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2022 NFL Draft: Baltimore Ravens 7-round mock

By Rucker Haringey

COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 01: Tyler Linderbaum #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes lines up against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on October 01, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND - OCTOBER 01: Tyler Linderbaum #65 of the Iowa Hawkeyes lines up against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field at Maryland Stadium on October 01, 2021 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Baltimore Ravens mock draft, John Harbaugh
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on December 5, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

The Ravens want to go from the basement of the AFC North to the Super Bowl next season. That will require a terrific 2022 NFL Draft for Baltimore. 

Teams with MVP-level quarterbacks don’t often finish last inside their own divisions. That’s just what happened to the Ravens last season. Lamar Jackson and everyone inside Baltimore’s organization will approach this offseason with a firm resolve that such failure cannot happen again.

Free agency will be a part of the offseason reload for the Ravens but the bulk of the team’s work will come through the draft. The defense needs a serious infusion of talent. Look for Baltimore to spend quality draft capital on several new defensive linemen and a new starter at cornerback.

That isn’t the side of the football they’ll address in Round 1 though. Look for Baltimore to spend their first-round pick on a new protector for their star quarterback.

Round 1: Tyler Linderbaum

Spending a first-rounder on a center isn’t the sexy move, but that won’t concern John Harbaugh. He knows that keeping Jackson safe has to be his team’s top priority.

Linderbaum is the top center in this year’s draft class and projects to be an elite run blocker at the point of attack. He’s not the biggest interior lineman available, but he’s strong and displays an outstanding understanding of leverage in tight spaces. Drafting him in Round 1 will allow the Ravens to avoid the temptation of overpaying Bradley Bozeman in free agency. It’s a good use of resources for the organization.

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