The Baltimore Ravens have had one of the fiercest defensive lines in the league over the last few seasons, largely thanks to big nose tackle Michael Pierce. He and Brent Urban formed a solid duo, clogging up the line. That line, however, will now be missing a 355-pound force, as Pierce announced his retirement on Wednesday. Urban is currently a free agent.
Ravens current depth chart (NT):
Player name | Age | Heading into... |
|---|---|---|
Travis Jones | 25 | 4th season |
C.J. Okoye | 23 | 2nd season |
Pierce’s retirement leaves a gaping hole on the defensive line for Baltimore to address this offseason. If Urban also departs in free agency, that leaves another hole to fill. As for Pierce’s nose tackle spot, the Ravens do have a possible internal option. Could they also address it in free agency or the draft? Let’s look at some options to fill Pierce’s spot on the roster.
Who will replace Michael Pierce's production?
Travis Jones is the easy next man up
The most straightforward internal option is Travis Jones. Standing at 6’4” and weighing in at 355 pounds, the former 2022 third-round draft pick is now next in line for the starting nose tackle spot. Jones is coming off an effective 2024 season, leading the team in tackling efficiency, per Next Gen Stats. His 42 tackles on 44 attempts gave him an impressive 95.5% success rate. In Baltimore’s Christmas Day win over the Houston Texans, Jones led the team in pressures with five, per Pro Football Focus.
The Ravens have options in free agency
Notable defensive tackles such as Grady Jarrett and Sheldon Rankins found new homes during the first few days of free agency. The biggest name on the market, Milton Williams, signed with the New England Patriots. If Baltimore wants to explore the market for depth at the position, a player like Linval Joseph could provide veteran experience and help mentor Jones.
Jonathan Hankins is another option. He played all 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks in 2024 and recorded 30 tackles. Known for his effectiveness against the run, he could be a solid addition. Other available options include Mike Pennel and Maurice Hurst, while Eddie Goldman was signed prior to this publishing.
The 2025 NFL Draft is filled with impressive DTs
Baltimore’s drafting to-do list became a little easier after re-signing Ronnie Stanley and Patrick Ricard and signing DeAndre Hopkins. With these key positions addressed before the draft, the Ravens can now shift focus to other areas—one being the defensive line.
Baltimore could opt to wait until undrafted free agency to find a hidden gem, something they’ve done successfully in the past. If they decide to draft a defensive tackle, it would likely come in the middle of Day 3.
Potential draft targets include:
- Warren Brinson (Georgia): 26 tackles, 2 sacks in 2024
- Yahya Black (Iowa): 34 tackles, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed in 2024
- Jay Toia (UCLA), Lee Hunter (UCF), and Cam Jackson (Florida) are also intriguing prospects
Pierce’s retirement is a big loss to a defense that has already undergone several changes this offseason. Brandon Stephens is now a New York Jet, Chris Board left for New England, Malik Harrison signed with Pittsburgh, and both Marcus Williams and Arthur Maulet were released. Pierce is just the latest departure. While Eric DeCosta has focused on upgrading the offense with Stanley, Hopkins, and Ricard, the defense—particularly the defensive tackle position—must now become a priority.