The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a defense-first mindset but couldn’t ignore the glaring need to reinforce their offensive line. After losing Patrick Mekari and Josh Jones in free agency, the team was in need of a young, versatile lineman who could both stabilize the depth chart and compete for snaps in 2025 and beyond—bonus points for one willing to put it all on the line for Lamar Jackson.
They found that in Emery Jones Jr., a three-year starter at LSU with 36 career starts and two Second-Team All-SEC nods. Baltimore selected Jones with the 91st overall pick in the third round, a move that didn’t shock ESPN’s Jordan Reid, who called him one developmental pick to watch and had been mocking the pairing regularly leading up to the draft:
“This was a regular pairing in my mock drafts, as it made too much sense. Projected as an NFL guard, Jones’ physicality and tone-setting mentality fit perfectly in Baltimore. He still needs to improve his balance and hand timing, but he has starter-level traits with proper development,” Reid wrote.
Emery Jones could be Baltimore’s next long-term answer inside
Jones brings exactly what the Ravens love in an offensive lineman: size, movement, and a nasty streak. He measured in at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, and impressed both at the Senior Bowl and during team visits with his toughness and coachability. General Manager Eric DeCosta even admitted he was nervous Jones wouldn’t be available at pick No. 91.
Now he enters Baltimore’s offensive line room with a real chance to carve out a long-term role—even if he’s not a day-one starter. Head coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens view him as a potential swing tackle and guard, following the same developmental path that helped Daniel Faalele become a Pro Bowl alternate at right guard.
The battle for the left guard spot (vacated by Mekari) is expected to come down to Andrew Vorhees and whoever proves they can handle the physical demands of Baltimore’s downhill rushing scheme. Jones isn’t a lock to win the job as a rookie, but he’s absolutely in the mix. And if not this year, 2026 could be his breakout.
The Ravens didn’t just draft Jones for depth. They drafted him because he fits their mold: a physical tone-setter with the athleticism to handle multiple roles and the mindset to grow into a long-term starter. Harbaugh loves O-line versatility. If Reid’s evaluation proves accurate, Baltimore may have quietly landed its next long-term foundational piece up front alongside Tyler Linderbaum and Roger Rosengarten.
Fans might not fully appreciate the pick right away, but Jones checks all the Ravens’ boxes. The long-term upside is real, and his climb may only be beginning.