Leading up to the 2022 NFL Draft, I will look at possible scenarios for the Ravens in Round 1 and how a selection would change the look of the second and third rounds. This exercise assumes the Ravens make no trades in the first round and make the 14th overall pick. The top needs for the Ravens are edge rusher, cornerback, interior defensive line and offensive line.
Here is Scenario 1:
The Ravens select an offensive lineman with the 14th pick. Which position they select along the offensive line could be based on what they did in free agency and the Ronnie Stanley situation.
Who could it be?
• Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
• Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
• Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
• Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M
So, who would the second-round targets be?
The Ravens could target an edge rusher, cornerback or interior defensive lineman in Round 2. Here are some options for each position of need in the second round.
Interior Defensive Line:
• Travis Jones, Connecticut
• Perrion Winfrey, Oklahoma
• DeMarvin Leal, Texas A&M
EDGE:
• Cameron Thomas, San Diego State
• Logan Hall, Houston
• David Ojabo, Michigan
• Arnold Ebiketie, Penn Sate
Cornerback:
• Tariq Woolen, USTA
• Roger McCreary, Auburn
• Kyler Gordon, Washington
Offensive tackle gets thin fast in this draft. Yes, there are players who could develop, but the middle of Round 2 is where surefire starters stop in 2022. Cornerback depth is strong in this year’s draft, so if the Ravens decide to go this route, they could double up at the cornerback position in this year’s draft. There are solid defensive line prospects through Round 5, just not a ton of Day 3 talent. EDGE is one of the deepest positions in 2022.
In the third round, the Ravens’ options are:
Interior Defensive Line:
• John Ridgeway, Arkansas
• Zachary Carter, Florida
• Phidarian Mathis, Alabama
Cornerback:
• Cam Taylor-Britt, Nebraska
• Alontae Taylor, Tennessee
• Coby Bryant, Cincinnati
EDGE:
• Drake Jackson, USC
• Myjai Sanders, Cincinnati
• Sam Williams, Mississippi
Offensive Line:
• Abraham Lucas, Washington State
• Nicholas Petit-Frere, Ohio State
• Cole Strange, Chattanooga
• Jamaree Salyer, Georgia
What if the draft went like this?
14th pick: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa
45th pick: Travis Jones, DL, Connecticut
76th pick: Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska
100th pick: Myjai Sanders, EDGE, Cincinnati
In addition, the Ravens would still have six Day 3 picks left to address the other needs. Would this start to the draft be a solid start? As a Ravens fan, would you be satisfied going into Day 3?
Photo Credit: Courtesy of UNI Athletics