Would the Ravens still consider drafting David Ojabo after his devastating injury?

The Baltimore Ravens have been connected to a number of different prospects in the build-up to the 2022 NFL Draft, and one of the most frequent connections has been to Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo.

Ojabo has been one of the most common players mocked to the Ravens in mock drafts, and given his experience with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and the team’s need at the position, a potential union always made sense.

Unfortunately, Ojabo was dealt a significant blow when he suffered a torn Achilles on Friday while working out at his school’s pro day.

How does Ojabo’s injury affect his draft stock? Could he still be a potential target for the Ravens?

Would the Ravens still consider drafting David Ojabo?

At 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Ojabo is one of the most physically talented pass rushers in this year’s draft class. He’s an outstanding athlete with the raw tools to develop into a perennial All-Pro in the NFL.

However, he is a bit underdeveloped.

Ojabo didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school and he has just one year of collegiate production. Despite this, most draft analysts agreed that Ojabo was a surefire first-round prospect and someone who seemed like a prime target for the Ravens at pick No. 14.

That could change though following his injury.

Ojabo’s game relies heavily on his athleticism and explosiveness, and teams might be wary of an injury like a torn Achilles possibly having an adverse effect on that.

On top of that, it’s never encouraging for a rookie to miss a significant amount of time in their first year. Ojabo’s injury, at best, will keep him sidelined for the summer and the early portion of the season.

You could point to a player like Cam Akers who made a miraculous return from a torn Achilles after just six months this past year, but Akers wasn’t an underdeveloped rookie trying to adapt to the NFL. It’s a different scenario altogether.

That said, there are some things working in Ojabo’s favor. The Ravens likely plan to run a very similar system to the one Macdonald ran at Michigan, and his familiarity with Macdonald and that scheme should make the transition much easier.

The Ravens also could be fairly high on Ojabo for a similar reason. The 21-year-old broke out this past season under Macdonald’s tutelage and the idea of reuniting in Baltimore has to be intriguing for both parties.

It’s hard to say exactly what the Ravens are thinking, but it would surprise me if Ojabo’s stock fell too far after his injury. As long as teams feel confident there won’t be any long-term ramifications, Ojabo should still hear his name called on Day 1.

Perhaps as early as the 14th overall pick.