The Baltimore Ravens don’t make a habit of letting the league know their next move, but this time, they might have made an exception. When general manager Eric DeCosta took the podium at the NFL Combine, he didn't outright say the Baltimore would be drafting an edge rusher with the No. 27 pick, but he might as well have.
The Ravens finished second in the league in sacks last season (54), but that unfortunately doesn’t tell the whole story. Their pass rush relied heavily on veteran Kyle Van Noy, who turns 34 this year, and a rotating cast of other guys. While Odafe Oweh has flashed potential, and David Ojabo (if they haven't given up on him yet) still looms as a question mark, Baltimore is clearly in the market for a young, dynamic pass rusher to keep the defense dominant for years to come.
With that in mind, DeCosta’s comments made it abundantly clear where the Ravens are leaning. They’ll stick to their best-player-available approach, as they do, but if a pass rusher is the highest-rated player on their board at No. 27, it’s safe to say that’s who they'll draft.
Eric DeCosta all but confirmed the Ravens are drafting a pass rusher
DeCosta wasn’t shy about emphasizing the importance of pass rush in today’s NFL, especially after watching the Eagles sack Patrick Mahomes six times in Super Bowl LIX.
"It really comes down to the best player at the time," DeCosta said. "If we're picking at 27, and there is an edge rusher, and he is the best guy, we're probably going to pick him. That's going to hold through with every round."
He continued:
"It's an important position. We were maybe second in the league in sacks last year, but having a continuous influx of young pass rush talent—guys that can set the edge and play the run, guys that play like Ravens, physical players who can get to the quarterback—that's a priority for us, for sure."
Spark Notes? If an elite pass rusher is there at No. 27, the Ravens aren’t flinching.
Fortunately for the Ravens, this year’s draft class is loaded with pass-rushing talent. Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), Mykel Williams (Georgia), and Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College) are all potential options. Each brings a different skill set, but all of them could be the future quarterback mauler they're looking for.
Pearce Jr. is the best pure pass rusher of the group, showing elite bend and speed off the edge. Stewart and Williams have the size and power to hold up against the run while developing into dominant rushers. Ezeiruaku is a technician with an array of moves, but he’ll probably need to add size to be a three-down player.
Regardless of which direction the Ravens go, one thing is clear: They’re gearing up to add another piece to their pass-rushing arsenal. With Van Noy nearing the end of his career and Oweh entering a contract year, Baltimore’s next defensive star could be on the way.