star linebacker for a franchise that has found their identity at the position, was selected 14th overall in 2014. While Mosley was the second fastest ILB in the 40-yard dash that year, he was dead last in the shuttle run and three cone. He posted much stronger numbers for vertical leap (3rd for ILBs) and broad jump (4th for ILBs).

While the combine is welcomed football-related viewing in the drought of the offseason, the results are far from a strong indicator of future NFL success. The combine best serves as an opportunity for lower profile players to generate buzz for themselves and potentially increase their draft stock. As evident from just a sampling of Baltimore’s stars, an average to subpar combine outing does not necessarily eliminate players from a team’s big board either.