Ravens fix their defense, add top OL prospect in 7-round 2022 NFL Mock Draft
By Justin Fried
Round 4, 116th Overall, Ravens: Jeremy Ruckert, TE, Ohio State
One of the more underrated needs for the Ravens this offseason is at tight end. Mark Andrews has obviously emerged as maybe the best tight end in football, but there are question marks behind him.
Nick Boyle’s health remains a concern and Josh Oliver was little more than a placeholder in 2021. The Ravens need to add tight end depth, especially considering the importance of the position in the offense.
Somehow, we were able to land Ohio State’s Jeremy Ruckert all the way in the fourth round. Ruckert is one of my favorite tight end prospects in this class with an outstanding catch radius and some of the best hands I’ve seen at the position.
His lack of college production could cause him to drop a little, but Ruckert has a chance to be the best tight end in this class when all is said and done. Did someone say Mark Andrews 2.0?
Round 4, 126th Overall, Ravens: Tykee Smith, S, Georgia
The Ravens are likely to address the safety position this offseason, even if they decide to bring DeShon Elliott back. As this team learned this past season, you can never have too many healthy defensive backs.
Georgia’s Tykee Smith is one of the more intriguing safeties in this class with the versatility to play all over in Wink Martindale’s defense. He’s a little undersized at just 5-foot-10, 198 pounds, but Smith is a good athlete who excels in zone coverage.
Smith’s best selling point, however, is undoubtedly his versatility and he has a chance to be that safety/nickel hybrid the Ravens were looking for when they scooped up undrafted free agent Ar’Darius Washington.
Given Tavon Young’s injury history, it always helps to have additional depth at slot corner. Smith could be a valuable chess piece for Martindale’s defense.