Ravens GM Eric DeCosta came away with potential impact players at nearly every position. At safety, the team got an instant starter in Hamilton and potentially another impact defender in Ojabo, who may be a year away from contributing. Linderbaum should be ready to compete for the center position and, if so, then Patrick Mekari and Trystan Colon-Castillo should battle for a backup spot.
| Baltimore Ravens | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: | ||
| 1 (14) | Kyle Hamilton | S/Notre Dame | 15/1st Round | Hamilton multi-purpose skill-set can be used in a number of different facets and that will only expand the fabric of the team's defensive capabilities. He should assume the role left behind by former safety DeShon Elliott. | ||
| 1 (25) Acquired this pick from the Philadelphia Eagles for its 22nd overall pick | Tyler Linderbaum | OC/Iowa | 38/2nd Round | Linderbaum has shown more than enough in a pro-style collegiate scheme. As long as his size doesn't prove to be a detriment, then he has a chance to turn into an instant starter. | ||
| 2 (45) | David Ojabo | DE-OLB/Michigan | 64/2nd Round | If not for an Achilles injury on Michigan's Pro Day, he may have gone higher. New DC Mike Macdonald contained a unique feel of what Ojabo brings to the table. | ||
| 3 (76) | Travis Jones | OT/UConn | 44/2nd Round | Jones contains the skill to work over the center as a zero-or-one-technique NG, but he can play over an OG at the three-technique on occasion. | ||
| 4 (110) | Daniel Faalele | OT/Minnesota | 50/2nd Round | Faelele's light-footed nature makes him hard to get around if the DE doesn't time the snap count. His weight will only become a factor if he doesn't keep himself under the 400-pound mark. | ||
| 4 (119) | Jalyn Armour-Davis | CB/ Alabama | 136/3rd Round | Armour-Davis took some of the shine from more-heralded teammate Josh Jobe in 2021. The time he took away from the field to develop were offset by durability hiccups. He could serve the nickel role for the Ravens on the outside. | ||
| 4 (128) | Charlie Kolar | TE/Iowa State | 115/3rd Round | Kolar has the savvy, ball skills and Red Zone productivity to match the size. To play for Baltimore the blocking has to be in place. This is the worst part of his game at this point. | ||
| 4 (130) | Jordan Stout | P/Penn State | 435/5th Round | Perhaps the best directional punter in this year's class, Stout's ability to execute fakes (see Michigan), kick the longer field goals and kickoff made him one of the most versatile specialists in this year's class. | ||
| 4 (139) | Isaiah Likely | TE/Coastal Carolina | 92/3rd Round | Likely's field speed, run after the catch skill and size complement satisfactory blocking skills when on the move. | ||
| 4 (141) | Damarion "Pepe" Williams | CB-Nickel/Houston | 194/4th Round | Williams was one of the more aggressive players from the secondary in this year's draft despite standing 5'10, 183 pounds. He can play corner, nickel or safety if needed. His change of direction is outstanding at any of the positions. | ||
| 6 (196) | Tyler Badie | RB/Missouri | 177/4th Round | Badie registered rush totals of 34, 27 and 41 over a three-game stretch in 2021. His workhorse capability won't be needed in Baltimore, where he will have to fight for a roster spot in a deep room. | ||
| UDFA 2022 signings | ||||||
| Rank | Player | Positions | School | Grade | Round | ‘Nasty ’Take |
| 121 | Zakoby McClain | LB | Auburn | 5.843 | 3rd Round | Can McClain fill a role that was never replaced on the Ravens defense by former LB Kenny Young? |
| 192 | Makai Polk | WR | Mississippi State, California | 5.65 | 4th Round | Polk was a solid route runner who finished with over 100 receptions (105) in Mississippi State’s Air Raid attack. He simply needs to prove that he can separate from bump-and-run coverage. |
| 266 | Charles Wiley | OLB | UTSA | 5.448 | 4th Round | Wiley could buy the team time in a Tyus Bowser-type special teams role while learning how to use his 4.5 speed defensively as a pass rusher. He has a chance to earn a role on the kickoff and punt teams. |
| 285 | Raleigh Webb | All-Purpose (Gunner-WR) | The Citadel | 5.36 | 4th Round | One of the draft’s best pure athletes, it will all come down to how much Webb impresses at gunner and on the kickoff team during camp. After playing in a run-oriented scheme, he has to learn a lot about the receiver spot. The size and speed are in place. |
| 297 | Jeremiah Moon | OLB | Florida | 5.31 | 4th Round | It’s not often that 6’5”, 250 pounders get into undrafted free agent status, particularly after broad jumping over 11-feet. That type of explosion is rare, but Moon only flashed at Florida and never developed into a game changer. |
| 379 | Ricky Person | RB | NC State | 5.1 | 5th Round | A consistent, non-flashy runner would be the description for Person. He can protect well enough and catches the ball well out of the backfield. He’ll have competition in camp to even make the practice squad. |
| 411 | Josh Ross | LB | Michigan | 5.01 | 5th Round | Knock the size, knock the foot speed and whatever else. Macdonald understands that Ross is a natural playmaker with the necessary instincts to compete for a roster spot. |
| 455 | Anthony Brown | QB | Oregon, Boston College | 4.84 | 5th Round | Quite possibly another undervalued free agent find at QB in the mold of Tyler Huntley, Brown won 25 games in his college career at two different stops. |
| 544 | Slade Bolden | WR/All-purpose | Alabama | 4.53 | 6th Round | It will be tough to earn the slot receiver role for the Ravens in a stacked receiver room. He has been a consistent contributor on special teams at Alabama for a three-year period. |
| 563 | Aron Johnson | OT | South Dakota State | 4.44 | 6th Round | Johnson was a key piece in South Dakota State’s 2020-21 spring national championship run and 2021 national semifinal appearance. His experience and technique were high points. |
| 640 | Emeka Emezie | WR | NC State | 4.101 | 7th Round | At 6-foot-3, Emezie didn’t do much to excite during postseason workouts. NC State’s all-time leading receiver won with technique and length in school. The body control will have to win when covered up. |
| Rayshad Nichols | DL | Stephen F. Austin | N/A | N/A | The Louisiana native did more than just start a number of games for the Lumberjacks. The All-LSC selection finished with 10 sacks and 15.5 TFLs in 2021. | |
| Shamar Bridges | WR | Fort Valley State | N/A | N/A | At 6-foot-4, with 34” arms, Bridges runs in the 4.5 range. Basketball-type quickness off the line of scrimmage but then drifts coming back to the football (PBU allowed, HBCU Legacy ’22). When working in the slot, displays the ability to change speeds and has another gear. long stride gets up on DBs and put them into panic mode when running box fades at No. 2 slot. | |
| Denzel Williams | CB | Villanova, Sacred Heart | N/A | N/A | Williams has 4.4 speed that allows him to play a little bigger than his 5’10, 180-pound frame. His quickness and playmaking skill may have been overshadowed by teammate Christian Benford, but he flashed after transferring from Sacred Heart. | |
| Trevon Clark | WR | Cal | N/A | N/A | In 12 games, Clark averaged nearly 20 yards per catch in 2021. There have been drops through contact (Nevada), but he had his moments this past season. | |
| David Vereen | CB | Newberry | N/A | N/A | Vereen finished his final year on campus with 12 pass breakups. At 5’9, 190, can he make a favorable camp impression at a nickel spot? | |
| Chris Moore | S | Georgia State, Virginia | N/A | N/A | Moore produced at a relatively sustained level at two different schools, but never produced a breakout season. |
In the secondary, does Houston’s Demarrion “PePe” Williams attempt to fill the role left by often-injured Tavon Young? The Ravens defensive line may have secured its biggest coup by securing UConn DT Travis Jones. The selection of Jalyn Armour-Davis continues a theme of drafting Alabama cornerbacks with the hope of them finding success within the defensive structure. Can he replace the production vacated by Anthony Averett?
