The Ravens’ 2022 draft class made an immediate impact last season and helped the Ravens return to the postseason after a one-year absence.
Beyond first-round picks Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum and fourth-round punter Jordan Stout, all of whom became immediate impact players, much of the rest of the class is still more potential than performance, but this group will be expected to ascend to more important roles this season.
Head coach John Harbaugh has said many players make their biggest jump between Year One and Year Two, and the Ravens will be looking for that from a 2022 draft class that included a record six fourth-round picks.
As last year’s draft class points toward the 2023 season, here is a quick look at what each player accomplished last season and what success might look like for each in 2023. (Note: This does not include sixth-round pick Tyler Badie, who was signed off the Ravens’ practice squad by the Denver Broncos in December.)
S KYLE HAMILTON (FIRST ROUND, NO. 14 OVERALL)
Hamilton endured some growing pains as a rookie, most evident during an epic defensive collapse in which the Miami Dolphins scored 28 fourth-quarter points and sent the Ravens to a stunning 42-38 Week 2 loss. Hamilton owned his early miscues, and throughout the second half of the season he evolved into one of the team’s most consistent defensive players working as a hybrid safety-slot defender.
Hamilton was rated No. 1 among all safeties by Pro Football Focus and finished with 55 tackles and two sacks — two more than he recorded in his entire career at Notre Dame. He also showed with a couple of well-timed pops that he was more than willing to immerse himself in the physicality of AFC North football.
Year Two progress for Hamilton would mean: With Chuck Clark traded to the New York Jets, Hamilton claims an every-down role after playing roughly half the snaps last season. Hamilton totals at least 80 tackles, records his first NFL interception(s) and adds to that sack total.
C TYLER LINDERBAUM (FIRST ROUND, NO. 25 OVERALL)
The Ravens solidified their interior offensive line by making Linderbaum the first center they ever selected in the first round, using a pick acquired when they dealt wide receiver Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals.
ESPN ranked Linderbaum No. 1 overall in run block win rate, a measurement of how effectively a player wins his block on a designed running play. Other Ravens linemen praised Linderbaum’s physicality, and at Tampa Bay, Linderbaum drove Bucs linebacker Devin White just about into the Gulf of Mexico before putting him flat on his back during a long run by Lamar Jackson.
Year Two progress for Linderbaum would mean: He again starts every game, proves to be a road-grader for one of the league’s best rushing attacks and gets stronger to combat interior pass rushers, who got the better of him at times as a rookie. Linderbaum continues on a trajectory that mimics the last offensive lineman the Ravens drafted from Iowa: eight-time Pro Bowl pick Marshal Yanda.
OLB DAVID OJABO (SECOND ROUND, NO. 45 OVERALL)
The Ravens knew they were playing the long game with Ojabo, drafting him roughly five weeks after he suffered a torn Achilles in his Pro Day workout at Michigan. Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald coached Ojabo at Michigan and was thrilled to land his former player, considered a potential top-15 talent before the injury.
Ojabo never made the impact that he or the Ravens had hoped as a rookie, appearing in just two late-season games and totaling one tackle, a sack in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati.
Year Two progress for Ojabo would mean: He flashes that first-round potential and becomes a major presence with at least a half-dozen sacks. The Ravens need an infusion of young talent on the edge with veterans Justin Houston and Jason Pierre-Paul no longer around.
DT TRAVIS JONES (THIRD ROUND, NO. 76 OVERALL)
With Michael Pierce landing on injured reserve early in the season, Jones quickly worked into the rotation in the middle of the Ravens’ defense, and the 6-foot-4, 334-pounder from Connecticut finished with 24 tackles and one sack in 15 games. The Ravens had been impressed by Jones’ strength and workload at UConn, and he played roughly 35 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snaps despite playing behind Broderick Washington and Justin Madubuike.
The Ravens have lost veteran defensive end Calais Campbell, but the heart of the defense returns in the trenches, with Madubuike and Washington both entering contract years.
Year Two progress for Jones would mean: He continues to be a regular contributor with at least 30 tackles and gives the Ravens more peace of mind knowing they probably won’t retain both Madubuike and Washington as pending free agents.
OT DANIEL FAALELE (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 110 OVERALL)
The massive Faalele (6-foot-8, 380 pounds) was viewed as a right tackle project, but he found himself thrust into an unlikely role as the team’s starting left tackle in the fourth game of his career with Ronnie Stanley, Ju’Wuan James and Patrick Mekari all injured. He fared reasonably well in such an unpredictable spot but played offensive snaps in just two games the rest of the season.
Year Two progress for Faalele would mean: He continues to develop as a backup swing tackle, using improved quickness and that massive frame to counter NFL edge rushers. Head coach John Harbaugh suggested Faalele might even get a look for the open left guard spot.
CB JALYN ARMOUR-DAVIS (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 119 OVERALL)
An uneven season for the Alabama product ended when Armour-Davis went on injured reserve in November. Because of injuries, Armour-Davis was thrust into a pivotal role in Week 2 and looked like an overmatched rookie as Miami shredded the Ravens for 28 fourth-quarter points. Armour-Davis didn’t see much of the field the rest of the season before going on IR and finished with five tackles and one pass defensed.
Year Two progress for Armour-Davis would mean: He has a more comfortable grasp of Mike Macdonald’s defense and contributes on special teams and occasionally on defense, with 25 total tackles and a turnover. The Ravens as of press time had not re-signed Marcus Peters or Kyle Fuller, and given how the Ravens cycle through cornerbacks at an alarming rate every year, Armour-Davis will get his chance again.
TE CHARLIE KOLAR (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 128 OVERALL)
Kolar missed the first half of the season because of sports hernia surgery, and by the time he was ready to play, fellow rookie Isaiah Likely had seized the job as the No. 2 receiving tight end. Kolar played in just two late-season games, with four catches for 49 yards in the regular-season finale at Cincinnati.
Year Two progress for Kolar would mean: Just being healthy for a full training camp and ready for Week 1 would be a major step forward, and with Josh Oliver moving on to the Minnesota Vikings, Kolar moves into the No. 3 tight end role. Oliver’s 2022 production of 14 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns is well within reach.
P JORDAN STOUT (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 130 OVERALL)
The Ravens made Stout the first punter off the board in the 2022 draft, but he had the unenviable task of taking over for Sam Koch, who played more games than any other Raven in franchise history. With Koch on hand as a special teams consultant, Stout ranked 24th in the league in punting average (45.9) and 21st in net (40.9). He also capably succeeded Koch as the team’s holder.
Year Two progress for Stout would mean: He uses that big leg to move into the top 10 in punting average and also improves his touch near the goal line. Stout finished his rookie season with seven touchbacks — more than Koch had in any of his final eight NFL seasons — and his touchback percentage of 12.3 equaled the highest of Koch’s 16-year career.
TE ISAIAH LIKELY (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 139 OVERALL)
Likely was the breakout star of training camp for the Ravens, but once the season began, success didn’t come as easily, as Likely totaled seven catches in the first five games. Still, Likely’s 6-foot-4, 241-pound frame made him an appealing target, and he showed good field sense and the ability to get open.
Predictably, two of Likely’s biggest games came when All-Pro Mark Andrews was sitting out, and Likely finished the season with 36 catches for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
Year Two progress for Likely would mean: He is an impact receiver from Week 1 and shows improved blocking ability. He takes another step forward with 50 catches for 500 yards and four touchdowns for new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
CB DAMARION WILLIAMS (FOURTH ROUND, NO. 141 OVERALL)
Like the other rookie defensive backs, “Pepe” Williams struggled in early-season losses, but the Ravens praised his versatility as an outside and slot corner and potential safety. Williams finished with 22 tackles on defense and a couple of others on special teams.
Year Two progress for Williams would mean: He competes for time in the slot, his most natural position, with Hamilton likely to play more as a traditional safety. Williams finds himself on the field for more than 25 percent of the defensive snaps (which was his workload in 2022), records his first career interception, tallies 30-plus tackles and remains a factor on special teams.
Photo Credits: Kenya Allen/PressBox
Originally published April 19, 2023