Lamar Jackson wants top CB draft prospect on the Ravens

Another day, another player Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is trying to recruit. This time, Jackson is going after the youngsters.

Jackson has stayed active on Twitter this offseason, whether he’s dispelling rumors about him leaving the team or doing his part to recruit talented players to join the Ravens. We personally think his time could be better spent inking a new contract, but at least Jackson seems happy and committed — for now.

The most recent victim of his Twitter tags was Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, whose draft stock has been rapidly rising in the last few weeks. Gardner was previously listed as a “dream target” for Baltimore and would fill the team’s major position of need at corner.

No wonder Jackson wants him to come to Baltimore.

When it comes to the 2022 draft, though, Jackson can only do so much — the Ravens’ draft class is in John Harbaugh’s and other coaches’ hands.

Lamar Jackson is trying to convince Sauce Gardner to join the Ravens

Heading into the 2022 season, the Ravens will benefit from the return of Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters in the backfield, but the team lost crucial corner depth this offseason including Anthony Averett and Chris Westry.

Baltimore should be prepared to take another promising corner, perhaps Derek Stingley Jr., if Gardner is taken off the board early, as Gardner is widely considered the No. 1 cornerback prospect in 2022.

According to The Draft Network, Gardner projects to be a starting outside corner with “excellent coverage instincts” and “above average ball skills” who thrives in zone coverage. Gardner could fit extremely well in the Ravens’ secondary in Year 1, learning from arguably the best defensive trio in Humphrey, Peters, and safety Marcus Williams.

The odds of the Ravens picking a cornerback with the No. 14 pick feel high, though given the team’s several needs, Gardner isn’t necessarily the team’s most coveted target or the highest priority.

In the aftermath of the Saints-Eagles trade, Eric DeCosta’s recent comments almost certainly suggest Baltimore will engage in some kind of trade before the start of the draft, which would make this draft year even more exciting than expected.

Jackson made it clear he wants the Sauce, but he hasn’t been successful so far in recruiting anybody to the Ravens, and draft prospects can’t exactly choose where they want to play, anyway.

With a top corner like Gardner, Baltimore just have to see where the pieces fall in April.