The NFL fan's equivalent of Christmas came and went. Whether or not you liked the Ravens' part in it, general manager Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens certainly didn’t disappoint their fans, as they provided plenty of excitement on draft day.

Now that the post-draft dust has settled, it is time to take a look at how each of the Ravens' draft picks could impact this team. In analyzing a team's draft, "grading" is irrelevant. There is no ultimate big board, so what we may think may be a reach may not be in the eyes of the team, and may certainly not be a few years down the road. When it comes down to it, teams will grade players on how they will fit into their own system, thus each team will have a different draft board. Because of this, it is best to analyze the draft on a team-to-team basis with how each player fits, and not with general grades based on"value".

With that said, did Joe Flacco go a little higher than expected? Yes, most likely. But the Ravens came into the draft with a plan of getting a potential franchise QB and stocking the team with young talent. Ozzie and company executed the plan to perfection. Instead of giving up their whole draft to come away with their top rated passer, Matt Ryan, they moved back and stocked up on picks, and got their second guy (who was rated very high on the Ravens' board as well).

In the grand scheme of restocking the Ravens with talent, what would be better: a draft of Matt Ryan, or a draft of Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Tavares Gooden, and Tom Zbikowski? There is no question that the Ravens were left much better off trading back and getting their second guy at QB. Remember, John Harbaugh was the second choice as head coach, so maybe being second choice isn’t so bad.

On to the draft picks, and how they fit with the team:

Round 1 (18th Overall) – Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
A prototypical, strong-armed QB in the first round… sound familiar? Don’t let the physical similarities fool you; Joe Flacco is no Kyle Boller. While Flacco doesn't have Boller's athleticism, Flacco has a natural feel for the game with great instincts that Boller simply doesn't have. Flacco has the ability to feel a pass rush, flush out of the pocket while keeping his eyes down field, and make the throw on the run. In other words, Flacco has the ability to turn a broken play into a big one with his legs and his right arm.

While Flacco and Boller both possess rocket launchers for right arms, Flacco is not hindered by a slow release, as Boller is. Flacco with a flick of a wrist is able to drive the ball downfield, whereas Boller’s shot-put delivery takes ages. Flacco’s release point is a little low, but it is very quick and accurate. At 6-foot-6, balls being batted down at the line aren’t much of a concern.

Flacco is expected to compete for a starting job immediately; however, it might be a little unrealistic to expect Flacco to make the adjustment from D1-AA to the speed of the NFL that quickly. Flacco will also have to adjust to reading a defense from dropping back from under center as opposed to from a shotgun. Flacco is very intelligent however, and Cam Cameron loves to throw the ball vertically downfield, so don't be surprised if Flacco is starting sooner rather than later. One more potential knock against Flacco: is he a little too nonchalant? Is he ready to lead an NFL team?

Round 2 (55th Overall) – Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers
A "Red Star" player for the Ravens, Ray Rice might up having the biggest immediate impact out of any of the Ravens' rookies. Ray is a little small, at 5-foot-8, 199 pounds, but he has a very thick build with a low center of gravity. This makes him very tough to tackle, and his body doesn't take as many hits as other running backs. Ray is very explosive, has excellent vision, and his height allows him to hide behind his blockers. He also has a nose for the end zone (49 TDs), as he was a tough redone runner. His production at Rutgers was top-notch.

Ray's knock is his durability and his speed translating to the next level. I am not worried about Ray's durability. As stated, he is built low to the ground, and hits don't take as much of a toll on him as they do on other backs. He had 910 carries in 3 years, and he played every game; he will be just fine (Ray is still one of the youngest players in the draft, with a birth date in the year 1987).

Ray's speed? He ran a 4.44 at the combine. Giants’ running back Ahmad Bradshaw ran a 4.55. Tell me that guy wasn't explosive. Maurice Jones-Drew ran a 4.39, so he was only a half-step faster than Ray. Neither of these two guys have had a problem with speed at the next level, and neither will Ray. A lot of people are going to be surprised by his speed and explosiveness on the first day of training camp. Just watch.

I see Ray as a perfect complement to Willis. A guy we bring in to give this offense a boost. He will give this offense the boost Ahmad Bradshaw gave the Giants in the playoffs when he spelled Brandon Jacobs. Ray is a special player, in my opinion.

Round 3 (71st Overall) – Tavares Gooden, ILB, Miami
This was an excellent pick for the Ravens. With Ray Lewis and Bart Scott both free agents at the end of the season, Gooden gives the Ravens a potential long-term replacement at ILB with great upside.

Gooden is a little undersized at 6-foot-1, 234 pounds, but he is very athletic (4.65 40 time). Most importantly, Gooden is a very high character person with great leadership skills. Gooden is a side-to-sideline finesse linebacker who will contribute immediately on special teams.

Gooden's technique is still a little raw, especially in pass coverage. But because of his athletic gifts, he has the potential to develop into a playmaker in pass coverage. After a year of coaching, and mentoring from fellow University of Miami player Ray Lewis, Gooden might be a starter for the 2009 season. I see Gooden as having Pro Bowl potential.

Round 3 (86th Overall) – Tom Zbikowski, S, Notre Dame
Zbikowski is a very hard-hitting safety from Notre Dame who loves to play against the run. He has a nose for the ball and always came up with big plays for the Fighting Irish, whether it was on defense or as a punt returner. Zbikowski is a potential liability in pass coverage however, because he has tight hips which limit his range.

Zbikowski will contribute immediately on special teams, and could be sent in to return punts on a pinch. Don't be surprised to see Zbikowski in on nickel packages. With teams nowadays running the ball more and more out of three wide receiver sets, having a "Big Nickel" who can play well against the run is a great asset (Tom is 5-foot-11, 211 pounds). Zbikowski will be able to jam slot receivers and play in those tricky pass or run second and six situations.

Zbikowski could end up being the next John Lynch, or he could end up being nothing more than a solid special teams player. At the very least, he will provide solid safety depth with good leadership.

Round 3 (99th Overall) – Oniel Cousins, OT, UTEP
A converted defensive tackle, Oniel Cousins is a much needed right tackle prospect for the Ravens. Cousins has a pretty solid frame at 6-foot-4, 308 pounds with very long arms, which will allow him to stay outside at tackle. Cousins is a fine athlete with good lateral movement, which allows him to pull and block at the second level. Ozzie Newsome said Cousins will be in the mix for the starting right tackle position. However, Cousins has only been an offensive lineman since 2005, and his technique is still very raw. He might not have an impact for a couple of years.

Round 4 (106th Overall) – Marcus Smith, WR, New Mexico
Marcus Smith is expected to compete for the Ravens' fourth wide receiver position and contribute on special teams (was great on punt coverage at New Mexico). Smith is a strong receiver (20 reps at 225 pounds) with a thick frame (6-foot-1, 220 pounds). At New Mexico his senior year, Smith put up solid production with 91 receptions for 1,125 yards and four touchdowns.

Smith is a very tough receiver. He takes pride in blocking, makes difficult catches over the middle, and is very powerful in the open field after the catch. Smith shows excellent body control when making catches. Smith isn’t very explosive off the line, but he does have deceptive deep speed when he gets in stride (4.51 40-yard dash) and can separate from the defender. The main knock on Smith is his inconsistent hands. Smith has very good upside; he just needs to work on his concentration and route running.

Round 4 (133th Overall) – David Hale, OT, Weber State
David Hale is a big (6-foot-6, 314 pounds), mean and nasty right tackle prospect who is also expected to compete for the starting right tackle job. Hale isn’t very athletic, but he has the mean streak you look for in a run blocking right tackle.

Hale uses his hands well as a run blocker (strong punch), and gets off the line pretty well. However, he has athletic limitations which will always hinder him against speed rushers. Hale is a very smart player and should get the most out of his talent as he has the potential to be a solid run blocking right tackle in the mold of Tony Pashos. Hale is definitely going to get a legitimate shot to start at right tackle.

Round 6 (206th Overall) – Haruki Nakamura, S, Cincinnati
Nakamura is a high intensity, hard-hitting safety with a good nose for the ball. He possesses Raven traits, as he is smart and very hard-working. Nakamura put up solid production at Cincinnati leading his team in tackles three straight seasons.

The knock on Nakamura is his size as it relates to his hard-hitting style of play. Nakamura is a free safety who plays like a run-stopping strong safety. At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds (his playing weight was between 180-190 pounds), he might not be able to hold up in the NFL as a hard-hitting safety. He also has only average athleticism (4.65 40, 4.33 short shuttle), which may prevent him from playing free safety effectively.

Nakamura was a playmaker in college. There are some players who just have a knack for making big plays, despite what their measurables suggest. Nakamura could be one of those players, or he might never amount to anything.

Round 6 (215th Overall) – Justin Harper, WR, Virginia Tech
The Ravens needed a big receiver who could go up and fight for balls in the redzone. Justin Harper is exactly this type of receiver, as he is 6-foot-4, 213 pounds with great leaping ability. While Harper is a solid redzone target and an excellent athlete with all the tools, the question is whether he will be able to develop into more than just a one-dimensional receiver. As we saw with Clarence Moore, being a one-dimensional receiver won't cut it in the NFL.

Harper isn't very explosive, but he is a long strider with deceptive speed (ran a 4.56 40). Like most college receivers though, he is a raw route runner. His excellent short shuttle time (4.05) suggests he might have some suddenness to him. Harper also needs to get stronger, as he is going to initially struggle fighting off press coverage because of his lean frame. Harper was never more than a third receiver at UVA, but he might end up being a better pro than he was a collegiate player.

Round 7 (240th Overall) – Allen Patrick, RB, Oklahoma
The Ravens last pick, Allen Patrick, is a tough between-the-tackles runner from Oklahoma. While Allen is a sturdy runner, he has a very lean frame for such a running style (6-foot-1, 199 pounds). He might have durability problems at the next level.

Patrick will certainly get a chance to make this team, but his speed is only average (4.56 40) and he isn't very shifty (4.5 short shuttle). He was a big-play threat at Oklahoma, but it remains to be seen if that will translate to the NFL. Patrick's instincts as a runner aren't very good either. With his slight frame and hard-nosed running style, bodyText not be able to hold up in the NFL. Patrick is a long shot to make the team, in my opinion.

The Ravens traded one of their fourth round picks (125th overall) to the Raiders for cornerback Fabian Washington. A 2005 first round pick, Washington was certainly superior to any corner they could have drafted from their original second rounder (38th overall) on.

Washington possesses game-changing speed (ran a 4.29 40 out of college) and elite quickness. Still only 24-years old, Washington has the potential to develop into a shutdown corner. Washington, who has the confidence and man-coverage skills the Ravens look for in their corners, is expected to compete for a starting spot. At the very least, Fabian should be a solid nickel back.

The Ravens certainly drafted a plethora of talented players in this draft. Combined with the Washington trade, this draft will create plenty of competition come training camp. This may be a draft we look back on and see that we got a lot of solid starters, or it might be a draft where we came out with nothing except quality backups. However, this draft will ultimately be judged by what becomes of Joe Flacco. Have the Ravens finally found their franchise QB? Only time will tell.