It’s hard to nail the NFL Draft. It’s even harder to do it consistently. But when a front office does manage to pull it off, the results are usually impossible to miss. The best classes don’t just fill roster holes, they help define a team’s identity for years.
That’s why it raised some eyebrows when Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox published a list of the seven best draft hauls from the past five years, and the Baltimore Ravens’ 2022 class was nowhere to be found. Not even an honorable mention. No room at the table for one of the most well-rounded, value-heavy classes in recent memory?
It’s not a bad list—several of the classes featured deserve the praise. But if the 2022 Ravens class isn’t at least part of the conversation, something feels way off. They deserved to make the list.
Ravens 2022 draft class:
Draft pick | Player name | School (position) |
|---|---|---|
Round 1, Pick 14 | Kyle Hamilton | Notre Dame (S) |
Round 1, Pick 25 | Tyler Linderbaum | Iowa (C) |
Round 2, Pick 45 | David Ojabo | Michigan (OLB) |
Round 3, Pick 76 | Travis Jones | UConn (DT) |
Round 4, Pick 110 | Daniel Faalele | Minnesota (OL) |
Round 4, Pick 119 | Jalyn Armour-Davis | Alabama (CB) |
Round 4, Pick 128 | Charlie Kolar | Iowa State (TE) |
Round 4, Pick 130 | Jordan Stout | Penn State (P) |
Round 4, Pick 139 | Isaiah Likely | Coastal Carolina (TE) |
Round 4, Pick 141 | Damarion Williams | Houston (CB) |
Round 6, Pick 196 | Tyler Badie | Missouri (RB) |
Leaving off Baltimore’s 2022 draft haul is hard to justify
Let’s start with the obvious: Kyle Hamilton and Tyler Linderbaum were first-round picks in 2022, and both have already become top-five players at their respective positions. Baltimore just accepted Hamilton's fifth-year option, and declined Linderbaum's.
Hamilton is a back-to-back All-Pro who can play three different roles in one series. Linderbaum is one of the most technically sound centers in the league and a perfect fit in Baltimore’s downhill run game.
After that, the Ravens landed Travis Jones in the third round, a powerful defensive tackle who continues to make life easier for linebackers and edge rushers alike. Daniel Faalele, a 6-foot-8 lineman taken in the fourth, took over the right guard position last year and performed admirably. He is still trending upward. Then there’s Isaiah Likely, a tight end who could start for several teams and has quietly become a sneaky reliable, and electric weapon in the passing game. Even punter Jordan Stout has been a rock-solid addition.
All in all, that’s six legitimate contributors from one draft—including two players who are already playing at a Pro Bowl or All-Pro level. That’s not common.
Of course, not every pick has hit. David Ojabo is still working his way into the rotation after dealing with injuries and inconsistencies. Jalyn Armour-Davis is an okay depth corner. And Charlie Kolar would probably be used more if Likely and Mark Andrews weren't in his way. But when the top of the class is this good and the mid-to-late rounds still churn out depth and production, that’s a draft class that deserves to make the power rankings.
Knox’s list includes some no-doubt hits—no one’s disputing the brilliance of Detroit’s 2021 class. Penei Sewell is already one of the league’s best tackles, and Amon-Ra St. Brown has blossomed into a top-tier wideout. And the Texans striking gold with C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson in 2023? No-brainer. But leaving out the Ravens’ 2022 group entirely? That feels downright criminal.
Knox's complete list:
- Honorable mention: New England Patriots (2025)
- Buffalo Bills (2022)
- New York Jets (2022)
- Los Angeles Rams (2023)
- Detroit Lions (2023)
- Washington Commanders (2024)
- Houston Texans (2023)
- Detroit Lions (2021)
Somehow, one of the league’s deepest, most complete draft classes just slipped through the cracks—and Ravens fans won’t forget it.