The 2022 NFL draft is being held on the Las Vegas strip this year on April 28-30, 2022, the first time Las Vegas has hosted the draft. Eleanor Roosevelt’s hometown teams, the Washington Commanders and the Baltimore Ravens have a combined total of 19 picks this year. Both teams are looking to improve their rosters for a better shot at the super bowl. Washington’s biggest draft needs being linebacker, offensive guard, and safety, while Baltimore needs an offensive tackle, wide receiver, pass-rusher, and cornerback. Both teams are going to change young athletes’ lives by starting their career in the DMV!

The Commanders held picks 16, 47, 98, 113, 144, 149, 230, 240. Picks 16, 98, and 120 were acquired for pick 11 through a surprise trade with the Saints on day one. They also received 144 and 149 through a trade with the Panthers for picks 120 and 189. After trading back in the first round, the much anticipated moment came, pick 16. The Commanders selected Penn State wide-receiver Jahan Dotson, a small speedy receiver with some of the best hands in the draft. Dotson was expected to fall to the second round of the draft, getting the call from Washington caught him by surprise, “Honestly, I was watching the Suns-Pelicans game on my phone.” Jahan is excited to play for Washington and he calls it “amazing” to be drafted by the Commanders. Washington also selected defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis in the second round from the University of Alabama, the same school as star teammates Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne. This chemistry is something that the team hopes to take advantage of this upcoming season. One of the “steals” of the draft came in the 5th round when the Commanders selected Sam Howell, QB out of the University of North Carolina. Howell was one of the top QB prospects, he will get to learn the ways of the NFL under veteran QBs Carson Wentz and Taylor Heinicke. This was a solid draft by Washington, they filled positions in need while also pleasing the fans with picks like Sam Howell and Chris Paul, the offensive guard, not the NBA superstar point guard. 

On the other side of the DMV, the Baltimore Ravens were busy with a total of 11 picks, tied for the second most picks in this year’s draft. One of the biggest moves from the first day came when the Ravens traded away former first round draft pick Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and a third round pick to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for pick 23. Hollywood was a player that fans had developed an attachment with, Roosevelt student and Ravens fan Dillon Austin called the move “a bit controversial.” With the Ravens first pick, (pick 14, two picks in front of Washington) they selected safety Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame. Kyle Hamilton was a prospect that was on top of many team’s draft boards including Washington’s. With Baltimore’s other first round pick, they selected Tyler Linderbaum, center from Iowa. They definitely pleased fans with this pick by addressing arguably the biggest position in need, Dillon says “Kyle Hamilton and Linderbaum were both top 5 prospects in the draft so it will be interesting to see how we use them moving forward.” Other notable Ravens draft picks this year include Michigan linebacker David Ojabo and Penn State punter Jordan Stout who was one of the only punters drafted this year. The Baltimore Ravens had a very good draft, addressing positions in need on offense, defense, and special teams. Fans look forward to the new season and watching the rookies play after a disappointing season that had them out of the playoffs.

With rookie mini-camp coming up, it will be a good opportunity for the rookies to showcase their skill and make a name for themselves on their new teams. On behalf of the student fans here at ERHS, we’d like to wish the Commanders’ and Ravens’ new rookies a great season!