Ravens trade Brown, select Hamilton, Linderbaum in NFL draft

Updated Apr. 28, 2022 11:34 p.m. ET

Associated Press

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens did it again, trading a key player and picking up an extra first-round selection in the NFL draft for the second straight year.

The Ravens selected Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton with the 14th pick in

The Ravens took Iowa center Tyler Linderbaum with that No. 25 pick.

Baltimore also had two first-round picks

Marquise Brown was a top target for quarterback Lamar Jackson, but Baltimore added receiver Rashod Bateman with one of those first-round picks last year, and the Ravens also have one of the game’s top tight ends in Mark Andrews.

With this year’s first-rounders, Baltimore tried to shore up the secondary and the middle of the offensive line.

After an injury-plagued season in which the Ravens went 8-9, Baltimore took advantage of a rare chance to pick in the first half of

The Ravens went with Hamilton in the latest attempt this offseason to shore up their secondary. Baltimore also added safety Marcus Williams via free agency after its defense finished last in the NFL against the pass.

It wasn't a surprise that Baltimore went with a defensive player for its first pick. The Ravens have made significant moves on that side of the ball, including a change at defensive coordinator from Don Martindale to Mike MacDonald.

Injuries could be blamed for many of Baltimore's problems in the secondary last year. Cornerback Marcus Peters went down with a knee injury before last season started, and Marlon Humphrey eventually got hurt too.

Hamilton was considered a possible top-five pick by some, but a pedestrian 4.59-second 40 time at the combine may have hurt him. He comes with an injury history of his own after he was limited to seven games in 2021 because of a right knee injury that did not require surgery.

Linderbaum moved from the defensive line to center as a redshirt freshman. He started 35 games over his last three seasons and was a first-team All-American in 2021.

The Ravens lost center Bradley Bozeman to free agency.

___

Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister

___

More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL