The Baltimore Ravens currently hold the No. 14 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft. The selection is one of the highest first-round selections that the team has had in franchise history, and there are plenty of options as to what to do with it.
In his latest 2022 NFL mock draft, Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has Baltimore moving the No. 14 pick to the New Orleans Saints in a trade-back scenario. Kiper says that the No. 18 selection and a third-round pick should get the deal done, so Baltimore moves back four slots and ends up taking offensive tackle Trevor Penning out of the University of Northern Iowa. Kiper explained that Penning fits the Ravens’ style of play.
“Penning played left tackle for the Panthers, but he could slide over to the right side if Stanley returns healthy. Penning had a great Senior Bowl; he is a road grader in the run game who can plow over defenders. We know the Ravens want to run the ball, so Penning fits their style of play.”
Penning is regarded as a very physical player, and put some of that on display during the Senior Bowl. However, he still has a lot of work to do in a few areas of his game, so taking him at No. 14 seems like a bit of a reach at the moment. Kiper’s scenario of trading back, picking up extra draft capital and still getting a player like Penning seems like a good Day 1 haul for Baltimore.