Revitalized Ravens
In the midst of one of the most dramatic and memorable off-seasons in recent memory, free agency movement is starting to settle down and teams around the league are starting to take form and shift their full focus to the NFL Draft.
Under two weeks away, there is no doubt that the Baltimore Ravens organization and front office have been evaluating this 2022 class to fill the needs on the defensive side of the ball. A solidified secondary with the addition of safety Marcus Williams from the New Orleans Saints and the returns of cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey from season-ending injuries means it is time the Ravens turn their focus to the trenches.
Ravens cornerbacks, Marcus Peters (left) and Marlon Humphrey (right)
Prospects out of the University of Georgia dominate the defensive class this year and players like 6’7, 340-pound defensive tackle, Jordan Davis and 2021 Butkus Award winner, Nakobi Dean, look to be the type of prospects the Ravens may be interested in. Another name to watch out for with Baltimore’s first round pick would be linebacker Devin Lloyd, out of Utah. Both Dean and Lloyd present smart and physical styles of play which have been a staple of the organization since the days of Ray Lewis. Davis brings a raw and physical talent that is one-of-a-kind and with reports stating he has gotten into the “best shape of his life”, it is clear that Davis is ready to learn and embrace the NFL as it looks to do the same for him.
With the veteran presence of Justin Houston and Calais Campbell, who just re-signed, alongside a young star in Patrick Queen at linebacker, there is no doubt that a good draft class can lead to a defense that we can see build together for years to come.
Ravens defensive lineman, Calais Campbell
While it would be ideal for Baltimore to hammer away at the defensive side of the ball, don’t be surprised if the front office looks to add one more weapon to the arsenal for Lamar Jackson. While this class may not have a single wideout who stands apart from the others, the 2022 class is one of the deepest receiving groups we have seen in a long time with the talents of Drake London, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams just to name a few. While it is possible that one of these guys lands with the Ravens at No. 16, I wouldn’t eliminate the possibility of a late free agency signing such as Julio Jones, whom the team was interested in last offseason. The team has also been in discussion with veteran running back, Melvin Gordon, as the health status of both JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards still seem unclear as the draft quickly approaches.
Tennessee Titans wide receiver, Julio Jones
Once the defensive side of the ball has been addressed, look for Baltimore to gain depth on the offensive line as we go deeper into the draft. The return of Ronnie Stanley at tackle is something that the Ravens have been desperately looking forward to as the 2021 season is one that saw detrimental injuries in every part of the team, but maybe none as bad as the offensive line. With multiple late-round picks, I would not be surprised if the front office strings together a couple of ‘diamond in the dust’ picks as the team has done in the past.
While the 2021 season ended in disappointment with Baltimore falling out of the playoff picture late in the season, it is undeniable that this team fell apart physically and collapsed the way they did due to injuries of key players across the board. Look for the Ravens to have a huge bounce-back year as Lamar goes into the last year of his rookie contract and the supporting cast gets back to full health.