Despite sticking with their best player available strategy, the Baltimore Ravens still picked up crucial offensive line reinforcements for Lamar Jackson in the draft. Was it enough?
Jackson has yet to finalize a contract extension, and trading away his best friend and number one receiver, Marquise Brown, won’t exactly speed up his decision process.
Baltimore didn’t select a single wide receiver in the 2022 NFL Draft, which may have antagonized him more, but thankfully the team did boost its offensive line.
With the 25th overall pick, the Ravens took Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum, who is expected to compete immediately for the starting center position. The team’s current player at the position, Trystan Colon-Castillo, had an average season last year filling in for Bradley Bozeman, and Linderbaum could realistically overtake Colon-Castillo by the mid-season.
RD 1 | PK 25 - Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum C, Iowa
— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) April 29, 2022
Linderbaum is the only center in our data set (since 2003) to score 90-plus in both production (91) and athleticism (91).
Why Linderbaum has "can't miss" traits for the center position » https://t.co/RLw6vvPRqo pic.twitter.com/aJVAj140um
Tyler Linderbaum on Lamar Jackson: “It’s my job to protect him. I’m excited to get that opportunity. Every snap, every down, I’m gonna bring it. … I’m gonna bring it to protect him and keep him safe.”
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) April 29, 2022
The Ravens fortified their offensive line just enough in the 2022 NFL Draft
In the mid-to-late first round, there may not be a prospect with a higher floor than Linderbaum, and Baltimore can breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Though criticized for his small size, Linderbaum presents an elite center option for the Ravens — that much is undeniable. Baltimore’s O-line finished the season ranked 21st in the league, according to Pro Football Focus, with only one team allowing more sacks than the Ravens did.
With a healthy Ronnie Stanley back in the starting lineup along with young talent like Linderbaum and later-round prospect Daniel Faalele, the Ravens have set Lamar Jackson up for unbridled success.
Injuries ravaged Baltimore all last year, but the team has so far added sufficient depth to its offensive line and shouldn’t run into the same problems as last year.
Greg Roman’s run-heavy offensive scheme will rely on the united and concentrated efforts of everyone on the line, but the Ravens have at least a more reliable and talented front five to start the 2022 season strong.
Now, to address the question of wide receiver…