The Baltimore Ravens will have plenty of selections at their disposal when the 2022 NFL draft kicks off, holding 10 picks in total, nine of which are in the first-four rounds. That will allow them plenty of opportunities to find the best players for the organization, as well as move up and down the draft board.
In his latest 2022 NFL mock draft, Todd McShay of ESPN has Baltimore selecting help up front on offense with University of North Iowa offensive tackle Trevor Penning. McShay went into detail about what would make Penning a good choice for the Ravens, talking about how his strengths go well with what Baltimore does on offense.
“But [Penning’s] real bread and butter is run blocking, which aligns well with Baltimore’s offense. He overpowers defenders at the point of attack and can move them off the ball. That’d open lanes for quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back J.K. Dobbins, who are both expected back to the Ravens’ offense after 2021 injuries. With Ronnie Stanley missing 26 regular-season games over the past two years and Alejandro Villanueva turning 34 in September, it’s time for Baltimore to restock the line with real maulers. That’s especially true after the Ravens allowed 57 sacks last season (second most).”
Penning showed his power and nastiness on the football field during the Senior Bowl and also put his athleticism on display during the Scouting Combine. However, there are multiple areas in his game that need refinement, so picking him at 14th overall could be a bit of a reach. However, he’s considered to be the best tackle prospect outside of Evan Neal, Ikem Ekwonu and Charles Cross, so if the Ravens love Penning as a prospect and don’t want to risk losing him in a trade down they could take him at No. 14.