Why are the Baltimore Ravens so bad at drafting receivers?

Travis Taylor. Devard Darling. Mark Clayton. Yamon Figurs. Demetrius Williams. The list goes on. The Baltimore Ravens have drafted 21 receivers in their franchise’s history, yet only three, Torrey Smith, Jermaine Lewis and Brandon Stokley, found any kind of success, and Lewis’ success was mostly as a returner. Only seven of those 21 went for more than 1,000 yards in a career. Only one went for more than 1,000 yards in a season for the Ravens. Why are the Baltimore Ravens so bad at drafting receivers?

To answer that, let’s delve in to the forgotten 21.

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Note: Aside from Travis Taylor, Jermaine Lewis and Brandon Stokley, the receivers drafted before 2002 were before my time and don’t have enough data available for me to form a credible opinion. Those receivers include: James Roe, Patrick Johnson, Javin Hunter and Ron Johnson. Two guys, Devard Darling and Tandon Doss, did not fit neatly into any category. Sometimes guys just don’t make it, for whatever reason.

Travis Taylor

8 years
101 Games
612 Targets
312 Receptions
4,017 Yards
12.9 Average
22 TD’s

The 10th pick in the 2000 draft, Travis Taylor was a guy whose physical tools, not his actual play, elevated him to a top pick. Having run a 4.43 and jumped 37 inches in the vertical, Taylor was among the most athletic players in the draft.

Unfortunately, he was not especially productive at the University of Florida. In fact, Darrell Jackson, his college teammate, was much more productive in college and went in the third round of the same draft. Jackson went on to have a productive NFL career, while Taylor went on to bust. Just look at his college stats:

1997: 7 games, 1 reception, 11 yards, 11.0 average, 0 TD’s
1998: 11 games, 37 receptions, 676 yards, 18.3 average, 9 TD’s
1999: 9 games, 34 receptions, 463 yards, 13.6 average, 6 TD’s

Touchdowns aside, Taylor was never dominant at Florida, so why would anyone expect him to be dominant in the pros? Measurables and upside are important, but expecting a guy to dominate better competition when he couldn’t do so in college is asking for trouble.

Lesson 1: Don’t spend top picks on players who weren’t dominant in college

Mark Clayton

7 Years
491 Targets
260 Receptions
3,448 Yards
13.3 Average
14 TD’s

A draft pick that was almost universally lauded at the time, Mark Clayton was simply in the wrong spot at the wrong time. His “bust” status doesn’t sting quite as much as Taylor’s, as Clayton was a late-first rather than a top-10 pick, but Clayton’s failure to become a consistent starting receiver hurt the Ravens’ passing game for years none the less.

Clayton was a dominant force his Junior season at the University of Oklahoma, going for 1,425 yards and 15 touchdowns. Had Clayton declared after that season, he might have been a top pick. Risking his senior season, though, Clayton fell off in pretty much every major statistical category.

Even so, Clayton flashed talent immediately in Baltimore. His rookie season was forgettable, in part because of forgettable quarterback play (Kyle Boller), but he instantly developed a rapport with Steve McNair, going for 939 yards and five touchdowns his second year. Shockingly, Clayton even out-performed Derrick Mason, who is unquestionably the most productive receiver in franchise history. His career seemed to be on the upswing.

McNair’s career unraveled the following season, though, as the Ravens struggled through 2007 in the passing game. Clayton would never be the same, failing to develop a rapport with Joe Flacco in 2008 and ultimately moving on after a costly drop in the playoffs in 2009.

Unlike Taylor, who just wasn’t very good, Clayton was more a product of his environment (though admittedly Taylor never had great quarterbacks either). He clearly had the skills to succeed, but constant upheaval at quarterback was enough to derail his career. While Derrick Mason had already established himself and grown into a top threat before coming to Baltimore, Clayton was trying to establish himself in the midst of a tire fire at quarterback. That’s not a recipe for success. Any receiver drafted from 1999 to 2006 could fit into this category as well. That includes Devard Darling, as well as some other guys who failed for more obvious reasons.

By the time he moved on from Baltimore, Clayton was an injury risk who lacked confidence, retiring after two forgettable and injury-plagued years in St. Louis.

Lesson 2: Don’t expect a young receiver to succeed without good quarterback play

The Physical Specimens: Clarence Moore, Demetrius Williams, Justin Harper, Tommy Streeter, Aaron Mellette

Remember these guys? Each was a late-round pick (Round 4 and later), and each was a physical specimen. All were tall (Demetrius Williams was the shortest at 6’1″), and almost all of these guys were fast as well. And they all had this in common: They were drafted more for their physical skills than their football skills.

Great size or athleticism can be enough to dominate in college, but technical skills are crucial to succeed in the pros. Clarence Moore, Justin Harper and Tommy Streeter couldn’t catch. Those guys, along with Williams and Aaron Mellette were all stiff route runners. Most of them couldn’t adjust to the ball in the air. Mellette probably had the best football skills out of the group, but he couldn’t stay healthy.

Think of the late-round and undrafted guys who became stars. Antonio Brown, Julian Edelman and Wes Welker are recent examples. None of those guys are freakish physical specimens, but rather, they make their living on sharp routes and generally consistent hands (though Welker is prone to drops). The Ravens have tried to go the other route, drafting great athletes late, and it hasn’t worked out.

Lesson 3: If a guy with great physical tools falls in the draft, he probably will never be very skilled

The Special Teamers: Derek Abney, Yamon Figurs, Marcus Smith, David Reed

When these four guys were drafted, there were no expectation they would ever be contributors at receiver.

Figurs and Reed both had quality seasons as returners, though neither turned that into consistent success. Figurs lacked vision, while Reed could not hold on to the ball. Neither had the receiving skills necessary to make it in the NFL.

Abney was a very late pick and never made the team. No surprise there.

Finally, there is Marcus Smith, who had hands of stone. Though an excellent special teamer, having notched 10 tackles in just 21 games, Smith never had the hands nor quickness to succeed in an NFL offense. Not many receivers have more special teams tackles in their career than receptions, making Smith the consummate special teams specialist.

Though all of these guys but Abney contributed in some way, they are still all viewed as disappointments.

Lesson 4: Don’t waste draft picks on special teamers when UDFAs can get the job done

The Success Stories: Jermaine Lewis, Brandon Stokley, Torrey Smith

There is no lesson to be had from these guys because they are all so different.

Torrey Smith was a solid value for a second rounder and was by far the most productive in a Ravens uniform. With great speed, good size and tremendous work ethic, Smith was going to find a way to make it work. He did, and the Ravens were better off for it. And his hands and route running, while below average early in his career, were not quite as raw as the “physical specimens” class.

Brandon Stokley found success in Indianapolis by being the consummate technician. His routes were sharp, he caught everything thrown his way and most of all, he was in the perfect situation. I don’t think Stokley was ever better than a guy like Mark Clayton, he was just in a good situation. That matters.

Finally, Jermaine Lewis was one of those rare special teamers that developed into a weapon in the passing game as well. He was a big play threat early in his career, with two very good seasons in 1997 and 1998. He would never find that receiving form again, but as one of the most dynamic returners in the league, Lewis had plenty of value. Worth pointing out: Lewis was very productive in college, with 2,932 career yards and 21 touchdowns. So here was a guy who not only could return kicks, but did have some established receiving skills.

Jury is still out: Michael Campanaro

The Ravens had long had a tendency to draft physical specimens late, forgoing the less athletic but more technically skilled players like Michael Campanaro. Though he had a great combine, Campanaro was more regarded for his quickness, hands and toughness than his “triangle numbers” (height, weight, speed). 

So far, Camp looks like a very talented player with a chance to succeed. Despite struggling with injuries, Camp caught seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. There is upside here. Let’s see if Camp makes good on it.