Ravens: 3 pass-rushing prospects who can be Day 1 starters
By Kristen Wong
2022 is the year the Baltimore Ravens will (most likely) take a pass-rusher in the first-round.
They’ve flirted with the idea before: in 2014, they considered trading up 12 spots from No.17 to draft Khalil Mack, and in 2019, they eyed Brian Burns, but he was taken off the board before the Ravens could nab him.
Baltimore hasn’t seen one of its pass-rushers produce double-digit sacks since 2017, and going into this season the team needs every bit of ammo to take down the likes of Joe Burrow and Deshaun Watson.
While Baltimore has an uncanny knack for selecting quality pass-rushing talent in the middle rounds (fifth-rounder Pernell McPhee, fourth-rounder Za’Darius Smith, fifth-rounder Matt Judon), the team may have to bet on a surer prospect this year.
Good thing the draft class is built well for it. The Ravens couldn’t have asked for a deeper edge-rushing class in 2022 and must consider a variety of possible outcomes, maintaining a fair amount of draft flexibility as they have done in the past.
This year’s draft offers no 100-percent-guaranteed prospect who will be taken first, but certain names will probably be unreachable: Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Trayvon Walker.
No matter. Here are three realistic pass-rushing prospects who could make an impact in the Ravens’ defense on Day 1: