The Baltimore Ravens clearly weren't done building their defense—even after selecting two prospects on that side of the ball. After using their first two picks on Georgia safety Malaki Starks and Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, Eric DeCosta wasn’t done. With the 129th pick in the fourth round, the Ravens added another chess piece: Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan.
It’s a classic Ravens move. Buchanan wasn’t the most talked-about name in this class, but he lit up the NFL Combine with testing numbers that put him in rare company. Now he heads to a defense that thrives on versatility, speed, and upside—and he might just fit like a glove.
Baltimore’s front office has made it clear this draft was about reloading the best defense in football. Grabbing Buchanan here feels like another home run swing that could pay off bigger than anyone realizes.
Teddye Buchanan could be Fred Warner Lite for Baltimore
Teddye Buchanan might not be Fred Warner (yet), but the traits are eerily similar. The 6-foot-2, 233-pound linebacker clocked a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, jumped 40 inches in the vertical, and put up 26 reps on the bench. That’s almost a mirror of what Warner posted when he entered the league—and we know how that turned out.
Fred Warner
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) March 13, 2025
- 4.64 40 yard dash
- 38.5” Vertical
- 119” Broad Jump
- 21 Bench Press Reps
Teddye Buchanan
- 4.6 40 yard dash
- 40” Vertical
- 125” Broad Jump
- 26 Bench Press Reps
I have said all offseason, Teddye Buchanan reminds me a lot of Fred Warner and seeing them… pic.twitter.com/KdZ4Ucjpju
Buchanan’s athleticism isn’t just numbers on paper, either. On tape, he flashes legitimate sideline-to-sideline range, natural ball skills, and the ability to drop into coverage fluidly. He was a force for Cal in 2024, racking up 114 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, five sacks, and four pass breakups—all while facing his toughest competition yet after transferring up from UC Davis.
The downside? He’s still raw. Buchanan can get out of position against the run and doesn’t always show the physicality you want inside the box. But if there’s a franchise that knows how to mold a toolsy linebacker into a problem, it’s Baltimore.
Buchanan even said after the pick that he grew up idolizing Ravens linebackers—specifically Ray Lewis. Now he gets to chase that legacy himself. DeCosta and John Harbaugh have made a living finding mid-round linebackers and turning them into stars.
If Buchanan follows that path, don't be too surprised—you've been warned.