Time to do a Ravens draft recap for 2022. Eric DeCosta and his team had an excellent draft, my reservations notwithstanding. Sure, the national draft “gurus” are “grading” the Ravens as A or A+, but none of that really matters. I think we should look at this draft from two perspectives.
How Does This Draft Set Up the Ravens for 2022?
This is the most immediate consideration because it’s all about trying to get this year’s version of the Ravens to the promised land. Remember, the draft is just one tool – the biggest tool – in roster construction. Free agency part one (which is over), free agency part two (which we are now entering) and finding gems in the undrafted free agent pool are also key ingredients.
Initial Roster Holes To Fill – Board of Needs
As we leave the draft and enter the next two phases of roster development, where do the Ravens stand? They entered the draft with the following holes to fill, in order of importance:
Edge rusher
Nickel cornerback
Defensive line
Wide receiver number two
Left tackle status
Cornerback depth
Center
Receiving tight end and, possibly, blocking tight end
Third running back (i.e., running back depth)
Ravens Draft Recap – How Did the Draft Address the Board of Needs for 2022?
Let’s take a look at how DeCosta and company addressed the Board of Needs.
Edge Rusher
This need was not addressed as we should not expect the wonderfully gifted David Ojabo (see his profile here) to contribute in a significant way in 2022. If Ojabo is able to take the field by, say, December, it’s hard to see him playing other than situationally on third down passing plays. He will not have had the chance to improve his deficiency in setting the edge and playing the run. And we shouldn’t necessarily expect that Ojabo would have regained 100% of his explosion during this time period. I’m judging the edge rusher hole on the Board of Needs as still there.
Nickel Cornerback
The Ravens drafted two cornerbacks, but of the two Damarion Williams is almost certainly the one who will be expected to challenge for the nickel position. You can read my scouting report on Williams here. You may recall that on my Ravens Big Board I listed Williams as one of my “starred” picks, so I obviously like the player quite a bit. Williams certainly has most of the requisite qualities of a nickel corner.
If Williams fails to establish himself, the Ravens will be forced to either try Brandon Stephens in that role, or regularly slide Marlon Humphrey into the inside. Humphrey has played more than his share of nickel, but ideally someone else would man the job full time. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs as potentially, but not necessarily, filled.
Defensive Line
Readers know that I absolutely loved Travis Jones. I argued that he’s a better prospect, at least to this point, than the more heralded Jordan Davis. He was also one of my favorite starred players. Frankly, I couldn’t image that Jones would last to the third round where the Ravens snatched him. I believe Jones has the potential to be a dominant interior defensive lineman. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs filled.
Wide Receiver Number Two
The Hollywood Brown trade created this hole. DeCosta explained why he felt compelled to make the trade. Having done so, he was unable to fill the hole in the draft. Frankly, the player I drooled over in the fourth round to take Hollywood’s place was Calvin Austin III. At 5’7″ Austin, both explosive and elusive, dominated at the Senior Bowl. But those Steelers snatched him one slot before one of the Ravens fourth rounders. Maybe he was on the Ravens’ board, maybe not. But once he was gone, there was no one left who could offer wide receiver two potential. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs as still empty.
Left Tackle Status
Plenty has been written about the Ronnie Stanley issue. Suffice it to say that, post-draft, the backup plan if Stanley can’t go is likely Patrick Mekari. Daniel Faalele is a right tackle only in the NFL. Are you comfortable with Mekari at left tackle if Stanley can’t go? Realistically, the Ravens had very little chance of fully addressing this situation in the draft once Charles Cross was off the board at pick nine.
As we sit here today, left tackle figures to be the single, primary focus of the Ravens in the 2023 draft. I’m hoping I’m wrong. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs unfilled.
Cornerback Depth
This really was a gigantic problem for the Ravens. Other than Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, I maintain that none of the remaining four corners on the roster are players who provide them with workable depth. I’ll now adjust that in view of the drafting of Kyle Hamilton, which has real implications for where Brandon Stephens will play in 2022. One has to believe that Stephens will now be utilized only as a corner. Whether it’s on the outside and/or the inside is yet to be determined.
This means the Ravens had three corners on the roster pre-draft who, I maintain, they are happy to put on the field in 2022. Then they drafted Jaylen Armour-Davis, who was on my Ravens Big Board as a round four prospect. That’s exactly where the Ravens took him. Armour-Davis offers as much as an outside corner as one could reasonably expect for a fourth round selection. Adding him to the cornerback group helps fill the hole. Sure, I much preferred Andrew Booth, Jr. (who the Ravens passed on in the first round), but Booth was seen as a higher-round prospect. I’m sure the Ravens would like to have five corners on the roster. Maybe it will be Iman Marshall after all? In all, with the Armour-Davis selection only the fifth corner spot remains open. I consider this hole on the Board of Needs largely filled.
Center
The Ravens drafted Tyler Linderbaum (see his profile here) to fill this hole. Now I took Linderbaum off my Ravens Big Board because I viewed him as not best fitting the Ravens’ current scheme. I’m not altering that view. But the best way to view this pick is from the other perspective, which I failed to do. I expect the Ravens to adapt some of their run schemes to better fit Linderbaum’s talents, i.e., more zone running schemes. With that said, Linderbaum’s selection means the center hole on the Board of Needs is now filled.
Receiving Tight End
The Ravens fully addressed this need by drafting two receiving tight ends, Isaiah Likely (profile here) and Charlie Kolar. To start, Kolar is the guy in this draft from the Ravens’ perspective that I completely missed on. The tape illustrates what I missed. Kolar is a very solid (and big, with big hands) downfield and red zone target with good hands (he only dropped five passes on 174 catchable targets). Kolar offers excellent speed he (ran a 4.62 which is top-notch for a tight end). His physical testing was outstanding as he presented as a dynamic athlete at the Combine. He’s not a great in-line blocker and the Ravens will have to work him there.
Isaiah Likely is a played I really liked (naturally!). I graded him exactly where the Ravens drafted him. This really was a shrewd pick. The Ravens tight-end room is now completely full. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs filled.
Third Running Back
The Ravens selected another one of my starred players in Tyler Badie. I had listed Badie as a fourth round value and yet the Ravens selected him in the sixth round. Badie will give the Ravens exactly what they were lacking in the backfield. He’s a running back who could handle a good deal of the load if called upon. Perhaps more importantly, this man can catch the ball and give you a lot of YAC. He will press Justice Hill hard and, if only three running backs make the team, this will be quite a contest. Consider this hole on the Board of Needs filled.
Post-Draft Which Holes Remain?
So how did the 2022 draft wind up in filling the roster holes? The top hole (edge rusher) remains empty. The number two hole (nickel corner) is partially filled, with the Ravens opting for a day three pick to man the position. I like the player selected at the spot he was selected but there were numerous better slot corner prospects available high up in the draft.
The number three hole (defensive line) was filled. The fourth hole, wide receiver number two, was not addressed.
The fifth hole – the left tackle issue – was unaddressed. Ronnie Stanley’s status will loom over the Ravens entire 2022 prospects. I can understand why the Ravens had no good opportunity to address this issue in the draft. As you can see, they had too many other clear holes to fill, and maybe Stanley will end the concern himself. I get the judgment to take the risk and defer. But the risk remains, and if Stanley can’t make it, getting to the playoffs will be that much more difficult.
The bottom four holes were all fully and adequately addressed. Mission accomplished there.
Ravens Draft Recap – How the 2022 Draft Set Up the 2022 Season: Summary
Given the sheer quantity of holes on the Ravens’ roster going into the draft, there was no way they could fill them all. Unfortunately, the smallest holes were completely filled, while several of the largest holes (including the largest) remain empty or only partially filled. That’s not exactly the outcome you’d want. Ideally, the top hole going down to the third largest hole, would be filled.
But the front office chose to spend their most valuable draft capital on a position of little need (safety). That choice has repercussions all the way down the draft board for the 2022 season. The edge rusher selection of Ojabo can’t be expected to help much in 2022. The media worshipping notwithstanding, the 2022 draft – viewed only from the perspective of the 2022 season – was good but not great.
Can the Post-Draft Holes Be Filled This Year? Free-Agency Part 2
Who’s out there in free agent land that could help the Ravens in 2022?
Edge Rushers
For the 2022 season, the number one need pre-draft remains the major need post-draft. The Ravens’ edge rusher cupboard is still fairly bare.
The Ravens can create enough cap room to still fill this hole. I believe they’ll make a run again at Justin Houston, who could still help. I also think they will revisit signing Rasheem Green. The Ravens took a visit from Green well before the draft. It’s fair to assume that they (and everyone else) deferred acting on Green until after the draft concluded.
Green was formerly a third round pick for the Seahawks. He’s only 24 years old. Green had his best year in 2021 as he recorded 6.5 sacks, with 48 tackles and six tackles for loss. Green visited with the Texans right before the draft, and the Texans did not draft any edge rushers. He had also visited with the Panthers, who drafted Amare Barno at edge in the sixth round. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if Green would turn the edge rusher deficiency around. But he would help a bit for this year.
Signing Houston and/or Green would probably bring the Ravens the best that’s still available on the edge rusher market.
Wide Receivers
The second wide receiver spot is now manned by either Devin Duvernay (who the Ravens have not up to now incorporated in a full route tree on the outside) or the completely untested Tylan Wallace. Until Duvernay, who I like, proves he can do it on the outside, the second wide receiver spot is undermanned.
Wide receiver two just can’t be filled absent a trade or an unexpected release of a quality wide receiver. Unless, of course, you’re interested in the following group of wideouts who are still available in free agency: Odell Beckham, Jr. (coming off an ACL tear), Antonio Brown, Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, the ever-injured Will Fuller V, Emmanuel Sanders, Keelan Cole, or DeSean Jackson. Don’t expect any of these guys on the roster. If I was forced to pick one – and I’m not – I’d go with Landry who I still see as a good route runner with reliable hands but certainly not a deep threat.
Ravens Draft Recap – How Does This Draft Set Up the Ravens for 2023 and Beyond?
The 2022 draft, which still leaves a few large holes on the roster, must be looked at with a longer-term eye. Frankly, all drafts should.
Defense
From the perspective of 2023 and beyond, the Ravens had as good a draft as one could want on defense – if their two biggest investments pay off.
Kyle Hamilton
First, if Kyle Hamilton turns out to be the stud they envision, the 2022 draft will be a home run. I noted the issue with Hamilton – his very poor testing time in the forty. We’ll see this year whether Hamilton can make the same impact in the NFL as he did in college. The bright-side argument is that his smarts and anticipation will allow him to mask whatever speed deficiency he has. 
If Hamilton works out, the young top-end safety tandem will be in place for years. Then, if Marcus Peters is still playing at a top level and is brought back, the Ravens starting secondary will be as good as any in the league with a couple of years of runway.
On the other hand, if Hamilton does not become elite, his selection in the 14th draft slot will be seen as a blunder, adding a player to a position that was already well manned. And missing an opportunity to draft a number two wide receiver to replace Brown, or addressing another need. But this is why we don’t “grade” drafts right after they occurred.
David Ojabo
Second, David Ojabo then becomes the key for the 2022 draft being a grand slam foundational cornerstone for the future. If Ojabo fully recovers from his Achilles injury with his explosiveness in tact, the Ravens will have an electric, young combination of edge rushers to put them in a position to be a dominant defense once again. Come the 2023 draft, they will be likely adding to their defensive line and interior linebacker positions as part of a natural turnover. But the young foundational pieces will be there, especially if Patrick Queen can take it up at least one notch.
One other observation from a defensive perspective. The Ravens obviously did not have Jermaine Johnson on their board. I’m assuming that Johnson presented a cultural concern, which is always a legitimate consideration, because on talent alone his selection was warranted. Certainly down at pick 25. The Ravens’ judgment to bypass Johnson was a big one, because if they had selected Johnson, their 2022 defense would likely be better than it will be with Ojabo standing-in-wait.
Offense
From the perspective of 2023 and beyond, the Ravens offensive draft filled what I call secondary needs. There is a high probability that Tyler Linderbaum will be their center for the duration of his first contract. No need to address the center position over the next four years.
The tight end room is also full for years to come. The Kolar and Likely selections have a high probability of keeping tight end off the Ravens radar (barring injury). The only question I see going forward is whether the Ravens carry three or four tight ends in 2022. And what the selections of Kolar and Likely infer about the availability and future of Nick Boyle. There’s $2 million of cap savings looming if Boyle becomes a post-June 1 cap casualty.
The running back room is also full for the next two years. The guard position has some uncertainty for 2022 which I hope Ben Cleveland will help answer after a full training camp. Right guard will become a concern, perhaps in 2023, depending on Kevin Zeitler’s play and condition after 2022 but that can be addressed next year. Right tackle is manned for at least the next two years.
In all, these leaves only two positional issues that loom over into the 2023 draft. Left tackle and wide receiver. Not bad.
From a 2023 perspective, the Ravens 2022 draft has the potential to be outstanding. Time will tell. But the bets on Hamilton and Ojabo are reasonable from that viewpoint.
Final Thought on the Draft Selections
From a Ravens Big Board perspective, the Ravens did slam this draft. Other than Charlie Kolar who I missed (and a punter, for God’s sake), everyone they selected was actually on the Ravens Big Board. And three of their selections were from my starred category. Your humble author begs forgiveness on the Hamilton selection; I just didn’t consider that possibility. Live and learn, as they say. But I don’t see any dogs in their picks; every player has real potential. And that’s about all you can ask for.
