A Solid Return

The Ravens did a solid job in the draft selecting several players able to make an immediate impact while making some other picks that strengthened the foundation for the future.

“I think we’re a better football team today than we were last week,” general manager Eric DeCosta said. “You’re never finished. We certainly still have some things that we need to address, and we will, but we’re optimistic that we can. We added some very, very good football players at a lot of big needs across the board. We’re excited about the future.”

That future won’t include disgruntled wide receiver Marquise Brown, who was traded to Arizona for a first-round pick.

First-round pick Kyle Hamilton should be able to play right away, and the Ravens will find ways to get him on the field. The same goes for center Tyler Linderbaum, who was taken at No. 25 with the pick acquired for Brown.

Defensive tackle Travis Jones, a third-round pick, is primed to make plays as a rookie.

Punter Jordan Stout, a fourth-round pick, looks set to replace Sam Koch, who turns 40 in August and would save the team $2.1 million in salary-cap space if he’s released.

“He’s a very talented player with a lot of different punts,” Stout said of Koch. “I’m really excited to come in and compete with him. He’s a great player. I’ve enjoyed watching him.”

Flexibility is once again the name of the game in Baltimore, writes @DarinMccann, and the 2022 #NFLDraft solidified that. https://t.co/ABAA6gDqFZ

— Russell St. Report (@RussellStReport) May 1, 2022

Another pair of fourth-round picks, offensive tackle Daniel Faalele and cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis, also have the potential to play their way into the rotation. However, Armour-Davis has dealt with knee and hip injuries over his college career.

“It is always very frustrating when you’re not able to play, injury or not, especially when it’s really out of your hands,” Armour-Davis said. “Anything that I’ve had happen to me was just unfortunate events. There was really nothing that I could’ve done differently about it, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other type of way. I’ve learned many lessons during those times that I wouldn’t have learned in any other way. So, I don’t regret anything that’s happened to me. It’s happened. I’ve learned from it, and it’s all behind me. So, I’m moving forward from now on.”

Another cornerback, Damarion Williams, the final pick of the fourth round, also could provide valuable depth in the secondary and on special teams.

The Ravens were able to select David Ojabo in the second round after he fell in the draft because of an Achilles injury he suffered at his pro day at Michigan. He could be the steal of the draft.

Decosta said it’s possible that Ojabo can play for the Ravens sometime in 2022.

“They haven’t seen him since the re-checks and all of those things in ‘Indy,’ but they’re optimistic that at some point this year, he’ll have a chance to play,” DeCosta said. “I can say, not specific to David, but we’ve had multiple Achilles injuries over the years, and some guys … In fact, we were talking about one of the Legends, Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles in May, and I believe he came back in late October.”

The Ravens also invested heavily in the tight-end position, selecting Charlie Kolar (128th overall) and Isaiah Likely (139th). They could battle for the third tight end spot behind Mark Andrews and Nick Boyle, who is recovering from a catastrophic leg injury he suffered in 2020.

If Boyle is not ready, both Kolar and Likely could make the final roster.

“I just feel like I’m a complete tight end. I run good routes, I have good ball skills, I’m a good blocker, especially in space, but I’m honest with myself; I’ve got to keep getting better,” Kolar said.  “This is the NFL. I’m going to come in there hungry and ready to work, and that’s why I’m excited to come in there with guys that have played for a while. I just want to go in there and be a sponge and soak up information, and just try to learn and be the best player I can be Day One and then grow every day from that.”

The post A Solid Return appeared first on Russell Street Report.