What they're saying: Picking Michigan's David Ojabo makes Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Day 2's big 'winner'

The Baltimore Ravens took Michigan Wolverines football EDGE David Ojabo with the 45th overall pick in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Here’s a look around the internet at what they’re saying about Ojabo to the Ravens:

RELATED

• Experts hand out grades for Baltimore Ravens’ second-round pick of Michigan EDGE David Ojabo

• Baltimore Ravens expect Michigan’s David Ojabo to play in rookie season

Cody Benjamin, CBS Sports: 2022 NFL Draft Day 2 winners and losers: Eagles, Titans make good bets; Baker Mayfield loses a suitor

Winner: Ravens
Yes, they may have stripped Lamar Jackson of a weapon by granting Marquise Brown‘s trade request Thursday, but they followed up a promising Day One haul (Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum) by adding two more potential starters on “D” in pass rusher David Ojabo and defensive tackle Travis Jones. Baltimore’s gonna be rough and tough once again.

Jeffrey Chadiha, NFL.com: The First Read: Winners and losers from Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft

WINNERS
1) David Ojabo: The standout edge rusher from Michigan had the worst story to come out of a pro day in recent memory: a torn Achilles tendon sustained during a pass-coverage drill. Ojabo went from being a probable top-15 pick to wondering when his name would be called in this draft. The elation finally came when the Baltimore Ravens selected him 45th overall. The move works on many levels. For one, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was one of the first people in the league to express confidence in the notion that Ojabo’s future remained bright after the injury. Ojabo’s old high school friend, Odafe Oweh, already is a promising pass rusher whom the Ravens selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Harbaugh’s new defensive coordinator — Mike Macdonald — also held the same job while working for Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, at Michigan last year. Macdonald was the man who untapped Ojabo’s vast potential. He’ll be the same guy committed to the idea of turning Ojabo into a star at the next level, as well.

James Dator, SB Nation: 4 winners and 2 losers from Day 2 of the 2022 NFL Draft

Winner: The Ravens … again

I don’t know how Baltimore got away with their heist in the 2022 NFL Draft. Each of their four picks have been killer, and that continued into the second and third rounds with two brilliant selections.

David Ojabo was a legitimate Top 15 talent until he tore his Achilles at Michigan’s pro day. That mean he’ll basically take a redshirt year, but who cares? It’s not like the Ravens need him to contribute immediately, and this was a huge value pick in the second round. I think he’ll be a monster at outside linebacker when he returns, and this was basically a free pick.

While there’s nothing hugely remarkable about Travis Jones’ game, he’s a classic, bruising nose tackle who can disrupt the point of attack and manipulate his opponent. I think he was a solid second round talent, potentially even a late first round pick — and Baltimore got him in the third. This was a really great pick as well.

So, when you look at this in totality there’s a very real chance the Ravens came away with four first round talents across three rounds.

Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com: What Mink Thinks: Eric DeCosta Is Stealing the 2022 NFL Draft

A couple days before the start of the draft, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero identified seven potential surprise first-round picks. The Ravens’ Day 2 picks, Michigan outside linebacker David Ojabo (second round, No. 45) and Connecticut defensive tackle Travis Jones (third round, No. 76) both made the list.

If he hadn’t torn his Achilles at his Pro Day, Ojabo could have been a top-15 pick. Nearly all the top draft analysts had Jones ranked inside their top 50.

The job of an NFL general manager is to maximize value, both in free agency and the draft, to build the best roster possible given the constraints. [General manager Eric] DeCosta and his team have nailed it so far.

Not only are the Ravens taking high-potential players; they’ve also picked prospects who fit their culture and DNA. This aren’t a bunch of super talented players with red flags that could blow up in the Ravens’ face.

There couldn’t be a better marriage in the second round than Ojabo and the Ravens. He reunites with the college coach, Mike Macdonald, that unlocked his enormous potential and will get to play with a good high school friend with a similar backstory, Odafe Oweh. A latecomer to football, Ojabo now joins a familiar system and coaching style that should allow him to flourish once he takes the field.

Ojabo’s injury is the big question mark here. With Tyus Bowser recuperating from a torn Achilles, the Ravens could’ve used another pass rusher to get after AFC North quarterbacks from the jump this season. It’s too soon to say how much of Ojabo’s rookie season will be robbed by his pro day injury.

But the potential Ojabo brings was too good a value for DeCosta to pass on. DeCosta took an ultra-athletic pass rusher at No. 31 last year in Oweh. If Ojabo hadn’t torn his Achilles at his pro day, DeCosta could have taken him even earlier than Oweh.

Boston Herald: Instant analysis of Ravens’ selections of Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo and UConn DT Travis Jones on Day 2 of NFL draft

Tim Schwartz, editor: This is a home run pick for the Ravens. To get Ojabo, who would have been a top-15 pick if he didn’t tear his Achilles tendon at his pro day, at No. 45 overall is tremendous value. He might need a little time to get settled, but he won’t need any adjusting to the playbook considering the Ravens’ Mike Macdonald was his defensive coordinator at Michigan. Ojabo fills an immediate need, too. This draft is shaping up to be another classic for Baltimore. You could argue they have three of the top-15 players in the draft, and they did it in 45 picks. And they still have six picks in the fourth round to help fill other needs and add depth. Ravens gonna Raven.

Jonas Shaffer, reporter: It wasn’t long ago that David Ojabo was being linked to the Ravens at No. 14 overall. If the Ravens’ medical staff is confident that Ojabo still has the freakish potential he showed before tearing his Achilles tendon, this was a no-brainer pick at a premium position. Like his close friend Odafe Oweh, Ojabo hasn’t been playing football for very long. He’s already very good. The Michigan connections in Baltimore should only help his transition.

Nate Davis, USA Today: NFL draft 2022 tracker: Analysis of every NFL team’s second- and third-round picks

Despite the Achilles tear he suffered at his pro day, his upside is too much to pass up. Ojabo follows Mike Macdonald, the Wolverines defensive coordinator in 2021, back to Baltimore, where he’ll play for Jim Harbaugh’s brother, John. And a redshirt year would likely benefit Ojabo anyway given he made one tackle as a sophomore in 2020. A native of Nigeria who grew up in Scotland, Ojabo (6-4, 250 pounds) exploded for 11 sacks last season and will eventually bring needed juice to Baltimore’s pass rush.

Baltimore Beatdown: Ravens 2022 Draft: Day 2 Instant Reactions

Kyle P. Barber: I consider this an excellent pick. Ojabo was a highly-touted prospect that the Ravens were linked with at No. 14 overall. The torn Achilles is of course a concern but the Ravens are confident he can recover from the injury and make an impact. Now, the Ravens have a pair of solid outside linebackers, but they may not be playing together in 2022 as Ojabo recovers. This feels like another pick where the Ravens see the great value in landing the best player available.

Frank J. Platko: David Ojabo is one of my favorite prospects in this class. I think his potential as a pass-rusher is higher than just about any other edge rusher and if not for his Achilles injury, the Ravens might have taken him at No. 14. There is inherently risk involved because of the injury, but as a pure talent, Ojabo is too enticing not to take here. At full strength, Ojabo and Odafe Oweh is a scary edge rusher duo and Mike Macdonald knows full well how to utilize his strengths better than anyone.

Kevin Oestreicher, Ravens Wire: Grading the Ravens’ selections on Day 2 of the 2022 NFL draft

Baltimore took a bit of a risk in selecting Ojabo at No. 45 due to his torn achilles that he suffered at his Pro Day, but it was a great risk to take. Ojabo has all of the makings of a phenomenal NFL pass rusher, and still has plenty to learn in order to reach his full potential.

Ojabo burst onto the scene at the University of Michigan, racking up 11 sacks in 13 games in what was his first true college football action. He has an array of moves to win and get to the quarterback, and could create a fearsome duo with former high school teammate Odafe Oweh.

When Ojabo is able to come back from his injury and return to full strength, he should be a force to be reckoned with. He has one of the best ceilings in the 2022 class, and while he might not be able to be on the field right away, this pick should pay off for the Ravens for years to come.