2022 NFL DRAFT DEEP DIVE: BALTIMORE RAVENS
By Rory Daniels
The NFL Draft is over, and we cannot head into the three-month abyss that is the offseason without looking at what all 262 selections mean for each franchise. Whilst too early to judge just how successful a draft class each team’s was, we can look at how rookies fit within schemes, where they stand on depth charts, and who we can expect to make an impact in 2022. We continue our team by team series with the Baltimore Ravens:
Draft Haul
| RND | PICK | PROSPECT | POS | SCHOOL |
| 1 | 14 | Kyle Hamilton | S | Notre Dame |
| 1 | 25 | Tyler Linderbaum | IOL | Iowa |
| 2 | 45 | David Ojabo | EDGE | Michigan |
| 3 | 76 | Travis Jones | IDL | Connecticut |
| 4 | 110 | Daniel Faalele | OT | Minnesota |
| 4 | 119 | Jalyn Armour-Davis | CB | Alabama |
| 4 | 128 | Charlie Kolar | TE | Iowa State |
| 4 | 130 | Jordan Stout | P | Penn State |
| 4 | 139 | Isaiah Likely | TE | Coastal Carolina |
| 4 | 141 | Damarion Williams | CB | Houston |
| 6 | 196 | Tyler Badie | RB | Missouri |
Day One
The Baltimore Ravens’ stuck to the ‘best player available’ mantra rigidly on day 1. The Marcus Williams contract, $70 million over 5 years, didn’t deter them from further adding to the safety position. Kyle Hamilton’s fall outside of the top-10 had been telegraphed but the Ravens seemed an unlikely destination considering both Williams and Chuck Clark are pencilled in as starters. Once the Eagles jumped ahead of them for defensive tackle Jordan Davis, Hamilton was clearly the top graded player. The Ravens join a growing number of NFL teams who will likely experiment with more three-safety looks, to combat the pass-heavy modern-day game.
The Ravens then took advantage of the run on wide receivers. With the three top names off the board by pick 12, the Cardinals came a-calling to secure a big name in Marquise Brown. Pick 23 and a third-rounder was enough to secure the wantaway speedster. The Ravens didn’t seek an immediate replacement, instead, taking Tyler Linderbaum, a player whose game tape was that of a top-10 pick but his arm length saw him fall.
Linderbaum isn’t an obvious fit for the normally bruising offensive line of the Ravens but he could signify a slight shift in the scheme. He will step in to replace departed free agent Bradley Bozeman and his ability to move laterally and get to the second level should help Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s running game.
Day Two
There was no change in strategy come Day 2. David Ojabo could have been a top-10 pick had it not been for an Achilles injury at his pro day. The Ravens returned to the Michigan well, unsurprising considering the familial link, and added Ojabo to last year’s first-rounder Odafe Oweh. Ojabo will likely not see action for most of 2022 but if he recovers in full, will challenge the likes of Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson for snaps.
Travis Jones had hit the first round of plenty of mock drafts so the Ravens grabbing him in round 3 was another resounding success. Having missed out on Jordan Davis in round 1, Jones offers the bargain version. A nose tackle with enough juice to cause problems on passing downs. He will learn his craft behind Michael Pierce and looks likely to carry on the rich tradition of elite defensive lineman to develop in Baltimore.
Day Three
The selection of Daniel Faalele in Round 4 was another pick that seemed to be excellent value vs the consensus rankings. Faalele’s size and physicality were appealing but his limited experience having been late to the game was enough for teams to let him fall to day 3. He too is in an envious position, getting time to learn behind Morgan Moses before challenging for a starting berth.
Round 4 really was the round of the Ravens. They made 4 more picks after Faalele, starting with Alabama corner Jalyn Armour-Davis. He fits all the hallmarks of an elite corner but lacked the playing time to prove his worth. Houston’s Damarion Williams was another corner whose selection this early was somewhat of a surprise.
The double-dipping continued with tight end the next position to be targeted. Charlie Kolar and Isaiah Likely both went to the Ravens, somewhat surprising with Mark Andrews the headline name at the position. It’s safe to say yo can expect plenty of 12 personnel next year.
With multiple 4th rounders the Ravens seized the opportunity to improve their special teams by taking top punter Jordan Stout. AFC North teams saw the importance of good specialists first hand with the Bengals drafting Evan McPherson last year. While the fourth round price seemed steep, Stout is a game changer.
The final pick of the draft for the Ravens was Tyler Badie, a smaller running back out of Missouri. His scat back skills and ability in the receiving game actually make him one of the more intriguing pickups of day 3 for the Ravens.
One To Watch: Jalyn Armour-Davis
Certainly not one of the flashier names that the Ravens drafted but Armour-Davis has all the hallmarks of a very good NFL cornerback. He has the size and speed that teams desire and has been developed in one of the best systems to produce NFL cornerbacks in recent years. Under the tutelage of Nick Saban at Alabama, Armour-Davis will have learnt excellent technique and benefits from being able to sit behind Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters. In the long run, he could be the cheap option to replace one of that duo.
Jalyn Armour-Davis is a CB prospect in the 2022 draft class. He scored a 9.42 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 113 out of 1923 CB from 1987 to 2022. https://t.co/AJv4ICpTQx #RAS pic.twitter.com/l88I92SNsX
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 1, 2022
UDFA Tracker
| Anthony Brown | QB | Oregon |
| Ricky Person | RB | NC State |
| Slade Bolden | WR | Alabama |
| Shemar Bridges | WR | Fort Valley State |
| Trevon Clark | WR | California |
| Makai Polk | WR | Mississippi State |
| Raleigh Webb | WR | Citadel |
| Devon Williams | WR | Oregon |
| Aron Johnson | OT | South Dakota State |
| Rayshad Nichols | IDL | Stephen F. Austin |
| Jeremah Moon | LB | Florida |
| Chuck Wiley | LB | UTSA |
| Zakoby McClain | LB | Auburn |
| Josh Ross | LB | Michigan |
| David Vereen | CB | Newberry |
| Denzel Williams | CB | Villanova |
| Chris Moore | S | Georgia State |
The real shock of this draft was the lack of wide receivers. The depth chart is bare at the position and that means that it is a great landing spot for undrafted free agents at the position. Makai Polk surpassed 1000 yards for Mississippi State last year and despite his poor testing could have a shot at the roster. Alabama’s Slade Bolden is another option who plays well in the slot.
On defense, both Zakoby McClain and Jeremiah Moon have SEC experience at linebacker and fit the size/speed model that the Ravens desire. Malik Harrison and Patrick Queen should start at those spots but an ageing Josh Bynes is the only other option, meaning one of the two could land a backup role.
Conclusion
While the Ravens have received plenty of plaudits for a draft where they seemingly got great value vs the consensus board. It is a true boom or bust class. While teams are usually happy to take a couple of swings, there are major question marks all over this class. Can the historically short-armed Tyler Linderbaum deal with the likes of DJ Reader in his division? Will David Ojabo be an impact player in 2023 considering his rawness as well as time lost to rehab? Can Daniel Faalele keep his weight under control?
On the face of it, it was a fantastic draft but if the answer to any of the above questions is no then it may not be as fruitful as it looks on paper. Perhaps the biggest question mark is the receiving room. With Brown gone, it would appear to be a heavy load on Rashod Bateman’s shoulders, one the Ravens didnt seek to lessen over draft weekend.
If there was a coaching staff you trust to get the best out of these players then it is the Ravens but as of now, it appears they only added one definite starter from this year’s class.
