The NFL Draft has come and gone, and like usual, the Baltimore Ravens have been heralded as having one of the best draft classes in the league. Eric DeCosta and the front office stuck to their philosophy of waiting for the best players available to fall to their slots, and like it has time and time again, it paid off.
Their draft class is headlined by former Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a top player in the 2025 class who fell to Baltimore at 27. But, scattered around the Ravens' locker room is a load of talent that can contribute at many positions and in different phases of the game.
However, with 11 picks, some of these draftees will likely miss the cut during the camp and preseason position battles. But where are the battles most heated as we get back into action?
Three heated position group battles to keep an eye on
Edge Rusher
The Ravens have two surefire pass rushers in Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh. Tavius Robinson also began to earn significant reps last season and started to show some promise. Add in the selection of Mike Green (Marshall) in Saturday’s second round, and the outside linebacker room is as crowded as ever. And that’s not including fourth-year hopeful David Ojabo and 2024 third-round pick Adisa Isaac.
While Green has concerns about his off-the-field situation, if he’s good to go, the pick should pay off. The former Thundering Herd star was one of the most refined pass rushers in this draft—it shouldn’t take too long before he starts cutting into others’ snaps. His presence alone, barring any suspension, could force Ojabo out the door and put Isaac on the hot seat going into the preseason.
Offensive Guard
Baltimore piled up on protection up front for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Of the 11 picks, three were prospects on the offensive line—the most of any position group drafted. This includes third-round pick Emery Jones (LSU), fifth-rounder Carson Vinson (Alabama A&M), and Garrett Dellinger (LSU), their seventh-round selection.
At guard, Daniel Faalele is most likely to be the team’s starting right guard, but if inconsistencies show, his position could be in jeopardy. Fellow guards Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland have yet to show much potential, so the battle of the left side is anyone’s to win.
Jones had a superb 2023 season but was slightly disappointing in 2024. However, he’s a big athletic tackle who can wipe out defenses in the running game and move inside to guard. Similarly, Vinson is a big tackle who could offer some guard versatility, and Dellinger brings more depth to the inside.
With so many offensive linemen in the fray, it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top when the 2025 season rolls around.
Special Teams
The Ravens love special teamers. They’re always looking for upgrades, and this draft class perfectly encapsulated that idea. From top to bottom, the entire special teams’ unit outside of the punter could change by the time the pads are strapped up.
The most notable position change could be the kicker. One of the NFL’s greatest, Justin Tucker, struggled in 2024 and ran into major off-the-field trouble this offseason. As a result, the Ravens used their second sixth-round selection on kicker Tyler Loop (Arizona). Loop was the team’s top kicker in this class and has a booming leg that can hit from over 60 yards (a career-high of 62 yards). Even if Tucker’s off-the-field issues resolve themselves, the down year from the 35-year-old could open the door for a youth movement in Baltimore.
The returner position is also up in the air after the selection of LaJohntay Wester (Colorado). While he didn’t do any returning at Colorado, he did during his three years at Florida Atlantic, which included an AAC Special Teams Player of the Year honors in 2023.
The Ravens struggled to find a go-to return man for punts and kicks in 2024. While Tylan Wallace gave them some stability, Wester could bring the splash plays they’ve been missing. His blazing speed and elusiveness could make him an immediate favorite to take hold of the return job.
Fans should also expect ultra-athletic fourth-round linebacker Teddye Buchanan (California) to make an impact on special teams coverage, as he develops into a potential starting linebacker for this Ravens team.
As camp opens up, the key position battles will start to reveal themselves and fans will quickly get a sense of the prospects to watch as regular season football inches closer.