The Baltimore Ravens got the pick of the litter in sixth-rounder Tyler Badie, and while many consider him runt-sized as a running back, he has the potential to greatly exceed expectations.
At 5-foot-8 and 197 pounds, Badie doesn’t intimidate defenses with his size or athleticism, but he has the quickness and ball skills to crack the Ravens’ running back depth chart wide open.
Baltimore’s starting ball-carrier will most likely be J.K. Dobbins, a 2020 second-rounder who burst onto the scene in his rookie year for 805 rushing yards. Behind him, Gus Edwards will share a large brunt of carries having strung together three consecutive seasons of 700-plus rushing yards.
Both Dobbins and Edwards are recovering from season-ending injuries in 2020, but if all goes well, they have the proven talent and experience to lead the Ravens’ crowded running back room.
So where does Badie fit in? Initial projections may slide him into an RB3 spot, ever so slightly edging out Justice Hill and Ty’Son Williams for that backup role.
Badie offers a bit of everything: special teams potential, rotational reliability, and a pass-catching element that could prove useful given that Baltimore didn’t draft a single wide receiver in 2022.
Tyler Badie is getting Ray Rice comps and I totally see it pic.twitter.com/XPkcFgvyTd
— Ramey (@HoodieRamey) April 30, 2022
Years from now we're going to be wondering how Tyler Badie, the best RB in the '22 Draft, lasted this long before getting picked.
— Adam Duxter (@AdamDuxter) April 30, 2022
The Ravens found a running back gem in 2022 sixth-rounder Tyler Badie
Badie has lived in Baltimore more than any other city and could be considered the most “home-grown” talent of all the rookies.
In his first season as a full-time starter at Missouri, Badie racked up 1,604 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, averaging six yards per carry, and added 54 catches for 330 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Part of the reason we’re so high on Badie is seeing his tremendous pass-catching ability, which separates him from the rest of the Ravens’ backs.
Up until 2021, Badie proved more productive as a pass-catcher than as a running back, and throughout his entire college career, he has recorded 1,149 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
Whereas Hill may only shine on special teams and Williams failed to impress last season, Badie has the potential to make an immediate impact in the backfield regardless of how well the Ravens’ starters perform.
His floor in the NFL seems to sit around fringe RB3 territory, but with his pass-catching upside, Badie could possibly play more snaps than Edwards and carve out a unique, dynamic role for himself next to Lamar Jackson.
There’s a reason everyone on Twitter has showered Badie with praise after he got selected by the Ravens. Badie has the world at his fingertips in 2022.