Heading into the final month of the 2021 season, the Baltimore Ravens may start to assess their options in next year’s NFL Draft.
If bolstering their offensive line is their top priority, Baltimore could reasonably select this offensive tackle in the first round of the draft.
ESPN’s Todd McShay recently released his 2022 NFL Mock Draft predictions, and for the Ravens, who have the 22nd overall pick, McShay chose offensive tackle Trevor Penning from Northern Iowa.
"“The Ravens’ identity is based on running the football and physically upfront, and Penning embodies that. He pushes defenders off the ball and moves well for a 6-foot-7, 321-pound tackle. The Ravens dealt Orlando Brown Jr. in the offseason, Alejandro Villanueva (his replacement) is 33 years old, and Ronnie Stanley has been limited to seven games over the past two seasons because of ankle issues. And Baltimore has given up an NFL-high 47 sacks this season.”"
Throughout the season, the Ravens offensive line has struggled partly due to injuries and lack of depth.
With Ronnie Stanley out for the season and Patrick Mekari still injured, Baltimore has made the best out of their situation by plugging in deeper roster players. Still, the results have not been pretty.
ESPN’s 2022 Mock Draft has the Ravens picking OT Trevor Penning in the first round
Alejandro Villanueva hasn’t been playing well lately, and neither has Tyre Phillips. Those two serve as crucial bookends on the offensive line and play the biggest role in keeping Lamar Jackson or Tyler Huntley protected.
If the Ravens want to find long-term success with their offensive line, they could draft a prospect like Trevor Penning who can dominate the physical game.
In their scouting report, Pro Football Network calls Penning “a monstrous behemoth at 6’7″, 340 pounds, and on the field, he’s exactly as imposing as you’d expect.”
Penning even showed up on Bruce Feldman’s Freaks List, which despite the connotations, should be considered a compliment.
The Athletic’s Bruce Felman spotlights the biggest “freaks” in college football who display rare physical abilities, and Penning’s gift is apparently being big and fast — Feldman claims he can run around a 5.00-second 40-yard dash.
Penning’s sheer size and athleticism automatically make for great traits as an offensive lineman, and if he falls to Baltimore, he’d serve as an immediate fix to their ailing offensive line.
As with any team, there are a plethora of directions the Ravens can take when the 2022 NFL Draft rolls around. More so than in other years, the offensive line should be one of Baltimore’s top priorities, and the coaches may want to keep Trevor Penning on their radar.