After narrowly missing the playoffs, the next thing up for the Baltimore Ravens is, of course, a 2022 NFL 7-Round Mock Draft. In fact, the draft will be the main item on Baltimore’s agenda for the next few months as they currently hold 11 selections in April. Selecting at least once in every round, the Ravens should leave Las Vegas with a potentially franchise-changing draft haul.
Let’s go pick-by-pick and look at a few players that you can expect to see linked to the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 NFL mock drafts.
Baltimore Ravens 7-Round NFL Mock Draft
The Ravens pick first in the middle of Round 1. With a bevy of needs to be addressed, their first selection will be largely dependent upon how the first 13 picks fall. Their options at pick No. 14, however, are numerous — and they all possess terrific value.
Round 1, Pick 14: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
There’s a strong likelihood that Charles Cross doesn’t make it past the Denver Broncos at pick No. 9. If he does, the big man from Mississippi State should absolutely be welcomed with open arms in Baltimore. Cross comes with two years of starting experience at left tackle. Don’t let his college offense fool you, either — Cross is more than equipped to handle a run-first scheme.
He didn’t get to showcase it often, but when he did get out in front of his running backs, Cross made mincemeat of defenders in open space. He’s dominant at the point of attack and showcased his athleticism and strength — albeit a limited sample size — in the run game. Ronnie Stanley has played seven games over the past two seasons, so an insurance policy who can also play right tackle in the meantime is a no-brainer.
Other alternatives at No. 14: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa; Ikem Ekwonu, OT, NC State; DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
Round 2, Pick 45: Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
A year after it was apparent Mark Andrews was the focal point for the Ravens’ passing attack, they get him some help. Jalen Wydermyer is a talented pass catcher who offers upside in the run game as a blocker. In three years with the Aggies, Wydermyer caught 16 touchdowns. He’s got sure hands and can catch the ball anywhere on the field.
Other alternatives at No. 45: Isaiah Likely, TE, Coastal Carolina; Cole Turner, TE, Nevada
Round 3, Pick 76: Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
The Ravens’ defensive front isn’t getting any younger, so it’s time to inject some youth in the trenches. Tyler Davis is a tough man to block. He also comes with significantly less wear on his tires than some other defensive tackles in this class.
Davis burst onto the scene with a great freshman campaign and built upon that over the past two seasons. He’s equipped to play across the defensive line, from inside as far out as 5-tech, offering plenty of positional versatility to the Ravens’ front.
Other alternatives at No. 76: Logan Hall, DT, Houston; Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia; Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
Round 3, Pick 101: Isaiah Thomas, EDGE, Oklahoma
As mentioned, injecting youth into the line is pivotal for the Ravens in 2022. Isaiah Thomas is no stranger to lining up on a three-man front or as an off-ball pass rusher. He can get home with pressure from either alignment, whether his hand is in the dirt or not. That versatility would go a long way towards Davis not only seeing the field but improving Baltimore’s aging pass rush.
Other alternatives at No. 101: Channing Tindall, LB, Georgia; Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia; Boye Mafe, EDGE, Minnesota
Round 4, Pick 107: Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati
With five selections in Round 4, the Ravens will be incredibly busy to start Day 3 of the draft. In this mock, they land the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award winner for the best defensive back in the nation: Coby Bryant.
Bryant won the Thorpe Award thanks in part to his ball-hawking skills. He’s a great cover corner, and he proved that in 2021 when he was the most targeted defender in the Bearcats secondary. At 6’1″, 198 pounds, Bryant has great size and length for the position in the NFL. His feisty style of coverage will also make him a great fit in Baltimore.
Other alternatives at No. 107: Tariq Castro-Fields, CB, Penn State; Mykael Wright, CB, Oregon; Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa
Round 4, Pick 116: Zachary Carter, DT, Florida
The youth infusion on Baltimore’s defense continues as Zachary Carter brings four years in the Swamp with him. Carter can line up all along the defensive line and adds more movable chess pieces to the Ravens’ defensive front. He excels when rushing the passer and had multiple games with 2+ sacks in his career. But Carter is no slouch against the run either.
Other alternatives at No. 116: Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee; Christopher Hinton, DT, Michigan; Haskell Garrett, DT, Ohio State
Round 4, Pick 126: Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State
Finally, an offensive selection after four straight on the other side of the ball. The Ravens grab an experienced and well-rounded wide receiver who would present a steal at this stage of the draft. Khalil Shakir hauled in 77 receptions for 1,117 yards and 7 touchdowns for the Broncos this season. That gave him over 3,000 total yards of offense and 24 scores for his collegiate career. He’s got a full route tree and wins against a bevy of defenders.
Other alternatives at No. 126: John Metchie III, WR, Alabama; Calvin Austin III, WR, Memphis; George Pickens, WR, Georgia
Round 4, Pick 137: Emil Ekiyor, G, Alabama
With the first of their back-to-back selections, the Ravens stay on offense and grab one of the top guard prospects still available. Emil Ekiyor played essentially every snap at right guard for the Crimson Tide over the past two seasons. He’s as dependable as they come, as he was routinely found mauling defensive linemen in the run game. Though he’s no slouch in pass protection, Ekiyor is at his best when he’s moving on power or counter runs.
Other alternatives at No. 137: Marquis Hayes, G, Oklahoma; Cade Mays, G, Tennessee; Chasen Hines, G, LSU
Round 4, Pick 138: Tariq Woolen, CB, UTSA
The Ravens close out their five-pick fourth round with arguably the highest upside prospect in the entire draft class. Tariq Woolen just finished his second year of playing cornerback, and the converted wide receiver consistently opened eyes this season for UTSA. He’s a hard hitter with an ever-expanding coverage skill set. He won’t have to play right away for Baltimore — that’s an ideal situation as he can continue to grow and learn.
Other alternatives at No. 138: Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB, Alabama; Alontae Taylor, CB, Tennessee; Mario Goodrich, CB, Clemson
Round 6, Pick 197: Tyler Badie, RB, Missouri
As the season wore on, the Ravens’ rushing attack was decimated by injuries. As such, finding a valuable addition at the position this late in the draft would be a steal. With every pick that fell, Tyler Badie was still available. Run, don’t walk up to the podium to make this selection. Badie is a talented rusher between the tackles and in the open field, but he also presents a mismatch as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Other alternatives at No. 197: CJ Verdell, RB, Oregon; Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Alabama; Kennedy Brooks, RB, Oklahoma
Round 7, Pick 243: Bamidele Olaseni, OT, Utah
This is an insurance pick at this stage of the draft for Baltimore. Grabbing Bamidele Olaseni at this point only presents upside. At 6’8″, 330 pounds, Bam is built like a tank and chiseled like he was cut from Stonehenge from his native England. He was routinely responsible for Utah’s massive rushing lanes this season as he got stronger as the year went along. Olaseni may not be tasked with playing early, and that will help elongate his career as he continues to learn the sport.
Other alternatives at No. 243: Donovan Jennings, OT, USF; Jaylon Thomas, OT, SMU; Logan Bruss, OT, Wisconsin