SIXTEEN First round

Recent early misses put pressure on Ravens Ravens’ slot has been home to superstars, busts

The visible reminders of general manager Ozzie Newsome’s drafting and team-building prowess have remained untouched during the ongoing $45 million renovation project at the Ravens’ Under Armour Performance Center.

Take a couple of steps into the foyer of the training facility and you’ll see the Hall of Fame bust of offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, Newsome’s first-ever draft pick for the Ravens. To the right of that is a small statue of linebacker Ray Lewis, the organization’s second-ever pick who will all but certainly have a Hall of Fame bust soon. Look to the left and there are the two Lombardi Trophies, shimmering proof of the Ravens’ ascent as an organization.

Newsome’s sterling reputation as an executive and evaluator is well-earned. His drafting record, however, wears the blemishes of recent early-round misses that have become more pronounced since Tonight, 8 p.m. TV: ESPN, NFL Network

For a look at who Sun staff members predicts the Ravens will select at No. 16, go to baltimore sun.com

He was a little slow by NFL wide receiver standards and he’d racked up his enormous numbers at a Division I-AA school.

So he watched and waited as teams snapped up two other receivers and a running back-tight end named Ethan Horton in the first 15 picks of the 1985 draft.

Finally at No. 16, the San Francisco 49ers called his name: Jerry Rice.

Over the next 20 seasons, of course, Rice became the greatest wide receiver — and perhaps the greatest player period — of all time. As such, he is the patron saint of the 16th overall pick, which the Ravens possess in this year’s draft.

Rice isn’t the only star in the history of the 16th pick. Ravens fans spent years fretting over Troy Polamalu after the Pittsburgh Steelers took the free-wheeling safety at that spot in 2003. As recently as 2014, the Dallas Cowboys drafted a Pro Bowl

NO. 16,