Below is the list of wide receiver prospects for the Ravens for the 2022 draft. This completes the position analysis for this season. There was no quarterback review, for obvious reasons.
Other Offensive Position analyses can be found at these posts: Running back prospects are located here. Tight end prospects are located here. Offensive linemen prospects are located here.
Defensive Position analyses can be found at these posts: Edge defender prospects are located here. Defensive secondary prospects are located here. Inside linebacker prospects are located here. Defensive line prospects are located here.
In this post I take a look at running back prospects for the Ravens in the 2022 draft. Once again, players are listed in the order in which I think the Ravens should consider them.
Previous offensive position analyses can be found at these posts: Tight end prospects are located here. Offensive linemen posts are located here.
Previous defensive position analyses can be found at these posts: Edge defender prospects are located here. Defensive secondary prospects are located here. Inside linebacker prospects are located here. Defensive line prospects are located here.
Below is my review of tight end prospects who the Ravens could consider selecting in the 2022 draft. Players are listed in the round order in which I think the Ravens should consider them.
Previous position and other analyses can be found at these posts: Offensive lineman prospects are located here. Inside linebacker prospects are located here. Defensive line prospects are located here. Edge defender prospects are located here. Defensive secondary prospects are located here. And, for the Round One analysis, look here.
Inside linebacker prospects for Ravens in the 2022 draft are reviewed. Once again, the embedded table of contents guides you to individual player profiles. Players are listed in the round order in which I think the Ravens should consider them.
Here I review defensive line prospects for the 2022 draft. The embedded table of contents guides you to individual players. Players are listed in the round order in which I think the Ravens should consider them.
Previous position analyses can be found at these posts: For edge defenders look here. For defensive secondary look here. For offensive lineman look here. For the Round One analysis look here.
Defensive Line Prospects
Unfortunately for the Ravens, defensive line is not a strong position in this year’s class. Right now, the Ravens’ front consists of Michael Pierce, Calais Campbell, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Isaiah Mack, and the injured Derek Wolfe. I’m assuming Wolfe never suits up in 2022. Pierce likely can’t be counted on for more than 50% of play action, and arguably Campbell for not much more. Continue reading “Defensive Line Prospects – Ravens 2022 Comprehensive Draft Report”
This post reviews all of Ravens edge defender prospects who I think have varying degrees of attractiveness. Use the imbedded table of contents to jump to players of interest.
My Ravens’ round one analysis for the 2022 draft is posted here. The offensive live profiles are posted here. Now, it’s time to post the defensive secondary prospects for 2022.
What follows below is an analysis of just the cornerbacks and safeties who I believe the Ravens should consider drafting, and why. A few others are listed because they received some scouting acclaim, but who don’t warrant drafting by the Ravens in my view. Again, please use the embedded table of contents immediately below to jump to specific players. Just click the player’s name.
My Ravens’ round one analysis for the 2022 is posted here. Now, it’s time to post the offensive line profiles for 2022. In years gone by I posted all of the position profiles in one place. And I ultimately will in 2022 for those readers who prefer that convenience. But because of the volume of material, it might be easier for some readers to have the profiles broken down into several posts.
This post analyzes offensive line prospects – the offensive tackles, guards, and centers – who I believe are draftable by the Ravens, and why. A few others are listed because they have received some scouting acclaim but don’t warrant drafting by the Ravens in my view. Continue reading “Offensive Line Prospects – Ravens 2022 Comprehensive Draft Report”
This is part 1 of the Ravens 2022 Comprehensive Draft Report. The entire draft analysis that follows here (and on other soon-to-be published posts) is solely from the Ravens’ perspective. This part one consists of a round one analysis. What do the Ravens most need? Which players fit their needs? What first round strategies are available? And so on.
This is a very deep draft because of the Covid impact on the 2021 draft – there are many more draftable prospects this year. As a result, I’ve broken my review down into several parts. For one, individual prospect analyses are now provided in separate groupings in different postings to the website, which will be available shortly. There’s a lot of information there – perhaps too much for many readers, but you can dig through the materials as far as you want. The quarterback position is ignored. The safety position didn’t offer much given that the Ravens would only be looking at safeties below the fifth round in my view. Otherwise, there’s a lot to take a gander at in the player reports.
The Ravens ended the initial frenzy period with two key signings. Eric DeCosta nailed it, as he scooped up two players at key positions I identified early on as my top priorities. Here’s a quick review.
Morgan Moses
The Morgan Moses signing secures the right tackle position with a solid, dependable starter. Moses’ deal includes $5.5 million in total guarantees including a $4.38 million signing bonus. With a 2022 base salary of $1.12 million, Moses’ 2022 cap number is a mere $2.58 million.
This is a tremendous deal for the Ravens. Not only did Moses come cheaply (well below my expectation), but it’s hard to imagine a more cap friendly number. Kudos to Eric DeCosta on this one.
Signing Moses fosters additional flexibility for DeCosta going forward. For one, the pressure on the Ravens to draft an offensive tackle in the first round has eased. Yes, we still don’t know Ronnie Stanley’s status – we can only hope the Ravens do – but the Ravens now have three other veteran tackles on the roster. The draft is allegedly deep in offensive tackles (my analysis yet to come). The Moses signing now allows the Ravens to place their round one focus on their other remaining pressing needs: edge rusher, defensive line and, perhaps, cornerback.
One other note regarding Moses. I had previously pointed out that a Moses signing could lead to a release of Ja’Wuan James. His release saves $3 million on the cap. I still see this as a possibility, just not now. Depending on Stanley’s health and whether the Ravens draft a tackle (I expect they will at some point), James’ release could come this summer. At that point the Ravens might need the cap space for in-season moves.
Marcus Williams
New Ravens’ Free Safety Marcus Williams
I had identified early on that Williams was the top safety on the market, and the best pure free safety at that. It’s hard to know at this point exactly where his year one cap number lands. But the Ravens are giving him $37 million guaranteed over a five year amortization period (i.e., $7.4 million per year for cap purposes). And if I assume, say, a $2 million salary for 2022, his year one cap number will land right around $10 million. This is exactly as predicted. From a cap perspective this is “right player, right price” signing. But it’s more than just that.
Williams is an outstanding free safety. At age 26, barring injury, the Ravens should get Williams’ best days over the five year term of his deal. Free safety now becomes a long-term strength. In a division where the Ravens will have to beat Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, et. al for years to come, it was an absolute imperative for the Ravens to field a top-tier free safety. And Eric DeCosta nailed it with the signing of Williams.
So DeCosta Nailed It – Now What’s Next
The Williams and Moses signings combined consumed approximately $12.5 million of cap space. Clearly, more cap maneuverings are coming (look here for some contract restructures).
At this point do the Ravens have enough cap space left to nab Za’Darius Smith? I don’t think so, certainly not without making further moves (cutting Miles Boykin, contract restructures, etc.). Instead, I think the Ravens will try to bolster their defensive line (rumors of Eddie Goldman, for one).
Perhaps they will pursue a slot corner? And from among their lost free agents, I could see a later pursuit of Anthony Averitt depending on whether his market heats up. I assign a very low probability of a return for Pat Ricard (that’s why the Ravens drafted Ben Mason, and then brought him back). Calais Campbell and/or Justin Houston could possibly surface back in purple. And bringing back Bozeman just doesn’t make any sense from a cap perspective.
The very early free agency period bolstered the Ravens in two of their key areas of need. Stay tuned.
