There are plenty of reasons why the Baltimore Ravens have made the playoffs in six of the last eight seasons, with a pair of division titles and a Lombardi Trophy on the mantle.
But all of those reasons can be traced back to their conductor: general manager Ozzie Newsome.
A former first-round pick, three-time Pro Bowler and 1999 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Newsome has become synonymous with how to build and sustain a successful NFL franchise. He's been particularly proficient at procuring top talent through the draft, consistently showing the ability to not only hit on early picks but also finding quality contributors in the middle and late rounds.
The Ravens' 2016 draft class is still in its original packaging, but it sure looks like Newsome knocked another one out of the park.
With his first selection, Newsome upgraded the left tackle position with Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley, who was regarded as possibly the top tackle in the 2015 draft class before he chose to return to South Bend for another season. Stanley refined his already polished skill set even further, and was then the first tackle off the board this time around.
NFL Network's Mike Mayock had high praise for Stanley, comparing him to arguably the best young left tackle in the entire league:
I think he compares favorably to the Cowboys' Tyron Smith. That's high praise. I saw him play a lot of football at Notre Dame. He's a dancing bear. He was offered several Pac-12 basketball scholarships, so that tells you something about his feet. His pass protection skills are almost as good as Laremy Tunsil's, but right now Stanley is a better run blocker. Plus, Stanley is totally clean off the field, which is about to come into play.
Stanley gives the Ravens an instant upgrade over disappointing and expensive veteran Eugene Monroe, as well as a young blindside protector to ensure quarterback Joe Flacco's safety for years to come.
On Day 2, Newsome switched gears and addressed the defensive side of the ball.
With a need for a young, versatile edge defender, the Ravens selected Boise State's Kamalei Correa, whose athleticism will allow him to make an impact as a pass-rusher, run defender and in coverage. The 6'3", 243-pounder racked up 19 sacks and five forced fumbles for the Broncos over the past two seasons.
Versatility became the theme of Day 2 with the Ravens' third-round pick being BYU defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi with the 70th overall pick.
At 6'6", 285 pounds, Kaufusi posted 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss in 2015, lining up in multiple spots along the defensive front for the Cougars. In Baltimore, he'll likely play the 5-technique spot, using his impressive combination of size and athleticism to develop into a frustrating assignment for opposing blockers.
The best NFL teams know to build from the trenches out, and Newsome had certainly done that through this year's first three rounds. But he was just getting started.
Thanks to multiple trades and compensatory selections, the Newsome ended up with five picks in the fourth round. As should be expected, the veteran personnel guru did a fantastic job balancing need and value throughout the round and into the rest of the draft's final day.
Addressing the need for depth at corner was Temple's Tavon Young, who plays much bigger than his frame might suggest. Even at just 5'9", 183 pounds, Young was one of the most impressive cover men at this year's Senior Bowl practices, and his film backs it up.
Another big need? A receiver with big-play potential. Enter another solid Senior Bowl performer in Cincinnati's Chris Moore, who averaged more than 22 yards per catch over his final two seasons for the Bearcats.
More depth in the trenches? Check. Nebraska tackle Alex Lewis might not be immediate starting material, but he has the toughness and technique that should make him a valuable reserve and spot starter down the road. Across the line of scrimmage, Michigan defensive lineman Willie Henry gives the Ravens another versatile disruptor who can get after the passer and blow up running plays in the backfield.
Newsome's best pick of the fourth round might have been his last one, Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon.
One of the most complete backs in the entire draft, Dixon was ridiculously productive in his four seasons with the Bulldogs. Over the last two years alone, the 5'10", 215-pounder racked up 3,221 total yards and 54 touchdowns. With some improvements in his leg drive and as a pass protector, Dixon could quickly jump to the top of the depth chart as a three-down starter in the backfield.
In the fifth round, all Newsome did was grab the nation's top sack artist in Grand Valley State's Matt Judon, who led all levels of college football by dropping opposing quarterbacks 20 times in 2015.
In the sixth round, it was the local hero, Navy's Keenan Reynolds. College football's all-time touchdown leader may not be quarterback material at the NFL level, but you can be sure offensive coordinator Mark Trestman will find creative ways to use his versatile skill set.
While the Young pick lacked size at the corner spot, Newsome made up for it by getting Virginia's Maurice Canady with his final selection. At 6'1", 193 pounds, he has the frame and length to lock horns with the NFL's bigger, more physical pass-catchers.
Newsome's team made a rare appearance in the top 10 picks, but don't expect to see it happen again anytime soon. With a reliable quarterback in Flacco, improvements along the line of scrimmage and in the secondary, the Ravens should jump right back into the AFC North race in 2016 and beyond.
Before the days of versatile, athletic playmakers at tight end like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham, it was Newsome who was creating hopeless mismatches for opposing defenses. Now, he sets a similar standard for the rest of the league as a personnel executive, proving again with this year's class how to build a perennial playoff contender through the draft.
Luke Easterling is a featured columnist covering the NFL Draft for Bleacher Report. He also covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for Scout. Follow him on Twitter @LukeEasterling.