Mel Kipper believe this:

AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: GRADE: B
The Ravens wanted Matt Ryan, but Joe Flacco was the next-best quarterback in this draft. The Ravens made a great deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars that got them three additional picks. They also traded down and still were able to get running back Ray Rice in the second round. The Ravens need to start bringing in young linebackers and Miami's Tavares Gooden had a very good 2007 season. Tom Zbikowski is a good third-round choice, but only if his play resembles what he did in 2006 as opposed to 2007. Oniel Cousins is a versatile offensive lineman and WR Marcus Smith will help on special teams in kick coverage and as a returner. Safety Haruki Nakamura and RB Allen Patrick might have to make this roster by performing on special teams

for the entire link, go here:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/insider/columns/story?columnist=kiper_jr_mel&id=3357479&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnfl%2fdraft08%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dkiper_jr_mel%26id%3d3357479%26campaign%3drss%26source%3dESPNHeadlines

Trading down in the 1st round? Inspired. Trading back up to take Flacco when Brohm subsequently remained on the board for an eternity? You answer that question. Seeing how it takes more than a strong arm to be a successful NFL starting QB (ask Mr. Boller, for example), I hope Flacco also has all those other tangible and intangibles working in his favor, as Brohm's admittedly less-strong arm could nonetheless give him a nice career as well. If this had happened on Brian Billick's watch, I am sure we would be hearing the drafting of Flacco "buyer's remorse" for having let a similarly tall and strong-arm drafted QB, Oregon State's Derek Anderson, slip away? To date, Anderson remains the best prospect I ever saw out at McDaniel College (with thanks to former Terrapin Head Coach Joe Krivak for educating me on what to look for in a QB). If Flacco doesn't pan out, maybe convert him to Tight End, the way former Jerry Caliborne Terp QB and future Vikings Head Coach John Tice was transformed? Just kidding--(I think)--as far as I know, Flacco does not have benefit of a younger brother playing TE in college, the way Mike did with fellow former Terp and ten-year career NFL TE, John Tice.

It's ridiculous to say that trading back up for Flacco was unwarranted because Brohm remained on the board until 56. The league valued Brohm at 56, but the Ravens obviously thought that Flacco was going to be picked before #26. That's why they moved up.

Anyone remember Rothlesburger?? Big kid, big arm, small school! Picked right around the same pick.... Boller on the other hand was not a tall quaterback, jsut one with a stong arm. He had one good year oppossed to three from Flacco. I think we will be fine. Rice truly is the one to watch. Brian Lenord, before the season started was supposed to be one of the top RB's in last years draft. Rice replaced Lenoard ( a senior) as a junior. Lenoard was 3 time 1st team big east and demoted to let Rice play... not to shabby of a back!

I have no problem with wasting a lower pick to make sure you get the QB you wanted. Going from 26 to 18 is not a big deal to me.

And besides, using that logic. Falcons shouldn't have taken Ryan at 3 because it was another 15 picks before the next QB was taken.

Mark Teixeira in a BALTIMORE road jersey! Get onboard:
http://bringmarkhome.withthispetition.com

I grade the sun a d- for thei terrible negative coverage of the ravens! lmfao

Only time will tell which camp is right. The Go Flacco cheerleaders, or the naysayers who cant believe they wasted moving up to grab him. Its apparent from reading other media outlets, that most didnt give him a Flacco a fleeting chance of making it in the big leagues.

Still not sold on the Flacco pick, would have liked to see Dixon picked up by the ravens in a later round. Dixon was far better then Flacco in the 2007 season and even a heisman candidated before his injury. Even a comparable if not better arm than Flacco. Dixon even put up bigger numbers against bigger, faster and better competition. I think the O-line will be good, look for Gaither to really come into his own, along with Chester and Brown. I like Yanda's intensity and I believe he will fare very well. I like Ray Rice but Mendenhall (may have spelled that wrong) would have been even better, now we have to go against him twice a year. Still didn't get a big wide with some speed, could have made a push for James Hardy or that kid from Michigan State. I'm excited about this upcoming season. Flacco may be the "Future" but hopefully fans will not write off Smith or even Boller (ok maybe Boller) just yet.

Go Purple!!!!!!!!!!

Everybody is blowing smoke that just because the other two quarterbacks were not picked until the second round that the same would have been true for Flacco. Who says that Flacco would not have been picked until the second round???? Can you see the future or something? All it means is that the other two guys were seen as less desirable than Flacco by the rest of the league.

Flacco is so physically gifted that he probably would have gone somewhere in the 20s in the first round. Flacco has a much bigger potential upside than the other two and was worth the risk.

You guys read a couple of internet articles and you think you are some kind of big time talent evaluator.

Ozzie and his staff are excellent and they have a long history of excellent draft choices, so let Ozzie and his staff of PROFESSIONALS make the picks and let all of you rotisserie league wanna-be GMs stop whining ...

Just sit back and enjoy it. You can criticize it if you want to -- just stop acting like you know what you are talking about.

Everyone is questioning whether Flacco can make it in the NFL. He has broken some of the records of a previous Delaware quarterback (and is often referred to as a better quarterback than him) who went to the NFL. You may have heard of him, Rich Gannon (you know, the one flattened by Tony Siragusa). Harbaugh and Cameron had a say in the pick (as opposed to Billick) and they have both worked with some really good quarterbacks. So give him a chance.

In my opinion these papers are biased, because from all of the places that I've heard and seen, the Steelers didn't draft that impressively at all. They picked up players that they didn't need. Even with Mendenhall, who blocks for him? Who pass rushes? Just a few thoughts, they picked up high profile offensive guys who will become playmakers, but they, like the Ravens have always been a defense-oriented team, I just don't agree with such the high grades here.

About thirty five years ago some tall kid from an unknown small school (back then) called La Tech went #1 and did OK in the NFL. That was Terry Bradshaw.

Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to find out that the first time Flacco tries to hand off to McGahee in practice he will find him already gone through the hole!

So time will tell. But the Ravens are a much better judges of talent than I am, or I would be working for them instead.

I have no idea how the draft will work out and neither does anyone else. Did I like it ,no. I would have rather drafted a CB and gone with Smith & Boller drafting whomever later. BUT OZ has a very good track record & who am I to argue with his track record!!

Why did the Ravens trade back up to #18 for Flacco?
...because guess who traded up to #19 with Philly...CAROLINA! Do you really think they would have taken Otah if Flacco was still available? I gotta dollar that says not.

It was a good move for the purple birds in order to get the guy (Flacco) they wanted, but it's gonna be a while to say whether or not it was the RIGHT move?!?!

I worry that they'll invest too much into Flacco and find that their real QB of the future is T.Smith...or worse yet, they don't realize that T.Smith is the future and he ends up elsewhere as the future for another team.

"Just sit back and enjoy it. You can criticize it if you want to -- just stop acting like you know what you are talking about". -- Long Time Fan

Thanks. I feel better now that I have your approval to express my opinion. But, you're right. YOU are the only one who knows what he's talking about.

Man, I dont understand all the criticism here. The Ravens did exactly what I hoped they would if no superstar was available at 8, trade back until the end of the third round. I had Flacco rated significantly higher than the other two based on games/skill competions I had seen and I hoped they would trade up to ensure they got him over the other two. Having seen Ray Rice play on many occasions, there was no doubt in my mind that he was the pick to make at the end of the second, with Godrey being a somewhat close second. The Ravens just ended up with two great picks for the position in the draft. Rice is gonna be nasty. Dont know enough about the later picks to say anything but I have faith in Ozzie. I would have gone crazy if the Ravens had taken Henne or Brohm. I see both as longtime backups. If no Ryan or Flacco (who I think are about equal), I wanted to take a chance and pick up a Dixon or Brennan type in late rounds and hope Boller and Smith had miraculous offseasons.

The criticism here is that Flacco is a reach. I don't think a reach always has to be bad, but it is still always a reach.

In 3 years when Flacco is blowing our minds are still developing or sucking then we'll have an answer about this draft.

The trade down was beautiful, the trade back up reeked of desperation and a reach.

My biggest fear is that the team doesn't let Boller/Smith start the whole season and gets tempted to see Flacco in action.

NO MATTER WHAT Flacco should sit a year or so. Thats whats best for his career.

If he come in a struggles early with the speed of the game, then I could see a rough future for him.

If you let him sense the speed of the game through live practice, training camp, pre-season, and let him get a year or two of that in before throwing him in, I think we've got a keeper.