2018 NFL Draft: Hayden Hurst is lone Round 1 tight end

The Baltimore Ravens did plenty of maneuvering in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft landing impact tight end Hayden Hurst at No. 25 overall.

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A year ago three tight ends went in the first round. That was the exception, not the rule. As the clock continued to tick it started to look more and more likely that the first round might skip the position entirely. However, after trading down earlier in the evening, the Baltimore Ravens decided to give their quarterback Joe Flacco another big weapon.

With the No. 25 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected former South Carolina tight end Hayden Hurst.

There were a few teams linked to tight ends in the first round, but Baltimore wasn’t one of them.  Both the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars were reported to be on the lookout for a tight end, but each team opted to go elsewhere after Hurst came off the board a few picks before it was their turn to make a selection.

The former Gamecock was the safety blanket for a secretly capable offense that bailed out young quarterback Jake Bentley time and time again. The tight end position doesn’t produce too many first rounders, but Hurst fills a role that the Ravens have been trying to fill for some time.

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Despite being a bit of a surprise, Hurst fits right in with the Ravens. The team has always leaned on a tight end, and not having someone dependable on the inside has felt odd. Todd Heap and Dennis Pitta both carved out meaningful roles for a long time, and that’s the expectation the Ravens have for Hurst in Baltimore.