Redman finds a great opportunity with the Ravens
“With the 75th overall selection, the Baltimore Ravens select, quarterback Chris Redman.”
Chris Redman will join a team that since departing the city of Cleveland has done little to make itself a serious contender. That is until the past few months. The Baltimore Ravens are now doing a very good job of building a team that should challenge for the AFC Central, possibly the toughest division in the NFL.
Last season the Ravens finished 8-8, the teams first non-losing season and good for third in the AFC Central, behind Jacksonville and Super Bowl participant Tennessee.
Tony Banks, who signed a four-year deal with the Ravens in February, was the primary signal-caller for the team in 1999. Banks threw for 2,100-yards, 17 touchdowns, 8 interceptions and completed 52.8 % of his attempts. The fourth-year QB finished 1999 with a quarterback rating of 81.2, twelve in the NFL. The 81.2 rating is the best of his career, which he spent the first three years of in St. Louis. Banks, known to be erratic, has a career rating of 70.4, throwing 50 career interceptions and 53 career touchdowns.
The two reserves, Stoney Case and Scott Mitchell combined for 1,224-yards, 4 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last season.
Redman, the 1999 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner, became the first quarterback in NCAA history to complete over 1,000 passes in a career. He broke former BYU quarterback Ty Detmer’s records for NCAA 1-A in attempts and completions. He is only the second quarterback in NCAA history to throw for more than 12,000-yards in a career. The fifth-year senior completed 61.4 of his career attempts, throwing 84 touchdowns and 51 interceptions.
With Banks up and down career, Redman could get an opportunity to showcase his strong arm as early as the 2000 season. Redman is expected to compete with Trent Dilfer for the teams #2 spot. Dilfer has a poor career rating of 69.4, throwing 80 interceptions to only 70 touchdowns during his six seasons as the Tampa Bay starter. He signed a 1-year contract with the Ravens in March.
Either way, Redman may have landed into one of the best opportunities available in the NFL. Could Redman be the quarterback of the future for the Ravens? The opportunity is present, but only time will tell.
NOTE: Chris Redman still can't get away from Southern Miss's talented defensive line. The Golden Eagles DT Adalius Thomas was also selected by the Ravens.
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