Ravens 2025 NFL Draft Takeaways: A huge class, and one controversial pick

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Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta walked briskly into the auditorium at the Baltimore Ravens facility on Saturday night and acknowledged the obvious: “It was a long day.”

The Ravens finished an 11-man draft class Saturday by making eight selections and two trades, including one with the New York Jets that improved their positioning on Day 3 of the 2026 Draft.

After selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks, Marshall edge rusher Mike Green and LSU offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr. over the first two days, the Ravens used Saturday to add two more offensive linemen, two cornerbacks, a defensive lineman, an inside linebacker, a wide receiver/return specialist and a kicker.

When it was (mercifully) over, DeCosta had checked pretty much every box and added to every spot where the Ravens had an obvious need. It will take a few years before you can appropriately and fairly grade the team’s 2025 draft class, but this is the time for initial reactions.

Best value pick

To get one of the draft’s best pass rushers in the second round was a coup, but there were obviously underlying circumstances behind Green’s fall (more on that later). The Ravens, though, seemingly got really good value with two of their eight picks on Saturday.

The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, Dane Brugler, had Virginia Tech defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles as a third- or fourth-round pick and ranked him as the 17th-best interior defensive lineman in a loaded class. The Ravens selected him in the sixth round with the 210th pick. Peebles presumably fell because he has an unconventional body type at 6-foot, 289 pounds. However, he’s a high-energy, active linemen who battles against the run and finds ways to get upfield.

The Ravens took Western Michigan cornerback Bilhal Kone at No. 178, the first of five sixth-round picks. Brugler had Kone as a fourth- or fifth-round player. Kone is an athletic and long corner with 4.43 speed. The Ravens are thin at outside corner, so Kone should get an opportunity to earn a role in 2025.

Most surprising pick

It’s not at all surprising that the Ravens were interested in one of the draft’s most dynamic pass rushers, but that was just part of Green’s story. Green fell into the second round because he’s twice been accused of sexual assault — once in high school and once while at the University of Virginia (no formal charges were filed and Green has denied any wrongdoing). NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that a number of teams had Green, who led FBS with 17 sacks last year to go along with 22 ½ tackles for loss, off their draft boards, adding on NFL Network’s live draft coverage that some teams found Green’s explanations about the allegations to be “unsatisfactory.”

The Ravens actually considered taking Green at No. 27 in the first round. They were sold on Starks, but they couldn’t resist selecting Green when he was still available in the second round. After the draft, DeCosta said the Ravens did a “thorough” investigation of the allegations against Green and the team was comfortable selecting him. Ravens coach John Harbaugh called the evaluation process of Green “exhaustive.”

Adding even more scrutiny to the Green pick: It comes at a time when longtime Ravens kicker Justin Tucker is being investigated by the NFL after he was accused of inappropriate behavior by 16 Baltimore-area massage therapists, part of an investigation by The Baltimore Banner.

DeCosta made clear Friday night that the situations with Tucker and Green are different. However, both of them will be highly scrutinized moving forward, as will the Ravens’ decision-makers for taking a second-round gamble on Green.

Biggest question mark

The Ravens still could use a little more depth at positions like cornerback, defensive line and wide receiver. However, their biggest question exiting the draft is what they’ll do with Tucker. Team officials have maintained that they’ll wait out the NFL investigation before making a decision on Tucker’s future. However, the selection of Arizona kicker Tyler Loop will only increase the speculation that Tucker’s days with the Ravens could be numbered. DeCosta said that he hasn’t thought of how Loop’s addition impacts Tucker (which, of course, is difficult to believe).

Ravens senior special teams coach and kicking guru Randy Brown traveled around the country working out kickers before the draft and Loop made a strong impression. DeCosta said that Loop was the one kicker that Brown coveted. Loop has a lot of experience, punting for Arizona for one year and kicking for them for four seasons. He has a huge leg and that was evident when he set a school record with a 62-yarder last season. Overall, he went 6-of-9 from 50-plus yards last year.

On Saturday, Loop, who is the first kicker that the Ravens have ever drafted, carefully sidestepped the first question about potentially competing with Tucker, who was working out at the Ravens facility last week. Later, Loop said that he would be “fired up” to get the opportunity to follow in Tucker’s footsteps. His presence doesn’t guarantee that Tucker’s days in Baltimore are numbered. That’s to be determined. However, it certainly is an acknowledgement that the Ravens understand that they have a decision to make in the coming weeks.

Remaining needs

With the addition of an 11-player draft class, the Ravens don’t have any gaping roster holes. If there was a Ravens-related surprise during the draft, it’s that they didn’t add multiple interior defensive linemen when the DT class was so strong. Their one defensive line pick, Peebles, is undersized. The Ravens only have seven defensive linemen on their roster, which is thin for a team that likes to use a deep rotation. Another veteran and a number of undrafted defensive linemen will probably be added. DeCosta acknowledged that the one piece that he still needs to add is a run-stuffing nose tackle to fill the void left by the retired Michael Pierce.

A case could also be made that the Ravens need to add a veteran swing tackle as insurance behind starters Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten. They drafted Jones and offensive tackle Carson Vinson, but swing tackle is an important role, and a very difficult one for a young player, who needs to learn to play both tackle spots while being ready to come into a game at a moment’s notice. A veteran tackle would help solidify that spot. The Ravens hosted veteran George Fant on a free-agent visit earlier this month and he’d be a potential fit.

Post-draft outlook

Baltimore ended the draft with 69 players on its roster, so they have room to add as many as 21 college free agents. The Ravens take the undrafted signing process very seriously and they have room for a huge class. It will be finalized in time for the team’s rookie minicamp later next week.

DeCosta believes that building the roster is a year-round pursuit and he’s always looking at different veteran options. The Ravens annually add select vets all the way up to training camp and even during preseason. That process will continue in the weeks ahead.

But DeCosta’s biggest remaining offseason decisions will involve established standouts on his roster. Running back Derrick Henry and tight end Mark Andrews are both entering the final years of their contracts — will the Ravens extend them? DeCosta has to decide on whether to pick up the fifth-year options for Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum and All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton by May 1. A contract extension could be in order for both, and for ascending tight end Isaiah Likely as well.

Then, there’s the contract status of Lamar Jackson. His cap number balloons to $74.5 million next year. The Ravens would love to reach an agreement on an extension with before the start of this season that would create a more tenable cap situation next year and beyond. DeCosta has spoken to Jackson this offseason, but he’s kept those conversations confidential.

Regardless, even if there are a few moves they could get ahead of for the future, the 2025 Ravens are in a really good spot right now.

(Photo of Mike Green: Peter Casey / Imagn Images)

This news was originally published on this post .

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