The team selected the son of a former NFL player that won a Super Bowl and tied for the league lead in interceptions in the same year.
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The Ravens used their fifth round pick on former Stanford standout Kyu Blu Kelly at No. 157 overall.
It took until the third and final day of the 2023 NFL Draft about midway through the fifth round but the Baltimore Ravens made their first outside addition at cornerback with the selection of Kyu Blu Kelly at No. 157 overall out of Standford.
With our 5th-round pick, we have selected CB Kyu Blu Kelly from Stanford!
Welcome to Baltimore, @kbk1kyu! pic.twitter.com/1sWjtblqPT
Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 29, 2023
His position was the team’s most glaring need heading into the draft and not only is he their first new face, but according to ESPN Stats & Info via Jamison Hensley, he is the first player from his college program ever to be selected by the Ravens in the Common Draft Era as well.
“I’m really thankful to the Ravens for taking a chance on me and [I’m] making sure there’s no regrets with that – making sure they got the right guy,” Kelly said in a Zoom conference call. “I believe that, and I’m going to make them believe that too.”
He is also the son of retired NFL cornerback Brian Kelly, who spent 11 seasons in the league between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions. His father was coached by Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin during his time in Tampa Bay and in 2002, won a Super Bowl and tied Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson for the league lead in interceptions with a single-season career high of eight per Pro Football Reference.
The Ravens were stunned that Kelly lasted as long as he did and consider themselves grateful that they were able to get such a talented player at a position of need at such a great value.
“His dad played in the league; he’s been around ball. [He is] a Stanford kid, smart, tough, competitive, can play man and zone, has good ball skills,” Ravens director of college scouting David Blackburn said. “He’s going to come in and do the right things. He loves ball, so to get a guy like that at this stage in the Draft, we consider that a value pick.”
The 6-foot, 191-pounder was a four-year starter for the Cardinal that primarily lined up on the outside but the Ravens love his skill set, athletic profile, and ability to play multiple coverages.
