4 sleepers the Ravens could target in 2022 NFL Draft
By Kristen Wong
3. The Ravens could target: Jake Ferguson, TE, Wisconsin
Mark Andrews’ back hurts. The Ravens need to look for his potential heir in 2022, and Wisconsin tight end Jake Ferguson just might be the man for the job.
Even Andrews wasn’t a first or second-rounder — he was a third-round pick in 2018, the fourth tight end drafted that year.
While the 2022 tight end class doesn’t offer too many star prospects, Ferguson has shown the chops to develop into a complementary pass-catching threat, and who better to mentor him than the great Mark Andrews?
Go watch Wisconsin TE Jake Ferguson block Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo and then make tough catches like this.
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) January 17, 2022
See you at the @seniorbowl pic.twitter.com/KSgbJNbNx3
That video aside, Ferguson has excellent physical traits that gives him an advantage in contested catches, but he’s not a particularly overwhelming blocker.
He’s not the most sure-handed tight end either, but Ferguson remained reliable and productive through all four seasons in Wisconsin, recording at least 30 catches and two touchdowns every year. The former Badger excels in particular at lining up in the slot and catching underneath throws on shorter routes, and having him work with a savvy quarterback like Lamar Jackson would do wonders to his receiving game.
His ball skills and route-running ability have steadily improved throughout his college career, and he offers decent TE2 potential in the Ravens’ lineup. Most mocks list Ferguson as a third or fourth-rounder, so Baltimore don’t risk too much by taking a chance on him.
Besides, he can’t do much worse than current backup tight end Josh Oliver. Both Ferguson and Oliver happen to wear No. 84, though, so one of them will have to change his number.