Getting Over the Final Pre-Draft Hump Day

Rejoice, Ravens Flock! It’s Draft Eve! We finally made it!

This draft process has felt like a long one, but we are just over 24 hours away from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell opening the 2022 NFL Draft and we couldn’t be more excited. Our beloved Baltimore Ravens own the 14^th overall pick in the first round and we’ve done all sorts of speculating throughout this offseason as to which direction the team will go.

We all hope for (insert player), but we probably will draft (insert player) instead. But if they took (insert player), I’d be screaming at the top of my lungs! But (insert player) just feels like a Raven…

I certainly can’t wait to be saying these things tomorrow night! Until then, take a trip Out to Lunch with me and enjoy the last Wednesday of 2022 prior to the 2022 NFL Draft!

We start with the moment that the history of the Baltimore Ravens franchise changed forever…

Four years ago today, the Ravens traded back into the first round to select Lamar Jackson with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 draft

After he was picked, Jackson delivered an iconic interview, showing that he was ready to be a Raven pic.twitter.com/DJWkyFaONh

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 26, 2022

When the 2018 NFL Draft kicked off, the quarterbacks were all the talk of the town. Lamar Jackson, a Heisman Trophy winning quarterback out of Louisville, was as polarizing a prospect as they come due to his running prowess and raw arm talent. Some believed the only way he’d find success in the pros was the change positions and abandon his dream of being a star quarterback.

The Baltimore Ravens believed differently.

Flash forward four years later and Jackson is one of the top quarterbacks in the league with two Pro Bowls and a unanimous MVP award to his name. Jackson already owns the single-season quarterback rushing yards record at 1,206-yards and has 105 total touchdowns in 58 games played (84 through the air). It took very little time for Jackson to become perhaps the NFL’s most dynamic player and in a redrafting of the 2018 class, he is no worse than the second overall selection, competing with Buffalo Bills star quarterback Josh Allen.

While Jackson hasn’t delivered Baltimore a Super Bowl just yet, the future will remain bright, and the team’s window open so long as Jackson remains under center in Charm City.

Another franchise-defining pick…

14 years ago today, the Ravens picked Joe Flacco at No. 18 overall in the 2008 draft

He went on to play 11 seasons in Baltimore, throwing for 38,245 yards and 212 touchdowns while also putting together an elite Super Bowl run, resulting in a championship pic.twitter.com/SDJV6Lyd1c

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 26, 2022

Say what you want about Joe Flacco, but the man is a Baltimore legend. Flacco won the Ravens their second Super Bowl victory following a historic four-game playoff run for the ages. Flacco tied an NFL single postseason record with 11 touchdown passes and was just the second-ever to do it without throwing an interception. To say he was spectacular would be an understatement.

Flacco is unquestionably one of the most important players in the franchise’s history and his selection way back in 2008 will be held in the team’s lore forever. #JoeFlaccoIsELITE

On the defensive side of the ball…

19 years ago today, the Ravens selected Terrell Suggs with the 10th overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft

He would go on to play an amazing 16 years in Baltimore, totaling 132.5 sacks while cementing himself as one of the best defenders in franchise history pic.twitter.com/VTx0RaP2OX

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 26, 2022

Terrell Suggs, a.k.a. T-Sizzle, is one of the greatest Baltimore Ravens ever. The seven-time Pro Bowler and 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year is Canton bound and was a long-standing member of an annually dominant defense. Suggs is another all-timer for the Ravens and one of the best picks the franchise has ever made.

Will the Baltimore Ravens trade up in the draft? While the speculation is widely debated, Around the Block’s TD Hunter highlighted five players he believes the team may trade up for:

The #Ravens rarely trade up from their original draft slot but after arming themselves with a slew of mid round picks, this year could be different. ⁦@tdhunter52⁩ points out 5 targets the Ravens could move up for! #RavensFlock #NFLDraft https://t.co/PnpjX7RuCc

— Around The Block – Baltimore Ravens (@ravens_atb) April 26, 2022

All of these players make sense for the Ravens, but the idea of drafting LSU cornerback Derek Stingley is enticing to say the least…

There has been a lot of talk recently about San Francisco 49ers All-Pro wide receiver Deebo Samuel being on the way out of the Bay Area via trade, and naturally we are wondering to ourselves just how good would Samuel look like in a Ravens uni. Rich Eisen gives his thoughts:

“What would Deebo Samuel look like in Baltimore Ravens purple? What would he look like in that offense meeting Lamar Jackson at the mesh point? I’ll tell you what he’d look like — like a championship football player.” @richeisen pic.twitter.com/WAC51WFxpA

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) April 22, 2022

Eisen can imagine this scenario perfectly, as Samuel’s fit would be seamless. Even if Samuel gets his wish to no longer be used heavily in the run game, his use in this offense would remain versatile and deadly for opposing defenses. Baltimore would like to stay in the arms race that has become the AFC and adding Samuel to its offense would certainly help their chances. Maybe we could see the 26-year-old receiver moved on draft night…

Let’s end it the only way that makes sense… with a mock draft:

The Lounge’s Mock Drafts are in…

: https://t.co/8PYqVsdzug pic.twitter.com/f9i8vBEEt8

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 26, 2022

The guys over on The Lounge podcast have selected offensive tackle Trevor Penning. Penning certainly plays with a pissed off mentality and that would help him fit into the AFC North nicely.

Happy NFL Draft eve, everyone! Here’s to celebrating our incoming rookies a week from now!

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