Greg Garcia
Publication: Baltimore Beatdown
Date: July 31, 2014
Shortly after the Ravens arrived in Baltimore, the Ravens embarked on perhaps one of their most underrated but important drafts in team history.
The 1996 draft will forever remain its most iconic due to the finding of two inevitable Hall of Famers. The 2008 draft will be remembered for discovering the missing offensive links that had long held back the defensively dominant Ravens. But the 1997 draft may have done more for overall team strength as any to put Baltimore on its Super Bowl run in 2000.
A review of the 1997 class reveals a number of valuable contributors:
Peter Boulware, drafted at 1.4, was the Ravens’ first of many dominant pass rushing outside linebackers and he was eventually inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor.
Jamie Sharper (2.34) was an effective three down linebacker next to Lewis and notable for his crushing hits, game-ending pick in the AFC Championship, and interception in Super Bowl XXXV.
Kim Herring (2.58) was a starter for 54 games at safety and gathered an interception in the Super Bowl before becoming a starter for several seasons with the Rams, including their 2001 Super Bowl team. Mike Flynn was an undrafted free agent offensive lineman who played in Baltimore for nearly 10 years.
But perhaps the most impressive pick of all was the one that was eventually allowed to walk and become star on another team. That man was Priest Holmes. And perhaps if not for that, the 2001 season turns out differently.
