How many 2023 NFL Draft picks did the Baltimore Ravens have to work with during the three-day event? There was a heightened degree of uncertainty surrounding John Harbaugh’s group this offseason, and they needed to be extra vigilant with their selections to stay afloat.
The start of the 2023 season is almost here, so it’s time for these rookies to shine.
Want to see how the Ravens graded out during the 2023 NFL Draft? Then come check out our full Baltimore Ravens draft grades. You can also see the entire 2023 NFL Draft results.
Baltimore Ravens Draft Picks by Round in 2023
- Round 1, Pick 22
Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College - Round 3, Pick 86
Trenton Simpson, LB, Clemson - Round 4, Pick 124
Tavius Robinson, EDGE, Ole Miss - Round 5, Pick 157
Kyu Blu Kelly, CB, Stanford - Round 6, Pick 199
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OT, Oregon - Round 7, Pick 229
Andrew Vorhees, G, USC
How Many Draft Picks Did the Ravens Have Entering the 2023 NFL Draft?
The Ravens had five picks entering the 2023 NFL Draft, acquiring an extra pick through draft-day trades. Their second and fifth-round selections were dealt to the Chicago Bears in exchange for linebacker Roquan Smith ahead of the 2022 trade deadline.
Luckily, the fifth-rounder dealt for Smith wasn’t the Ravens’ only selection in that round. Baltimore acquired that 2023 fifth-rounder in the 2021 offseason by trading Shaun Wade to the Patriots. They still held their original fifth-round selection at 157th overall, as well as their original Round 4 and Round 6 picks.
Baltimore’s original seventh-rounder — along with offensive lineman Ben Bredeson and an additional fifth-round pick — was sent to the New York Giants in 2021 for a fourth-round selection, which they used to add offensive tackle Daniel Faalele.
The six-pick cohort is uncharacteristically low for a Baltimore team that’s had at least eight selections in every draft since 2018. For the first time in 13 years, the Ravens were not awarded any compensatory picks from the 2022 offseason.
Who Did the Ravens Draft in 2023?
The Ravens successfully met all of their major needs in this draft. All attention is on Flowers, who is set to play a significant role in the team’s offense in 2023. Despite joining a team with Odell Beckham Jr., Mark Andrews, and Rashod Bateman, Flowers is expected to step up. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is thrilled to play with this talented group, joking that his hope is to throw for 6,000 yards.
Flowers is a dynamic talent, boasting incredible quickness and a solid route-running profile. He’s on the smaller side, measuring under 5’10”, but he plays big when the ball is headed in his direction. We could see a Jaylen Waddle-type rookie season from Flowers.
Baltimore’s draft picks in the later rounds may not be as eye-catching, but they are crucial in strengthening their defensive positions. One of their mid-round picks, Trenton Simpson, is an exceptional linebacker with remarkable speed and coverage skills, making him a potential replacement for Patrick Queen in the future.
The Ravens also need to be mindful of their budget constraints, especially with Roquan Smith getting a significant salary increase. Hence, they have to opt for cost-effective options to complement him, which means they may not be able to afford to keep Queen in the long run.
Both edge defender Tavius Robinson and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly are sons of former pro players. Robinson is more of an enigma who has to consistently play with a lower pad level to be effective. Kelly was one of my favorite Day 3 picks due to his unique ball skills and movement ability for being a bigger corner.
Late-round blockers Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Andrew Vorhees check the boxes that Baltimore wants from their offensive linemen. Each is athletic for their size and incredibly strong. Expect them to be depth pieces with some upside to develop into bigger roles.