Vikings Draft 2020: Five-year history of the 25th overall pick

Hayden Hurst – TE

The Baltimore Ravens can never seem to have enough tight ends and this could be part of the reason why Hayden Hurst has yet to live up to the billing of being selected with the 25th pick in the first round.

The Ravens took this guy back in 2018 and while he improved in year two, he hasn’t come close to reaching the potential the team clearly thought he possessed when they drafted him.

Hurst only has a total of 43 receptions in his two career seasons. He has scored three times and racked up just 512 receiving yards.

Again, having Mark Andrews ahead of him on Baltimore’s depth chart doesn’t help and Nick Boyle also seems to get plenty of targets. It’s no excuse for Hurst though and the fact is he hasn’t lived up to the expectations that come with being the 25th overall selection.

Other Players Available:

There were clearly some better options at the board at pick No. 25 in 2018. One was someone who the Ravens actually traded up to get at the end of the first round in quarterback Lamar Jackson. Baltimore would’ve just been better off drafting Jackson with their original choice though.

Other players who were available at the time that have made more of an impact than Hurst during the last two seasons include Calvin Ridley, Nick Chubb, and Darius Leonard.

There were plenty of equally bad choices on the board that the Ravens wisely steered clear from including Rashaad Penny, Taven Bryan, Mike Hughes, and Ronald Jones.

Hurst still has plenty of upside as he’s only approaching year three, but he needs to have a big season or the bust label will be printed and ready to stick on his back.