Ravens’ offensive line projected to crack the top-five in 2022

The Baltimore Ravens suffered from an inconsistent offensive line all throughout the 2021 season, but the offensive line unit is predicted to improve by leaps and bounds in 2022.

A combination of elite returning starters and smart acquisitions has catapulted the Ravens’ offensive line into potential top-five territory.

The Ravens will greatly benefit from Ronnie Stanley’s return this year assuming Stanley doesn’t get re-injured like last time; the team also has solid starting-caliber linemen in Kevin Zeitler and Ben Powers, with Powers making out to be the frontrunner of the left guard competition so far in training camp.

Offseason acquisition Morgan Moses may prove to be a reliable right tackle, and rookie center Tyler Linderbaum suffered an injury setback but should be good to go for the regular season.

All in all, the Ravens boast a much more stable group in the trenches to protect Lamar Jackson, and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Baltimore finished 2022 with one of the top-ranked offensive lines in the league.

ESPN’s Seth Walder had the Ravens at No. 5 overall in his league offensive line projections with a sixth-ranked pass block rating and an eighth-ranked run block rating.

Walder wrote:

"“Free agent signing Morgan Moses upgrades the right tackle position in terms of pass protection (91% PBWR last season, 16th best among tackles) but is a downgrade from Alejandro Villanueva in the run game. Powers was exceptional in run blocking last season, as was Zeitler in pass protection.”"

The Ravens projected to have a top-five offensive line in 2022

Walder noted that Stanley will no longer be the elite tackle he once was and factored in his regression in the Ravens’ overall O-line rankings. Still, he believes the rest of the Ravens’ offensive line corps is solid enough to warrant a top-five spot, up there with the likes of the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Green Bay Packers.

Right guard Kevin Zeitler may be the team’s most underrated lineman in 2022 having started all 17 games in 2021 and allowing just one sack in over 1,200 snaps. Ben Powers isn’t exactly franchise material as a left guard, but he did fly under the radar as a surprisingly capable run-blocker.

Powers has yet to beat Tyre Phillips and Ben Cleveland for the left guard job, yet he appears well-positioned to do so in training camp.

As for the offensive line depth, the Ravens have Ja’Wuan James, Daniel Faalele, and the versatile Pat Mekaririck to take snaps if necessary.

Compared to their AFC North rivals, the Ravens are touted to have the best offensive line in their division — the Cleveland Browns rank eighth overall, the Cincinnati Bengals rank a shocking 18th overall, and the Pittsburgh Steelers rank near the bottom at 28th.

Baltimore’s stalwart O-line should usher in unbridled success for Lamar Jackson and the passing game, and though it’s early, these projections are a good sign for the team’s highly anticipated comeback season in 2022.