Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft has Ravens selecting stud CB prospect

The Baltimore Ravens will likely be looking to add secondary depth in the 2022 NFL Draft, and that’s exactly what they did in the most recent mock draft from ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

Kiper has the Ravens selecting Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie in the first round and Georgia linebacker Channing Tindall in the second round of his latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft.

Both players would fill significant positions of need on defense, although some may have an issue with Kiper ignoring offense altogether in the first two rounds.

Still, it’s hard to argue with a player like McDuffie who could step in as an instant-impact contributor on defense. He fits the profile of exactly what the Ravens need in this draft.

Trent McDuffie would be an excellent draft pick for the Ravens

A former four-star recruit, McDuffie stepped in as an immediate starter upon joining Washington in 2019. He went on to start three seasons, quickly developing into one of the best cover corners in the entire country.

While he may not have the numbers to show for it as quarterbacks often threw away from him, McDuffie’s track record speaks for itself, and it’s going to get him selected very early in this year’s draft.

At just 5-foot-10, 193 pounds, McDuffie stands out in a class full of tall, athletic freaks like Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, Derek Stingley Jr., and Kaiir Elam. But what he lacks in size he makes up for with pretty much every other aspect of his game.

McDuffie is a well-above-average athlete who has no issue sticking with even the fastest and most agile wide receivers. But perhaps the most impressive part of his game is the mental aspect.

The 21-year-old has excellent anticipation skills and eyes like a hawk to watch the opposing quarterback’s eyes and jump routes.

The Ravens already boast perhaps the best cornerback duo in the NFL in Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, but the depth behind them is essentially nonexistent. That’s where McDuffie comes into play.

McDuffie could start his career off in the slot before potentially taking over for Peters whose contract expires at the end of the season. And given that both Humphrey and Peters are coming off season-ending injuries, the Ravens need to address their cornerback depth.

Trent McDuffie is a high-floor/high-ceiling prospect who can make an early impact and serve as a defensive cornerstone for the foreseeable future. This would be a home-run pick.