Taking wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown with their first pick in the NFL Draft, the Ravens addressed a major need with a big-time playmaker.
After trading down from No. 22 to No. 25 in a move with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Ravens selected Brown, a 5-foot-9, 166-pound speedster from Oklahoma.
He was the first wide receiver drafted after being one of the most explosive players in college football last season. Last season, he had 75 catches for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns, averaging 17.1 yards per catch.
Brown and quarterback Kyler Murray, who was the first-overall pick in the draft by the Arizona Cardinals, were a dynamic duo at Oklahoma. The Ravens hope Brown and quarterback Lamar Jackson can bring that same big-play dynamic to Baltimore's offense.
"He's a playmaker," said Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta, after making his first pick as GM. "He can catch screen passes, he can run reverses, he can run deep, he's got outstanding hands, I think he's tough. And he's electric. We think he complements our offense very well, and our vision of what we want our offense to be."
Being picked by the Ravens was emotional for Brown, who was in tears as he walked to the podium in Nashville to be greeted by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
"I mean, three years ago, I had no food, I had no offers, I had nothing," Brown said. "I was out there working at Six Flags working my tail off just to pay for my rent and for school. So, that moment just was surreal. People were always telling me what I can't do, so for me to get drafted in the first round, it just means a lot to me."
Brown's cousin is Oakland Raiders wide receiver Antonio Brown, so playmaking runs in the Brown family. Hollywood is often compared to DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles, listed at 5-foot-10, 175 pounds. Jackson has played 11 years, produced five 1,000-yard seasons, and has topped 10,000 career yards receiving while averaging 17.4 yards per catch.
The biggest question surrounding Brown is his size. He will be one of the NFL's smallest players. But the Ravens weren't afraid to let Jackson, who some pundits called too thin, run despite fears that he could get injured, and they aren't afraid to deploy Brown just because he's a smaller wideout. The upside outweighs the downside.
Brown is also coming off Lisfranc foot surgery. DeCosta said the Ravens are comfortable with the recent medical reports on the injury and expect him to be ready by the start of training camp at the latest. Brown's agent sent DeCosta videos of Brown's rehab during the pre-draft process.
"We've had players who've had this injury, the Lisfranc injury," DeCosta said. "It's a predictable injury. We feel really good about his prognosis long-term. He's had a couple of different medical rechecks. … Conservatively, I think training camp we'll have him back."
Brown's explosiveness is undeniable. ESPN's Todd McShay believes Brown will be a special playmaker.
"He's the only wide receiver in this class that I feel great about in the first round," McShay said. "I don't know if I've ever evaluated a wide receiver with the better combination of quickness and speed than Hollywood Brown. This guy is unbelievable. After the catch, good luck. He does this over and over again and this is today's NFL game. I don't see receivers like this in the NFL draft very often."
Brown's ability to stretch the field could add a lethal dimension to the Ravens' offense. Imagine opposing defenses crowding the line of scrimmage to stop the read option featuring quarterback Jackson and a heavy run game with Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards. Imagine Brown using his speed to go deep four or five times per game, possibly against one-on-one coverage.
Hollywood could play well in Baltimore, and turn around the Ravens' track record of first-round wide receivers.
"I think he's a perfect fit for what we're trying to do offensively," Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "If you don't like scoring from 70 yards out, then you don't want this guy. If you like a quick strike or a big play, this might be your guy. So we all kind of decided that we liked this guy."
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown was a dynamic playmaker in college football last year.
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs ahead of Baylor safety Chris Miller (3) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018. Oklahoma won 66-33. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs away from UCLA defensive back Quentin Lake (37) and linebacker Keisean Lucier-South (11) for a touchdown in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. Brown already is the national leader with six catches of at least 40 yards--those account for his five touchdowns. Brown has caught 24 passes for 544 yards, a Big 12-best 22.7 yards per catch. Oklahoma plays Texas this week. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) catches a pass for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against Tulane in an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Mitch Alcala)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) looks for room against TCU safety Markell Simmons (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 52-27. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs ahead of Baylor in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray has star receivers in Brown and CeeDee Lamb, yet he doesn’t hesitate to throw to other options. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) carries during an NCAA college football game between UCLA and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) carries during an NCAA college football game between UCLA and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) catches a pass defended by Florida Atlantic safety James Pierre (23) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown celebrates his touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Iowa State, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Matthew Putney)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) before the first half of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 52-27. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) warms up before the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Alabama, Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FILE - In this Sept. 29, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs ahead of Baylor in the second half of a game in Norman, Okla. Brown was named to the 2018 AP All-America NCAA college football team, Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.(AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 6, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) gestures "horns down" as he celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a 77-yard reception against Texas in the second half of an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Texas-Oklahoma rivalry is never short on bad blood between the Big 12 border states. (AP Photo/Cooper Neill, File)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown, left, runs the ball ahead of a tackle attempt by Georgia defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (78) during the first half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Jan. 1, 2018, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) advances the ball while Texas Longhorns safety Caden Sterns (7) defends during the first half of the NCAA Big 12 Conference football championship, Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas 39-27. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown carries during an NCAA college football game between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) after Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State in an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. Oklahoma won 48-47. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) reaches up to catch a long pass he would score a touchdown on in the second half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game against TCU on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Texas defensive back Kris Boyd (2) breaks up a pass in the end zone intended for Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) during the first half of the Big 12 Conference championship NCAA college football game on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs in for a touchdown ahead of Oklahoma State cornerback Tanner McCalister (2) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla. The Sooners and Longhorns are loaded with playmakers on the outside, but the ones with the best case to be All-Americans are Oklahoma’s Marquise Brown and Texas’ Lil’Jordan Humphrey. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams, File)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) makes a catch as Kansas safety Bryce Torneden (1) and Oklahoma fullback Carson Meier (45) looks on during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. Oklahoma won 55-40. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5)t scores in front of Oklahoma State cornerback Rodarius Williams (8) in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. Oklahoma won 62-52. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) runs in for a touchdown ahead of Oklahoma State cornerback Tanner McCalister (2) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) makes a catch ahead of Oklahoma State cornerback Tanner McCalister (2) in the second quarter of an NCAA college football game in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) takes off down the field for a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) during the first half of an NCAA college football game between Kansas and Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Alonzo Adams)
Oklahoma's Marquise Brown (5) before an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Oklahoma's Marquise Brown (5) catches a pass while warming up before an NCAA college football game against Texas Tech, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Brad Tollefson)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown (5) before the first half of an NCAA college football game against TCU, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, in Fort Worth, Texas. Oklahoma won 52-27. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
09/08/2018 Oklahoma vs UCLA football. Photo by Ty Russell
11/10/2018 Oklahoma vs OSU football. Photo by Ty Russell
10/06/2018 Oklahoma vs Texas football. Photo by Ty Russell
