The Baltimore Ravens knew heading into the 2025 NFL Draft that the defensive line needed reinforcements. After Michael Pierce’s surprise retirement and Brent Urban’s uncertain future, the Ravens had to find a young disruptor to add to the rotation. It took until the sixth round, but Eric DeCosta finally found his man.
With the 210th overall pick, Baltimore selected Virginia Tech defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, a high-motor interior rusher who earned All-ACC First-Team honors in 2024. Peebles doesn’t have the eye-popping size you typically associate with nose tackles, but he plays bigger than his frame and was one of the most productive pressure-creators among college defensive tackles last season.
The Ravens have a strong track record of developing Day 3 defensive linemen, and Peebles fits the mold perfectly—relentless, tough, and technically sound.
Aeneas Peebles brings much-needed depth and energy to the Ravens’ defensive line
Peebles may not pass the “first off the bus” test at 6-foot-1 and 290 pounds, but his 90.3 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus last season shows exactly why the Ravens were so intrigued. He racked up 35 pressures in 2024, the fifth-most among defensive tackles nationally, and consistently disrupted opposing backfields despite facing double teams.
He isn’t going to anchor against double teams at the NFL level like a true nose, but that’s not what Baltimore will ask him to do. Instead, Peebles will be deployed as a one-gap penetrator—someone who can shoot gaps, cause chaos, and free up space for linebackers like Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson—maybe even fellow rookie Teddye Buchanan—to fly around.
Physically, Peebles tested well at the NFL Combine, posting a 4.94 40-yard dash (fourth-best among DTs) and showing off a silky-smooth spin move that’s rare for players at his position. His effort and toughness leap off the tape, making him a natural fit for the Ravens’ gritty defensive identity.
Baltimore doesn’t need Peebles to be a full-time starter right away. With Nnamdi Madubuike leading the way, Peebles can carve out a role as a situational pass-rusher and rotational piece inside. And if he continues to develop under the Ravens’ coaching staff, this could be another classic late-round defensive lineman steal by Eric DeCosta.