The Baltimore Ravens’ 2022 draft class, the 27th in franchise history, consists of five offensive players, five on defense, plus one specialist.
Saturday, April 30, 2022, Over 27 years of drafts, the franchise has now drafted 230 players from 101 different schools, with Missouri and Connecticut getting their first Ravens draftees this year. There have been 123 offensive players taken and 103 on defense, along with three punters – one of them taken this year – and a long snapper.
Even though Baltimore took no wideouts, the number of Ravens-drafted receivers remained at 33, more than any other position. Outside linebacker/defensive end hybrids make up the second-most, with 26. There have been 21 cornerbacks, 20 linebackers, and 20 guards taken by Baltimore.
For a 3rd consecutive draft, the Ravens drafted no players from Oklahoma, but after a two-year drought, they did take a player from Alabama. That gives the Crimson Tide a 12-11 lead over the Sooners as far as Raven-drafted players in the 27-year history of the Baltimore franchise. Notre Dame also notched one to jump into third place, with nine.
KYLE HAMILTON (First round, 14th overall selection)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 220 pounds
School: Notre Dame
Position: Safety
Strengths: Great size and speed; great attitude; willing to learn; developed his run defense during college; patient in pursuit and doesn’t overcommit
Weaknesses: Can give up contain space way too easily and can get too excessively ball-focused at times; missed five games last year with a knee injury
Quotable: “A true three-down player and a force anywhere on the field.” – Last Word On Sports draft preview
TYLER LINDERBAUM (First round, 25th overall selection, from Buffalo)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 296 pounds
School: Iowa
Position: Center
Strengths: Competitive mentality; great core strength through wrestling; good dip, lift, and footwork; philanthropic because he donated all his NIL money to the Iowa Children’s Hospital
Weaknesses: Needs more power; can get bull-rushed; can get too tall on shotgun snaps, which the Ravens use a majority of the time
Quotable: “Really fun tape. He will be hard to beat to the spot, but he’s just a small man (by our standards), and that worries me.” — Pro personnel director for NFC team
DAVID OJABO (Second round, 45th overall selection)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
School: Michigan
Position: Edge rusher
Strengths: Personally accountable; has the speed to run down ball carriers to the outside; has plenty of rush moves and deceptive step sequence; always goes for the ball, not just the sack.
Weaknesses: Grew up in Nigeria, moved to Scotland, and didn’t play American football until five years ago; still needs to learn more about the game and refine his technique; not much bend or dip; vulnerable against the run.
Quotable: “He’s one of the most explosive players in this draft.” – Booger McFarland, ESPN
TRAVIS JONES (Third round, 76th overall selection)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4, 325 pounds
School: Connecticut
Position: Defensive tackle
Strengths: Very athletic; long arms and can push the pocket to get sacks from the inside; a wide-bodied frame that is hard to get through or around; needs two blockers to truly get control of him
Weaknesses: Pad level and hand usage could stand to improve; hands and feet don’t synchronize quickly enough to get into a good pass-rush rhythm with consistency
Quotable: “Jones lacks explosive get-off and hand twitch. He’s unlikely to be a quick-win defender, but the anchor and upper-body power are present for gap-control duties once his footwork and hand usage are schooled up.” – NFL.com draft preview
DANIEL FAALELE (Fourth round, 110th overall selection, from New York Giants)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-8, 384 pounds
School: Minnesota
Position: Tackle
Strengths: Great size; long arms; has good movement and power; brings nasty attitude; has more right tackle experience; better as a run blocker, which is important in the Ravens’ scheme
Weaknesses: Not fully developed or experienced; doesn’t bend well and is not very instinctive; not patient in pass protection; doesn’t get to the second level very quickly
Quotable: “Faalele has been able to overwhelm and move opponents with his sheer mass but might need a little more spice in his play demeanor to become a more willful, nasty block finisher against NFL linemen.” – NFL.com draft preview
JALYN ARMOUR-DAVIS (Fourth round, 119th overall selection)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 192 pounds
School: Alabama
Position: Cornerback
Strengths: Good length and size with an NFL-ready frame to play on the outside; impressive in fluidity and range with excellent footwork; doesn’t fall for double moves.
Weaknesses: Hesitant on run plays and while rushing the passer; doesn’t always pressure a receiver to the sideline; doesn’t always trust his eyes; gives up inside leverage too often.
Quotable: “Armour-Davis possesses the size, speed, and athleticism to play on Sundays, but he must polish his techniques. Best in a zone system or backed off the line of scrimmage. He could make an immediate impact on special teams.” – Tony Pauline, national scouting analyst
CHARLIE KOLAR (Fourth round, 128th overall selection, from Arizona)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-6 ½, 252 pounds
School: Iowa State
Position: Tight end
Strengths: Was the Big 12’s and the nation’s top scholar-athlete; great work ethic; premium size and other measurables; great route leverage; soft hands; broad-based, outstanding blocker.
Weaknesses: Not physical enough nor productive enough after the catch; needs to accelerate more into contact.
Quotable: “He finds a way to open throwing windows for his quarterback. He has the box-out talent to keep catch windows clean, and his quiet, sticky hands are automatic.” – NFL.com draft preview
JORDAN STOUT (Fourth round, 130th overall selection, from Buffalo)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 209 pounds
School: Penn State
Position: Punter
Strengths: Placed 34 of 62 career punts in the coffin corner and did well on kickoffs as well; great hang time; nearly one-third of his punts went 50 yards or more; can use two- or three-step approaches
Weaknesses: Not very good in aiming directional punts; not very eager to run downfield in coverage; below-average accuracy when called upon to kick field goals
Quotable: “This kid has a live, destructive leg.” – Mel Kiper, Jr., ESPN
ISAIAH LIKELY (Fourth round, 139th overall selection, compensatory)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4 ½, 245 pounds
School: Coastal Carolina
Position: Tight end
Strengths: Can score from anywhere on the field; has played through pain; accelerates well, especially after the catch; high football IQ
Weaknesses: Has to have the desire to finish blocks; loses focus when running routes over the middle; doesn’t have hands ready coming out of breaks
Quotable: “This is a guy that can separate and create down the field. This is another weapon for Lamar Jackson and that offense.” – Todd McShay, ESPN
DAMARION WILLIAMS (Fourth round, 141st overall selection, compensatory)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10, 182 pounds
School: Houston
Position: Cornerback
Strengths: Self-motivated as a two-time team captain; very self-motivated; devastating two-hand punch technique; solid backpedal and quick plant-and-drive direction change; can undercut routes and make plays.
Weaknesses: If he’s beaten deep, won’t regain ground and close; not much length or size; can’t mirror a receiver; leaves openings in press coverage
Quotable: “A projected slot corner at the next level after spending time on the perimeter and at safety in 2021.” – NFL.com draft preview
TYLER BADIE (Sixth round, 196th overall selection, from Miami)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-8, 197 pounds
School: Missouri
Position: Running back
Strengths: First at his school to have both 1000 rushing and 1000 receiving yards for his college career; undersized enough to shoot through tight creases; naturally soft hands; tough to bring down; two fumbles in 513 touches
Weaknesses: Not much rhythm to his stride; can’t get through arm tackles; not made for short-yardage situations.
Quotable: “Ran a 4.45 at the combine, faster than I thought. He’s an aggressive runner who attacks the hole… catches the ball well out of the backfield.” – Todd McShay, ESPN
