Ozzie Newsome is going to go down as one of the best, if not the best general manager in NFL history. His ability to always get the best player available, sign free agents for the right price and his building of two super bowl teams are just some of his great accomplishments. With him stepping down as general manager to work with the team as more of a scout, a new era is going to begin in 2019 for the Baltimore Ravens. Eric Decosta will become the new general manager after this season, but for now, he will continue to watch a master of his craft.
Ozzie Newsome played tight end for the University of Alabama and had many achievements. He was a starter all four years and helped his team to 42 and six records during his time at Alabama. He averaged 20 yards a catch, which was a record that stood for twenty years, and he was named Alabama's Player of the Decade for the 1970's. Newsome was a two-time All-SEC player and inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.
Ozzie Newsome is a true football legend both on and off the field
Ozzie Newsome worked as a front office executive with the Clevland Browns from 1991-1995 and then in 1996 when the Clevland Browns became the Baltimore Ravens. Ozzie Newsome became the Ravens general manager in 2002 and has won two super bowls since being with the Ravens.
His first came in 2001 when the Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34-7 and his second came in 2013 when the Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31. Newsome is a member of the Clevland Browns "Ring of Honor."
Notable draft selections
Jamison Hensley of ESPN published a list of Ozzie Newsome's 181 draft picks since being the Ravens general manager.
Of these picks, two are already in the NFL hall of fame and a third is soon to be inducted. Jonathan Ogden was a first-round selection in 1996 and played eleven years in the NFL. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2013. Ray Lewis was the second first-round selection in 1996. Ray Lewis retired at the end of the 2013 season after the Ravens won their second super bowl.
He is being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2018. Ed Reed was a first round pick in 2002 and retired in 2014. He is expected to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame next year.
While these three players are Ozzie Newsome's most notable draft picks, he has selected players that truly "Play like Ravens." Some of his other notable picks in Jamison Hensley's top 10 picks Marshal Yanda (2007), Terrell Suggs (2003), Haloti Ngata (2006), and Joe Flacco (2008). Ray Lewis and Joe Flacco are the two Ravens super bowl MVPs.
While it is to soon to give the Ravens 2018 draft class a passing grade, The Ravens like the other thirty-one NFL teams hope they made the best selections for not only their team but their teams future.
The 2018 NFL Draft saw the Ravens select twelve players, including two in the first round.
Ozzie Newsome made trades on all three days of this year's draft to help get the best talent for his team in hopes of ending their three-year playoff drought. But most importantly, he got his quarterback of the future in Lamar Jackson. While Ozzie Newsome may be stepping down as general manager, his presence will be forever felt and for everything he did for the organization he truly earned the statement "In Ozzie we trust."