Ravens address all key needs in 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
By Justin Fried
Round 1, 27th Overall, Ravens: Darian Kinnard, OL, Kentucky
The Ravens not only need to add depth to their offensive line in the offseason, but they need to add youth. At the moment, only two of the five spots have long-term solutions, and that’s assuming the team re-signs Bradley Bozeman.
Kentucky’s Darian Kinnard is a massive mammoth of a human being standing at 6-foot-5, 345 pounds who has experience playing both tackle and guard.
Kinnard would be a great fit in the Ravens’ run-heavy offensive scheme and could realistically fill in as a day-one starter at either guard or right tackle, depending on the other moves the team makes in the offseason.
Either way, he’s worth the pick here in Round 1.
Round 2, 61st Overall, Ravens: Verone McKinley III, S, Oregon
The future of DeShon Elliott in Baltimore remains very uncertain, especially after another season-ending injury in 2021. In this scenario, the team opts not to re-sign him in the offseason replacing him with Oregon’s Verone McKinley III.
McKinley gives the Ravens a more prototypical free safety, something they don’t currently have on their roster. While a little undersized at 5-foot-11, 193 pounds, McKinley is rangy and reactive allowing him to cover space quickly.
He’s a former cornerback too with excellent ball skills giving the Ravens another playmaker in their secondary.