So how did the 2022 draft wind up in filling the roster holes?\u00a0 The top hole (edge rusher) remains empty.\u00a0 The number two hole (nickel corner) is partially filled, with the Ravens opting for a day three pick to man the position.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

The number three hole (defensive line) was filled.\u00a0 The fourth hole, wide receiver number two, was not addressed.<\/p>\n

The fifth hole – the left tackle issue – was unaddressed.\u00a0 Ronnie Stanley’s status will loom over the Ravens entire 2022 prospects.\u00a0 I can understand why the Ravens had no good opportunity to address this issue in the draft.\u00a0 As you can see, they had too many other clear holes to fill, and maybe Stanley will end the concern himself.\u00a0 I get the judgment to take the risk and defer.\u00a0 But the risk remains, and if Stanley can’t make it, getting to the playoffs will be that much more difficult.<\/p>\n

The bottom four holes were all fully and adequately addressed.\u00a0 Mission accomplished there.<\/p>\n

Ravens Draft Recap – How the 2022 Draft Set Up the 2022 Season: Summary<\/h3>\n

Given the sheer quantity of holes on the Ravens’ roster going into the draft, there was no way they could fill them all.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the smallest holes were completely filled, while several of the largest holes (including the largest) remain empty or only partially filled.\u00a0 That’s not exactly the outcome you’d want.\u00a0 Ideally, the top hole going down to the third largest hole, would be filled.<\/p>\n

But the front office chose to spend their most valuable draft capital on a position of little need (safety).\u00a0 That choice has repercussions all the way down the draft board for the 2022 season.\u00a0 \u00a0The edge rusher selection of Ojabo can’t be expected to help much in 2022.\u00a0 The media worshipping notwithstanding, the 2022 draft – viewed only from the perspective of the 2022 season – was good but not great.<\/p>\n

Can the Post-Draft Holes Be Filled This Year? Free-Agency Part 2<\/h3>\n

Who’s out there in free agent land that could help the Ravens in 2022?<\/p>\n

Edge Rushers<\/h4>\n

For the 2022 season, the number one need pre-draft remains the major need post-draft.\u00a0 The Ravens’ edge rusher cupboard is still fairly bare.<\/p>\n

The Ravens can create enough cap room to still fill this hole.\u00a0 I believe they’ll make a run again at Justin Houston, who could still help.\u00a0 I also think they will revisit signing Rasheem Green.\u00a0 The Ravens took a visit from Green well before the draft.\u00a0 It’s fair to assume that they (and everyone else) deferred acting on Green until after the draft concluded.<\/p>\n

Green was formerly a third round pick for the Seahawks.\u00a0 He’s only 24 years old.\u00a0 Green had his best year in 2021 as he recorded 6.5 sacks, with 48 tackles and six tackles for loss.\u00a0 Green visited with the Texans right before the draft, and the Texans did not draft any edge rushers.\u00a0 He had also visited with the Panthers, who drafted Amare Barno at edge in the sixth round.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, it’s not as if Green would turn the edge rusher deficiency around.\u00a0 But he would help a bit for this year.<\/p>\n

Signing Houston and\/or Green would probably bring the Ravens the best that’s still available on the edge rusher market.<\/p>\n

Wide Receivers<\/h4>\n

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.\u00a0 Until Duvernay, who I like, proves he can do it on the outside, the second wide receiver spot is undermanned.<\/p>\n

Wide receiver two just can’t be filled absent a trade or an unexpected release of a quality wide receiver.\u00a0 Unless, of course, you’re interested in the following group of wideouts who are still available in free agency:\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Don’t expect any of these guys on the roster.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Ravens Draft Recap – How Does This Draft Set Up the Ravens for 2023 and Beyond?<\/h2>\n

The 2022 draft, which still leaves a few large holes on the roster, must be looked at with a longer-term eye.\u00a0 Frankly, all drafts should.<\/p>\n

Defense<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Kyle Hamilton<\/h4>\n

First, if Kyle Hamilton turns out to be the stud they envision, the 2022 draft will be a home run.\u00a0 I noted the issue with Hamilton – his very poor testing time in the forty.\u00a0 We’ll see this year whether Hamilton can make the same impact in the NFL as he did in college.\u00a0 The bright-side argument is that his smarts and anticipation will allow him to mask whatever speed deficiency he has.\u00a0 <\/p>\n

If Hamilton works out, the young top-end safety tandem will be in place for years.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 And missing an opportunity to draft a number two wide receiver to replace Brown, or addressing another need.\u00a0 But this is why we don’t “grade” drafts right after they occurred.<\/p>\n

David Ojabo<\/h4>\n

Second, David Ojabo then becomes the key for the 2022 draft being a grand slam foundational cornerstone for the future.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Come the 2023 draft, they will be likely adding to their defensive line and interior linebacker positions as part of a natural turnover.\u00a0 But the young foundational pieces will be there, especially if Patrick Queen can take it up at least one notch.<\/p>\n

One other observation from a defensive perspective.\u00a0 The Ravens obviously did not have Jermaine Johnson on their board.\u00a0 I’m assuming that Johnson presented a cultural concern, which is always a legitimate consideration, because on talent alone his selection was warranted.\u00a0 Certainly down at pick 25.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

Offense<\/h3>\n

From the perspective of 2023 and beyond, the Ravens offensive draft filled what I call secondary needs.\u00a0 There is a high probability that Tyler Linderbaum will be their center for the duration of his first contract.\u00a0 No need to address the center position over the next four years.<\/p>\n

The tight end room is also full for years to come.\u00a0 The Kolar and Likely selections have a high probability of keeping tight end off the Ravens radar (barring injury).\u00a0 The only question I see going forward is whether the Ravens carry three or four tight ends in 2022.\u00a0 And what the selections of Kolar and Likely infer about the availability and future of Nick Boyle.\u00a0 There’s $2 million of cap savings looming if Boyle becomes a post-June 1 cap casualty.<\/p>\n

The running back room is also full for the next two years.\u00a0 The guard position has some uncertainty for 2022 which I hope Ben Cleveland will help answer after a full training camp.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 Right tackle is manned for at least the next two years.<\/p>\n

In all, these leaves only two positional issues that loom over into the 2023 draft.\u00a0 Left tackle and wide receiver.\u00a0 Not bad.<\/p>\n

From a 2023 perspective, the Ravens 2022 draft has the potential to be outstanding.\u00a0 Time will tell.\u00a0 But the bets on Hamilton and Ojabo are reasonable from that viewpoint.<\/p>\n