The Baltimore Ravens drafting Missouri edge rusher Zion Young at pick 45 was instantly praised as a great selection. Young was viewed as a first-round talent and one of the better run stoppers in the class. From both a value and fit standpoint, drafting Young always seemed like a home run pick.
And less than a month later, this pick is already starting to look even better. A clip from the Ravens' social media page revealed that Young was ranked 20th on their big board. Talk about getting great value.
The war room reaction when @ZionReese3 was still on the board at 45.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 19, 2026
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Zion Young looks like an absolute steal for the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore was nervous when the Detroit Lions traded up to pick 44. Regardless, the Lions ultimately decided to draft Michigan edge rusher, Derrick Moore, paving the way for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens to get their guy. Without a doubt, Young projects to be a seamless fit with the Ravens, and all early signs point to him being a massive second-round steal.
After a lackluster season from the Ravens, especially on the defensive side of the ball, Baltimore needed to transform their defense this offseason.
Between hiring Jesse Minter, signing Trey Hendrickson, and drafting Young, it's safe to say the Ravens accomplished this goal, which should, in turn, set up a massive turnaround.
The Ravens have long built their identity on defense, and this year, they feel primed to get back to this identity with Young being a key piece of their success.
Hendrickson provides an elite pass rusher, who, paired with Minter, already set the Ravens up for a surge. Young feels like the cherry on top of an amazing offseason, and he provides a much-needed element to their front-seven.
As noted earlier, Young is a fierce run-stopper who should be able to make an impact from the get-go. Notably, Young recorded an impressive 16.5 tackles for loss last year. While run-stopping is Young's specialty, he can also provide some pass-rush support, recording 6.5 sacks. Young certainly projects to be a linchpin of the Ravens' defense for the foreseeable future.
If Young grows as a pass-rusher and is the elite run-stopper that he projects to be, he could give him true All-Pro upside.
Getting a player with this blend of immediate impact and upside in the second-round is excellent value, and Baltimore having him ranked 20th on their big board tells you everything you need to know about his potential.
The Ravens have a strong track record in the draft, and Young projects yet another great value pick.
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