Over the weekend, the Ravens added 11 new players to the fold via the NFL Draft and lost one in trading Marquise Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for the ability to make a second first round pick at #24, and a sixth, fourth round pick.

Baltimore’s draft has been lauded as one of the best in the league by many outlets. Let’s look at the updated depth chart (not including UDFAs) and break down the improvements, the holes that still exist, who makes immediate impact, and more.

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Offense

Quarterback: Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

No additions here. I wouldn’t have minded seeing one of those fourth-round picks go to a QB to challenge Huntley for the backup spot. Instead, it will probably be another UDFA. I don’t think Huntley is the answer should Jackson miss significant time. That much was evident last season as he’s limited with his arm, and at times, football IQ. Maybe a veteran game manager could be added before camp. The Bears just released Nick Foles for example, but he might cost too much Could the Ravens be Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 27th team he’s played for? (Slight exaggeration)

Running backs: J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, Tyler Badie, Nate McCrary, Ty’Son Williams

Tyler Badie (BAY-dee) was taken with the Ravens final pick in the draft in round six. The three guys ahead of him are all returning from season ending injuries before the 2021 season even started. They like Hill on special teams. As a sixth-round pick and a rookie, Badie will have to prove to coach Harbaugh that he too can play on special teams, which is something McCrary and Williams did not make an impact on last year. Harbaugh was vocal last year about that being the way to dress for a game as the third or fourth RB on the depth chart on his team. Don’t expect him to cut in the workload Dobbins and Edwards should get.

Fullback: Patrick Ricard, Ben Mason

Moving on…

Offensive line

Starters: Ronnie Stanley (LT), Ben Powers (LG), Tyler Linderbaum (C), Kevin Zeitler (RG), Morgan Moses (RT)

Backups: Patrick Mekari (T/G/C), Ben Cleveland (LG), Daniel Faalele (RT), Ja’Wuan James (RT), Trystan Colon (C), Tyre Phillips, (RG/RT), James Murray (C), Jaryd Jones-Smtih (T)

I couldn’t be happier with the Linderbaum pick. Before the draft I wanted him at #14. To get a top-five player at #14 in Kyle Hamilton, then Linderbaum who steps right into the starting center role vacated by Bradley Bozeman at #25. I slept easy that night. Over 2300 career snaps at Iowa with just two sacks allowed. Projected as an All-Pro talent, he isn’t competing with anyone.

In the fourth round the Ravens addressed a position with plenty of question marks because of health, tackle. Ronnie Stanley and Ja’Wuan James haven’t played in quite some time. Morgan Moses was signed, but I worry about his pressure allowed rate being close to the abysmal Alejandro Villanueva experiment last year. Daniel Faalele (FAH-ah-LAY-lay) comes in with question marks of his own at a whopping 6’8”, 384 lbs. Pushing 400 lbs, is not ideal, but if he can move at that weight, what kind of force could he be? I have to see Faalele get a goal line carry at some time this year at least.

How I have the backups listed is how I have them in pecking order on the depth chart. James is probably on the bubble, with no room for the others. Mekari being able to play everywhere on the line is such a valuable asset.

Tight ends: Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Charlie Kolar, Isaiah Likely, Josh Oliver, Tony Poljian

I don’t think another team puts the stock into their tight ends the Ravens do. I don’t think they’ll carry more than four tight ends, which numbers the days for Oliver and Poljian. But if the Ravens use Isaiah Likely more in a wide receiver’s role, which that room is two bodies short with the Marquise Brown trade, but more fittingly, Miles Boykins release. If Likely joins that group in Boykins role as a run blocking WR who can catch, maybe Oliver and Poljian battle for a potential final spot in the TE room. Special teams might where we see Kolar and Likely in year one.

Wide receivers: Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche, Tylan Wallace, Binjimen Victor, Jaylon Moore.

No additions here. Big question is, will Hollywood Brown be missed? I don’t think the Ravens are really missing anything, considering how they used Brown. He had big play ability. He’s got a dozen or more highlight reel long balls, but when they turned him into a quick pass in the flat receiver, he floundered. That’s just not his skill set. I think if thats what they want to do more of, that is something Duvernay can excel in. Bateman is well rounded at everything and I’m excited for him to be the focal point outside of Mark Andrews. Duvernay has the speed to get behind a defense. Proche and Wallace in limited looks have shown the ability to make tough grabs, be it over the middle bracing for a hit, or on the sideline where you must tap the toes to complete the catch. Maybe Isaiah Likely joins this group.

I might be in the minority; I don’t think the Ravens need to go outside the organization and add anyone. Why waste the cap space on another halfhearted veteran? Besides, running the ball and 2 and 3 TE sets are the bread and butter here.

Defense

Defensive line

Ends: Calais Campbell, Derek Wolfe, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington

Nose: Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Isaiah Mack, Xavier Kelly, Khalil McKenzie, Aaron Crawford

Two months ago, I thought the Ravens would go very heavy on DTs in the draft. Instead, they were able to bring back Calais Campbell for another year. A very important person on and off the field. Great mentor for the youth on this team. Then a reunion with Michael Pierce. After drafting Travis Jones in round three, they look pretty set for whichever defensive fronts they want to put out this season. Isaiah Mack flashed a little in limited time in 2021. He has a chance to be on this squad as well.

Inside linebackers: Josh Bynes, Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch.

No additions through the draft and that surprises me a little bit. Bynes was a must have to bring back on a budget to play on the strong side as no one else here can do so. How important was it to draft two TEs, two corners when the versatile Kyle Hamilton can maybe take one of those places? Was it more important to draft a punter in the fourth round than to throw another dart here? Queen had a Pro Bowl caliber second half of 2021 when he moved to the weak side. But is Bynes going to keep being available for all these cheap one year deals?

Outside linebackers: Odafe Oweh, Tyus Bowser, Daelin Hayes, Jaylon Ferguson, David Ojabo

David Ojabo tore his Achilles at Michigan’s pro day. A top-20 prospect, the Ravens grabbed him at #45 in the second round to reunite with his Michigan, now Ravens Defensive Coordinator, Mike MacDonald. Ojabo likely doesn’t factor in this year which is good news for Jaylon Ferguson who might have one last shot to stick around. I think a veteran is added at some point to round out this group. Expect Oweh to take big strides in year two. Bowesr is great off the ball, and it’s very thin here otherwise. Another position where I wonder if it was necessary to double up at tight end, cornerback, without really addressing this one.

Cornerbacks: Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Iman Marshall, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Robert Jackson, Damarion Williams, Kevin Tolliver, Kevon Seymour.

I haven’t heard official word, but so far, no Jimmy Smith news about a return. He said at the end of last year it was the Ravens or retirement. He has no interest playing anywhere else. Do the Ravens want him back? It’s a position thin on depth once you are past Marlo and Peters. That’s why they drafted Armour-Davis and Williams. We’ll wonder if Iman Marshall can stay healthy for once. He was a fourth-round pick in 2019. At least with defensive backs, it’s more special teams depth.

Safeties

Strong: Chuck Clark, Tony Jefferson, Geno Stone

Free: Marcus Williams, Brandon Stephens, Ar’Darius Washington

Anywhere: Kyle Hamilton

I’m not sure a draft pick has come with such high expectations since maybe Ronnie Stanley when the Ravens selected him sixth overall. Kyle Hamilton was a consensus top-five player in the draft and kept slipping down the board, right into the Ravens laps. No mock drafts had him coming here because he wasn’t on anyone’s board at 14. Hamilton is versatile, but I don’t expect him to unseat Chuck Clark who wears the green dot on the defense. But maybe we see a lot more cover-3. Maybe Hamilton plays plenty of nickel since at 6’4” he can match up with receiving tight ends and such.

Special Teams: Justin Tucker (K), Sam Koch (P), Jordan Stout (P), Nick Moore (LS)

Might have been a bit of a surprise to see the Ravens take a punter while Sam Koch is still on the team. While he’s now 40, the end is near, but I thought that might be on his terms. Doubt it’s much of a competition when you read about Stout’s ability, and the youth, and the cap savings of over $2M if Koch is cut or retires. We’ll just have to see how this plays out. It’s not impossible for the Ravens to redshirt Stout and give Koch one last season. To make them both go through camp though, then cut Koch loose wouldn’t be prudent, in my opinion.

Mike Randall
Mike Randall

Ravens Analyst

Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at [email protected].

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