The Baltimore Ravens came out of the 2022 NFL draft with 11 total prospects after beginning the festivities with 10 picks. They also traded away No. 1 wide receiver Marquise Brown and didn’t end up taking a wideout throughout any round over the weekend.
Baltimore started things off with a bang, selecting Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 overall and Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum at No. 25 in the first round. Hamilton was one of the best prospects available in all of the 2022 class, and while he doesn’t fill a need, his talent as a rangy, do-it-all safety was too good to pass up. There are questions surrounding Linderbaum’s fit into the Ravens’ offense as well as his size and arm length, but there’s no denying his talent and athleticism as he now presumably slots into the starting center role that was left by Bradley Bozeman.
On Day 2, Baltimore continued to take falling talent, securing Michigan EDGE David Ojabo at No. 45 and Connecticut defensive lineman Travis Jones at No. 76. Ojabo tore his achilles at his Pro Day, but was a first-round talent before the injury. Jones is a disruptor that provides an interior pass rushing presence, something the team has struggled with for years.
Day 3 was an eventful one for the Ravens, as they had six fourth-round picks. Many thought that they would package a few to move up for a falling player, but instead they decided to keep all six of them, selecting Minnesota offensive tackle Daniel Faalele at No. 110 followed by Alabama cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis at No. 119. Both were players who were expected to go earlier, so the team continued to find top-end talent at positions of value.
At No. 128 and No. 130, Baltimore took Iowa State tight end Charlie Kolar and Penn State punter Jordan Stout, respectively. Kolar is a good pass catching tight end with some work to do in the run game, while Stout was considered one of the best punters in the class. At No. 139 and No. 141 the team decided to double down at a few different positions, selecting Costal Carolina tight end Isaiah Likely and Houston cornerback Damarion Williams.
The Ravens rounded out their class in the sixth round with Missouri running back Tyler Badie at No. 196. He could find a path to significant snaps early, depending on the recoveries of J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards.
Overall, Baltimore’s 2022 draft was filled with great players that have the potential to contribute not only during their rookie seasons but also for years to come. Players such as Hamilton, Ojabo, Jones and Faalele were home run picks, while others like Linderbaum and Stout face more question marks but still have the talent to be great contributors. It’s unknown how the class will fare and there are still a few questions that the team must answer, but it initially looks like the Ravens did very well for themselves.
Grade: A-
