Ravens rookie Travis Jones making waves in training camp

The Baltimore Ravens have high hopes for defensive lineman Travis Jones in his rookie season, and he’s wasted little time making an impact early in his NFL career.

The 2022 third-round pick has drawn praise from teammates and analysts alike as he’s made the most of his reps and looked the part. In fact, many believe he should have been drafted earlier than he was.

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believed that Jones was a top-40 player in the draft while Jones’ teammate, Michael Pierce, recently questioned why the former Connecticut star fell all the way to pick No. 76.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper has said that if Jones had gone to Ohio State or Michigan, he would have been a top 10-20 plater. The Ravens are sure happy he fell as far as he did.

Travis Jones could be a mid-round steal for the Ravens

Pierce went as far as to compare him to Kansas City Chiefs star Chris Jones while praising his natural talent.

"“I don’t know why he went in the 3rd round, but you don’t really see too many of them folks. I don’t want to Chris Jones him but he’s kind of got those similar moves. Some of that stuff, you just cannot teach.”"

At 6-foot-5, 333 pounds, the Ravens are hoping to see Jones take on a large role in 2022. The departure of players like Brandon Williams and Justin Ellis, not to mention Derek Wolfe, has left the Ravens looking for new players on their defensive line to step up.

The elder statesmen of the unit, Pierce and Calais Campbell, will do their best to hold down the fort, but the Ravens need some young players to shine as well. Jones is chief among those expected to take on sizable roles.

While most of the attention has gone to rookies like Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum, it’s important not to overlook Jones. The Ravens believe he has the potential to develop into a long-term cornerstone of their defense.

The early signs have been encouraging. If first impressions are any indication, Travis Jones could have a very bright future ahead of him in Baltimore.