Ravens’ biggest winners and losers of the 2022 NFL Draft
By Kristen Wong
Ravens’ Loser No. 2: Josh Oliver
The Ravens selected not one but two tight end prospects in this year’s draft, likely hoping to execute a more tight end-heavy offensive scheme this season.
Mark Andrews’ starting position is obviously secure, as is Nick Boyle’s, who serves as a valuable blocking tight end.
But TE3 Josh Oliver will probably get surpassed by Baltimore’s rookie talent this year given each prospect’s relatively high upside.
Iowa State’s Charlie Kolar and Coastal Carolina’s Isaiah Likely have the potential to recreate the Ravens’ four-headed monster of an offense that was so dangerous in 2019: back then, Andrews, Boyle, Hayden Hurst, and Pat Ricard each embodied one head.
This year, Kolar and Likely will get their chance to break into the starting lineup and wreak havoc in multiple-tight end sets.
So where does Josh Oliver fit? He doesn’t. Oliver was a quiet offseason acquisition from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and suited up for 14 games with the Ravens.
With Andrews enjoying one of his best receiving performances in history, Oliver faded into the background, catching just nine of 15 targets for 66 yards last season.
Suffice to say, his competition is younger, healthier, and more talented, and solid preseason performances from Kolar and Likely could open the door for Oliver to leave the franchise.
Everyone knows that the Ravens love their tight ends, but it is possible to have too much of a good thing and in this case, Oliver is the expendable one.