Five players Ravens could target on Day 2 of 2022 NFL draft
After the Ravens drafted Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton at No. 14 overall and Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum at No. 25 during the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night, the team shifts its focus to the second and third round.
The Ravens have the 45th and 76th picks, which could be used to address their needs at wide receiver, pass rusher and cornerback.
From Kentucky edge rusher Josh Paschal to Auburn cornerback Roger McCreary, here are five players the Ravens could target on Friday.
Josh Paschal, EDGE, Kentucky
Paschal, a former four-star recruit out of Good Counsel in Olney, was a three-year starter for the Wildcats, totaling 139 tackles (37 for loss) and 13 1/2 sacks. The 6-foot-3, 268-pound pass rusher was named All-SEC second team after recording 53 tackles (15 1/2 for loss) and 5 1/2 sacks in 12 games.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has ranked Paschal as the 15th best edge rusher in the draft class, while NFL.com projects him to get selected in the third round.
George Pickens, WR, Georgia
With the Ravens trading receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for the 23rd pick, they need another wideout to pair with 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman and tight end Mark Andrews. Pickens, who missed the majority of last season because of a torn ACL, can help the Ravens with his elite ball skills and ability to make catches in tight coverage.
Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn
McCreary was named first-team Associated Press All-America and All-SEC after totaling 49 tackles, 16 pass deflections and a pair of picks in 2021. ESPN has ranked McCreary the seventh-best cornerback in the draft and 17th best player remaining on the board.
Phidarian Mathis, DT, Alabama
Mathis was a force this past season, totaling 53 tackles (12 for loss) and nine sacks. Ranked the fifth-best defensive tackle by ESPN, Mathis has the size and length to be disruptive up front. Brugler believes Mathis can be a rotational player as a rookie with the potential to grow into a starter.
Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan
Moore, a three-year starter, caught 95 passes for 1,292 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2021 while averaging 13.6 yards per catch. Even though Moore is undersized at 5-10, he has proven to be a consistent player and vertical threat with elite speed (4.41 seconds in the 40-yard dash). His burst off the line is noticeable, with a 1.46-second 10-yard split that ranks in the 97th percentile.
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