The Baltimore Ravens have shown a strong track record in how to identify both talent and character in the NFL draft. They have been one of the best drafting teams in the league for a while now, and with 10 projected draft picks in 2022, it will be important that they come out with a strong class that can contribute both in the present and in the future.
In his latest 2022 NFL mock draft, Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports picked the entire first round, giving teams players that he thought would be a fit both positionally and talent wise. For Baltimore, Wilson selected University of Washington cornerback Trent McDuffie. When explaining his choice, Wilson noted that some “Tyrann Mathieu vibes” can be seen.
“Even though McDuffie plays cornerback, we get Tyrann Mathieu vibes when we watch him. We love him as a slot corner who serves as an enforcer in run support and locks down short and intermediate routes, something he does regularly for the Huskies.”
In his two-plus years playing college football, McDuffie has totaled 67 total tackles, six pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one sack. He stands at 5-foot-11, weighs around 195 pounds and is a very versatile player, as he has the ability to line up in many different places on the field.
McDuffie can play both man and zone coverage well while having the ability to play in control and rarely panic. He has high-level instincts and can easily recognize routes both before and right as receivers are coming out of their breaks. He also has good ball skills and is a great tackler, things that the Ravens value on their defense.
While McDuffie is a bit on the smaller side in terms of his size, he is a very well-rounded player with plenty of potential at the NFL level. If the team wants to take a swing on a player like McDuffie and hope he can grow into a player such as Mathieu as Wilson notes, it could be a worthwhile pick, especially with so much uncertainty surrounding some of Baltimore’s current secondary members as the 2022 offseason approaches.