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Now that the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs is over — with the Ravens ousted by the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, 24-17 — we know that Baltimore will have the No. 22 pick in April’s draft.
The Ravens technically slot into the 23rd spot in the overall draft order, which is based on when teams are eliminated and their regular-season record, but the Miami Dolphins will forfeit their first-round selection after the NFL determined the team violated tampering rules in pursuit of both quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Sean Payton.
The draft is set to start April 27, following free agency. The Ravens should have a better sense of quarterback Lamar Jackson’s future by that point. Agreeing to a long-term deal would allow them to spread his salary cap hit over future years, whereas using the exclusive franchise tag would result in a projected $45 million charge next season. The Ravens would have to make several other roster moves to fit Jackson in at that price, which would likely change their list of needs headed into the draft.
The Ravens have had the No. 22 pick only one other time, in 2005, when they took wide receiver Mark Clayton out of Oklahoma. He played five seasons with the team, making a career-high 67 catches for 939 yards in his second season. His production sagged in subsequent years and he was traded to the St. Louis Rams in 2010.
Here’s a look at five players the Ravens could consider with their first-round pick.
Texas running back Bijan Robinson
Why would the Ravens spend a first-round pick on a running back when they already have J.K. Dobbins? Because, if the past two years have revealed anything about the position, it’s the importance of reliable depth. Dobbins’ 2021 knee injury involved multiple ligaments, a red flag in long-term projections. Gus Edwards could be a salary cap casualty. Justice Hill is a pending free agent. The dynamic Robinson (6 feet, 222 pounds) averaged 6.3 yards per carry over his college career and would give the Ravens’ offense a long-missing receiving threat out of the backfield.
Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Smith-Njigba is at once everything the Ravens need, and need to avoid, in a wide receiver. The good: As a true sophomore in 2021, he broke Ohio State’s single-season receiving record (1,606 yards) and averaged more yards per catch than 2022 first-round picks Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. The bad: A nagging hamstring injury limited Smith-Njigba to just three games last season, leaving evaluators with one year of standout production to evaluate. The 6-1, 200-pound Smith-Njigba doesn’t have breakaway speed, but his route-running savvy would translate well in a passing offense that gets as many zone looks as the Ravens’.
Florida guard O’Cyrus Torrence
The Ravens had one of the NFL’s best offensive lines this season, but left guard Ben Powers is likely headed to a payday elsewhere in free agency this offseason. Considering Ben Cleveland’s struggles over his first two years in Baltimore, the Ravens could look for an instant-impact starter in the draft. Torrence fits the bill; he graded out as the best guard in the Football Bowl Subdivision, according to Pro Football Focus, after not allowing a sack or quarterback hit in 11 games. The 6-5, 347-pound Torrence was a three-year starter at Louisiana before transferring to Florida, where he also stood out as a run blocker.
Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith
Smith, whose senior season ended early after suffering a torn pectoral muscle, doesn’t have the pass-rush production of a typical first-round prospect. He finished with just 12 1/2 sacks over 38 games at Georgia, including a career-high 4 1/2 in 2021. But Smith graded out well as an edge rusher in 2022, with 17 pressures in eight games, according to PFF. Despite his light frame (6-3, 235 pounds), he was also an elite run defender and reliable tackler. With more pass-rush moves and power added to an appealing athletic package, Smith could help a Ravens pass rush that could lose outside linebacker Justin Houston this offseason.
Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez
Gonzalez is the kind of supreme athlete the Ravens covet in the draft. He’s big (6-2, 201 pounds), strong (reportedly power-cleaned 325 pounds last offseason) and fast. In 2021, as a true sophomore, he was one of only three defensive backs with at least five pass breakups and five tackles for loss. Last season, he had four interceptions in 12 games. With Marcus Peters and Kyle Fuller both set to reach free agency, and Brandon Stephens struggling at cornerback, the Ravens need reinforcements on the outside.
jonas.shaffer@thebaltimorebanner.com
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Jonas Shaffer is a Ravens beat writer for The Baltimore Banner. He previously covered the Ravens for The Baltimore Sun. Shaffer graduated from the University of Maryland and grew up in Silver Spring.
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