As usual, the Baltimore Ravens have been getting high marks for their 2022 NFL Draft picks. In truth, the Ravens have done extraordinarily well in the draft since the former Cleveland franchise moved to Baltimore for the 1996 season.
Hall of Famers Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden and Ed Reed were among the team’s first-round picks in the first seven drafts. Also along the way, there has been a slew of Pro Bowlers in the first round, such as Todd Heap, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata, plus Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and current QB Lamar Jackson, to name a few.
The 2022 class is being viewed as another success for the front office and coaching staff as the Ravens grabbed Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton as the acknowledged best-player-available at No. 14 overall and then, at No. 25, took a long-term answer at center in Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum.
Maryland sports betting is legal, but only at retail sites in the state. Mobile sports betting could be up and running during the 2022 NFL season, but at the current pace it seems unlikely.
Though the Ravens were perceived to have crushed the draft again, they are not among the Super Bowl favorites from the AFC in NFL betting.
Ravens’ Jackpot Picks at DB
Baltimore’s first-round track record with defensive back selections is sterling starting with nine-time Pro Bowl safety and Canton inductee Ed Reed (2002) at the top of the list. Other first-round DBs with Pro Bowl pedigree have been Chris McAlister (1999) and more recently, Marlon Humphrey (2017).
Hamilton’s strength will be his versatility. He can play free safety, strong safety or, at 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds, in the box. He’s a defensive Swiss Army knife.
Linderbaum is the first center the Ravens have taken in the first round. However, the team’s record with early-round offensive linemen is solid starting with Ogden and continuing through Marshall Yanda, Ben Grubbs and Ronnie Stanley (when healthy).
Who the Ravens Picked in the 2022 NFL Draft
- Round 1 (14th overall): Kyle Hamilton (Notre Dame safety)
- Round 1 (25th overall): Tyler Linderbaum (Iowa center)
- Round 2 (45th overall): David Ojabo (Michigan outside linebacker)
- Round 3 (76thth overall): Travis Jones (Connecticut DT)
- Round 4 (110th overall): Daniel Faalele (Minnesota OT)
- Round 4 (119th overall): Jalyn Armour-Davis (Alabama CB)
- Round 4 (128th overall): Charlie Kolar (Iowa State TE)
- Round 4 (130th overall): Jordan Stout (Penn State punter)
- Round 4 (139th overall): Isaiah Likely (Coastal Carolina TE)
- Round 4 (141st overall): Damarion Williams (Houston CB)
- Round 6 (196th overall): Tyler Badie (Missouri RB)
The Ravens had nine more picks in Rounds 2 through 6 with an astonishing six selections in the fourth round.
In taking a punter in Round 4, the Ravens may be parting ways with 39-year old veteran Sam Koch who has played in 276 regular and postseason games for Baltimore and, interestingly, is 7-for-8 passing.
Skill position players were not a priority. The Ravens took two tight ends in Round 4 (Kolar and Likely) and a running back (Badie) in Round 6. And they traded WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to Arizona for picks.
Ravens Super Bowl Prospects Slim
Ravens Odds Got Longer After Draft
The Ravens are +2200 to win the Super Bowl and +225 to win the AFC North, according to DraftKings Sportsbook odds. Baltimore’s opening odds on DraftKings was +1800 but have been getting longer since then. For what it’s worth, Arizona, on the other side of the Hollywood Brown trade, has stayed at +2500.
The Ravens direction on offense is set. It features Jackson at quarterback and a supporting cast of running backs who can help control the ball and enough pass catchers to move the chains. The NFL is an even tougher grind now with 17 regular-season games and for the Ravens’ philosophy of next-man-up when injuries strike, they need enough “next men” to plug in. The 11-player haul in the draft helps with the attrition that the NFL inflicts on all teams.
