The Baltimore Ravens selected Zion Young with their No. 45 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. It’s another edge rusher being added to new head coach Jesse Minter’s defense this offseason, giving him a lethal defensive front.
Young comes in as an excellent run defender, and although his pass rush development is a touch behind, his size and play strength give him plenty of room to develop in that area. The bottom line is, Young should have a high floor, and that ability as a run defender will allow others to break out.
Specifically, 2025 second-round pick Mike Green will be given the red carpet to take a second-year leap. The Young pick may very well let the Marshall product focus on his pass-rush chops. We could see him move into a designated pass rusher role.
Baltimore Ravens’ add perfect partner-in-crime for promising piece by selecting Zion Young
This isn’t a bad thing at all. In fact, it’d be an excellent thing. Green is an exciting player, no doubt, but his play as a run defender can be a negative. However, his ceiling as a pass rusher is unbelievably high. A potential transition into that pass-rush-only role would amplify that ceiling there.
Green didn’t have the rookie campaign many were hoping to see. He had just 3.5 sacks, and, according to Pro Football Focus, his run defense grade was a 47.1. That ranked 108th out of 115 edge rushers in 2025.
The 22-year-old took some strides as a pass rusher late in the year, but his play as a run defender seemed to be an issue through all 17 games. As Minter takes over, it’s clear he’s looking to dominate in every facet of the game on every down. It’d make a lot of sense to let Young, as well as Tavius Robinson, see the field a lot more, while giving Green 99% pass rush snaps. It’d allow him to become the best version of himself.
It already could be a scary sight to see Green lining up across from you on a third and long. Now take that idea, and make that version of Green a well-rested player who is ready to come at you with everything he has. With his energy, burst, and speed, that’d be straight up dangerous. Oh, and you still have to deal with Baltimore’s biggest free agent addition in Trey Hendrickson on the other side of the ball. Good luck.
Regardless of how the schemes are drawn up, fans will be able to trust Minter to get the best out of Green and Young. He’s a defensive genius, and him getting in the ear of the young duo could transform the Ravens’ defense into an unreal unit.
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