Baltimore Ravens 2022 Mock Draft

The NFL draft is upon us again as the first round is set to begin Thursday night live from Las Vegas. Rounds two and three will take place on Friday night, and the 2022 NFL draft will conclude on Saturday with rounds four through seven. The Jacksonville Jaguars hold the first overall selection for the second straight season. The Jaguars used last season’s first overall pick to select Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence. While their was no speculation on who the Jaguars would select first in last year’s draft, this season there appears to be no clear cut number one pick. However, many mock drafts have the Jaguars selecting Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson.

The Baltimore Ravens currently hold the 14th overall selection in the first round. In total the Ravens have 10 draft picks with nine of them coming in the first four rounds. The Ravens also received three compensatory picks. The first compensatory pick coming from the Houston Texans hiring of David Culley. The Ravens received a compensatory pick in last years NFL draft for Culley’s hiring, and will receive another in this years draft, pick (No. 100). The Ravens received two fourth-round compensatory picks for the departures of pass rushers Matthew Judon, pick (No. 139) and Yannick Ngakoue, pick (No. 141). The Ravens are no stranger to compensatory picks as they have received 55 compensatory picks, the most of any team since compensatory picks were introduced in 1994.

Team Needs: Edge, Offensive Tackle, Cornerback, Center, Defensive Line, Tight End

Round 1

Pick 14: Jermaine Johnson II, Florida State, Edge, 6’5″, 254 Ibs 

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.49

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 26

Pro Day:  40-yard: 4.58, Vertical: 32″, Bench: 27 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 81.0, started in all 12 games, 70 total tackles, 12 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, ACC Defensive Player of the Year

The Ravens select one of the best edge rushers in the draft, filling a huge hole on the defensive side of the ball.

Strengths: Superior athlete, good hips allowing for good change in direction, sheds block well, gives good effort rarely gives up on plays

Weaknesses: Lacks a dominate counter rush move, raw athlete that needs more technique, plays too high at times

Round 2

Pick 45: Daniel Faalele, Minnesota, Offensive Tackle, 6’8″, 384 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.28

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 84

Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.60, Vertical: 29.5″, Bench: 24 reps  

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 82.3, started 12 games, helped Minnesota average 25.46 points per game, All-Big Ten First Team

The Ravens select a big bodied tackle that could look to be a day one starter, with Ronnie Stannley’s health in question Faalele could bolster a Ravens offensive line that desperately needs an NFL-caliber tackle.

Strengths: Moves well for size, rarely knocked back against bull-rushers, good run blocker

Weaknesses: Struggles to reach second level at times, needs to be a more instinctive blocker, gets too far outside leaving openings in the inside

Round 3

Pick 76: Jamaree Salyer, Georgia, Guard, 6’3″, 321 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.19

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 69

Pro Day: Vertical: 24″, Bench: 31 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 68.3, started in 11 games, gave up no sacks, played in 79% of Georgia’s offensive plays, All-SEC Second Team

The Ravens continue to add to their offensive line depth by selecting one of the strongest and most versatile guards in the draft.

Strengths: Good reach and arm length, good base and hips, versatile lineman who has played all five O-line positions, moves defenders off their path  

Weaknesses: Needs to improve flexibility, struggles against athletic rushers, improve feet specifically in pass protection

Pick 100 (Comp Pick): Luke Fortner, Kentucky, Center, 6’4″, 307 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.24

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 93

Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.21, Vertical: 29″, Bench: 31 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 85.1, Started in every game, allowed only two sacks, Campbell Trophy semifinalist

The Ravens look to fill another hole along their offensive line by drafting a center. Fortner is a smart player, something the Ravens routinely look for to man the center position.

Strengths: Good body control, smart and instinctive reading defensive fronts, never gives up on play always finds work, has good hip bend

Weaknesses: Needs to work on not overstepping in sets, improve hand discipline, struggles to get out ahead of screens

Round 4

Pick 110 (Via New York Giants): Coby Bryant, Cincinnati, Cornerback, 6’1″, 193 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.20

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 149

Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.48, Vertical: 33″, Bench: 17 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 86.7, played in 10 games, 35 total tackles, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defensed, helped Cincinnati finish second in the country in passing yards allowed (169.2)

Ravens select a big bodied athletic corner that was a key player for one of the best secondaries in the country.

Strengths: Good size for an outside corner, plays the ball well, willing tackler committed in helping in the run game, instinctive in coverage

Weaknesses: Struggles with speedy receivers, needs to improve hip/directional changes, struggles at times with route recognition

Pick 119: Neil Farrell JR., LSU, Defensive Line, 6’4″, 330 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.00

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 113

Pro Day: 40-yard: 5.41, Vertical: 21.5″, Bench: 18

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 89.8, started in all 12 games, 45 total tackles, 2 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss

Ravens add another piece to their defense and select one of the biggest defensive linemen in this years draft. Farrell adds depth to a Ravens defensive line that routinely rotates personnel.

Strengths: Has great leverage for size, sheds blocks well rarely pushed off the line, great strength and power off the ball

Weaknesses: Needs to improve range and lateral movement, considered a running down player, weight could be an issue

Pick 128 (Via Arizona): Jeremy Ruckert, Ohio State, Tight End, 6’5″, 250 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.24 

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 120 

Pro Day: Bench: 22 reps  

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 59.4, played in 12 games starting 11, 26 receptions, 309 yards, 3 touchdowns, 11.9 average yards per catch

The Ravens select an NFL sized tight end with a high ceiling that will be a good TE2 behind Mark Andrews.

Strengths:  Good run blocker, adjusts well to poor throws, solid double moves

Weaknesses: Has tight hips when coming out of breaks, struggles to separate from defenders, needs to limit “double catches” 

Pick 139 (Comp Pick): Alontae Taylor, Tennessee, Cornerback, 6’0″, 199 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.17

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 219

Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.36, Vertical: 39″, Bench: 14 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 83.1, started in all 12 games, 60 total tackles, two interceptions, six passes defensed, All-SEC Fourth Team

The Ravens add an athletic and tough corner to add to the rotational depth at the position.

Strengths: Tough, aggressive punch when in press coverage, anticipates routes well, good body control to play both the man and the ball

Weaknesses: Average recovery quickness, reacts late to run plays, needs to improve drive and acceleration out of breaks

Pick 141 (Comp Pick): Kyren Williams, Notre Dame, Running Back, 5’9″, 194 Ibs 

NFL.com Draft Grade: 6.00

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 123

Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.54, Vertical: 32″, Shuttle: 4.19 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 81.2, started in all 12 games, 1,002 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns, 17 yard average per carry, 42 receptions, 359 yards, 3 touchdowns

The Ravens select one of the best running backs in college football in 2021. With Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins returning from ACL surgery, Williams is an NFL ready back that could take the load off both Edwards and Dobbins.

Strengths: Has the size to be an every down back, understands protection schemes, good lateral movement, experience running routes from the slot 

Weaknesses: Needs to improve explosiveness, too many fumbles in college, lacks acceleration out of cuts

Round 6

Pick 196 (Via Miami): Nephi Sewell, Utah, Linebacker, 5’11”, 226 Ibs

NFL.com Draft Grade: 5.58

Pro Football Focus Draft Rank: 159 

Pro Day: 40-yard: 4.67, Vertical: 32″, Bench: 24 reps 

2021 Stats: PFF Grade: 72.0, played in 13 games starting 12, 89 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, one interception, Associated Press Pac-12 All-Conference First Team

Ravens select a hardworking, versatile linebacker that will be a good situational player on defense while also helping on all special teams.

Strengths: Athletic, flows well sideline to sideline, plays throw lanes well

Weaknesses: small size for a linebacker, struggles to get off of blocks in the run game, arm length could cause problems as a tackler