The Baltimore Ravens’ 2026 rookie class is starting to make waves in training camp. Punter Ryan Eckley basically took off immediately, wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane has started to make some highlight-reel catches, and most recently, it’s been second-round pass-rusher Zion Young catching attention.
Young hasn't had the chance to fully blossom since the pads have yet to go on, but his energy and understanding of the game have been clear. During Saturday’s training camp, he showcased an outstanding ability to set the edge, something that drew him endless praise from scouts ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Now, he’s ready to prove many draft experts right.
Baltimore Ravens’ Zion Young is continuing to show real promise in training camp
Young’s game thrives on physicality and energy. He’s going to hit you, and he’s going to hit you hard. As he heads into his rookie season, he’ll look to continue what he did in college by controlling the point of attack against the run and getting under offensive linemen’s skin.
The Missouri product is already bringing that mentality to Charm City. He has the type of energy that can’t really be matched—it seems he’s always running on full throttle. While the selection of Young alone will upgrade the defense, others will feed off what Young brings to the table, and that may be the biggest boost of all.
In terms of pure talent, members of the Ravens roster are starting to take notice of Young's importance, too.
Lamar Jackson has been seeing it from his side of the line of scrimmage. He mentioned that he believes Young has real promise in this league.
Fellow defender Malaki Starks also showered Young with heaps of respect, praising Young’s athleticism and noting he could find a role in the NFL for a very long time.
By the sounds of it, Young has everything in front of him. He’s a feisty outside linebacker who brings the mindset to do whatever it takes to change the game. A favorable situation is sitting there, as well.
Baltimore’s defense failed to make any sort of impact last season in terms of sack numbers (their 30-sack total was flat-out embarrassing). However, along with Young, they added Trey Hendrickson in the offseason. As a result, the pass-rush production should reach a high level.
And for Young, he gets to develop his pass-rush chops by learning from one of the best sack artists in the NFL in Hendrickson. In addition to that, Young will get to develop next to another intriguing young pass-rusher in Mike Green. Those two could develop into a feared duo as they move through their careers.
For now, we’ll have to wait to see how Young looks once the pads go on, but one thing’s for certain: he’s quickly garnered some hype from his coaches and teammates. 2026 could be really fun.
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