The Baltimore Ravens have addressed a few of their needs during the 2022 offseason, but will be able to fill more of them during the 2022 draft. They currently have 10 draft picks, and have plenty of options in terms of moving up and down the draft board, something that Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta has shown that he likes to do.
While there are clear-cut needs on the Ravens’ roster such as edge rusher and cornerback, one position that Baltimore could look to invest in is at inside linebacker. There are plenty of options in each round for the Ravens at that position, including former University of Georgia star Nakobe Dean.
Nakobe Dean would add another linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed to the Ravens’ defense pic.twitter.com/ovzKYQ3UTI
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 26, 2022
Dean was one of the leaders on the Bulldogs’ vaunted defensive unit and won the 2021 Butkus Award, marking the nation’s best linebacker. He has sideline-to-sideline speed, and uses it to his advantage when covering running backs and tight ends. He’s a quick player, and is able to disrupt plays in the backfield by using his instincts to put himself in the right place at the right time.
Selecting Dean at No. 14 overall would likely be considered a reach, but it seems unlikely that the inside linebacker would be available when Baltimore is next slated to be on the clock at No. 45. Dean would be a trade-down candidate for the Ravens, and a very good one at that.
