The Baltimore Ravens have a knack for hitting on draft picks and getting the most bang for their buck. However, in the bustling environment of the NFL Draft, even the best teams fall victim to draft day blunders.
Whether it be bad trades or drafting a bust, anything can happen come draft night. The DeCosta regime has had a high hit rate on their drafts, but what could some worst-case scenarios look like in round one?
3 worst-case scenarios for Baltimore in the 2025 NFL Draft
3. Another first-round wide receiver joins the offense
This isn’t to say there’s no value at the position in the first round, but the Ravens drafting another wide receiver in the first round would be a mistake. Zay Flowers just eclipsed 1,000 yards, Rashod Bateman had a breakout season for 756 yards and nine touchdowns, and Lamar Jackson’s other weapons at tight end are plentiful. Sure, the team could use some depth, but the 27th pick is not the spot.
DeCosta is known for going with the best player available, and that could happen to be a wideout by the time Baltimore is on the clock. Prospects like Luther Burden and Emeka Egbuka are the most notable names falling to the Ravens’ spot in mock drafts, sometimes even mocked to fall outside the first round entirely. Both players are incredibly talented, but taking the best player available here wouldn’t bring the same impact as filling a clear position of need.
Instead, Flock Nation should hope for a defensive back, interior defensive lineman, or pass rusher.
2. AFC North rivals all come out of the night with steals
Part of the NFL business is staying one step ahead of your enemies. With all three of the Ravens’ division rivals picking well ahead of them, it could be tough to match the value they’re getting. And with each of those teams having clear needs or fits, they’ll be gunning for the division title if they land a strong draft—especially if they hit on their night one selection.
The Cleveland Browns are bound to find a game-changer no matter how the chips fall. All signs seem to be pointing to either Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. Hunter could add playmaking abilities on both sides of the football—burning opposing defensive backs at wide receiver and locking up opponents’ number one wide receivers on the opposite side.
For the Cincinnati Bengals, the realistic expectation is that they’ll select a young star to help improve their atrocious defense. With defensive backs like Malaki Starks and Jahdae Barron potentially slipping to the late first round, Cincinnati could find a solution to the bleeding in the secondary.
Finally, the Pittsburgh Steelers have a couple of areas to address. Whether it be their desperate need for a quarterback or their lack of stability in the secondary, if steals at either of these positions fall into Mike Tomlin’s lap, they’ll likely continue to be a fierce competitor in the AFC North for years to come. Although it’s a weaker quarterback class, given all the rumors, Shedeur Sanders could fall to pick 21, potentially giving Pittsburgh their signal caller of the future.
1. Baltimore doesn’t add another day-two pick
Whether it be trading down on night one or trading up from one of their Day 3 selections, DeCosta has endless opportunities to maneuver around the draft board. The Ravens have 11 picks, but just three are in the first three rounds. Of the other eight, they have two fourth-rounders, one in the fifth, four more in the sixth, and one in the seventh round. With that stash, they have all the chips to do something dangerous.
The talent in the second and third rounds is expected to be deep. Position groups like running back, offensive line, and defensive line are filled to the brim with talent. All these positions are spots where Baltimore could use an extra piece or two, whether that be as a starter or for depth. However, the talent pool could quickly fall off, making it crucial the Ravens make the most of the first three picks and ponder the thought of trading back up for another third-rounder.
Trading up isn’t a philosophy the Ravens usually follow. The best example came in the 2022 draft when Baltimore stood pat and used all six of their fourth-round picks. It worked then because there wasn’t much need to trade up—after all, they already had four picks in the top rounds, including two firsts. This time around, things are different. With multiple positions needing immediate contributors in 2025, adding more picks on Day 2 might be the smarter play.
No matter how the Ravens front office approaches this year’s draft, the Flock should feel safe knowing they’re fans of one the best drafting teams in the league.