The Baltimore Ravens opened the 2025 NFL Draft by landing Georgia safety Malaki Starks at No. 27, a player widely projected as a top-15 talent. It was the kind of pick fans have come to expect from Eric DeCosta—patient, smart, and centered around best player available over drafting for need. Starks was widely considered one of the biggest steals of the night.
Starks fits a major role in Baltimore’s defense and should pair perfectly with Kyle Hamilton on the back end. The two will hopefully form the best safety pairing in the league.
Not to be outdone by Starks, on Friday night, the Ravens stayed the course by adding another difference-maker. With the 59th overall pick, Baltimore selected Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, the nation’s leader in sacks last season. Green recorded 17 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in 2024, earning All-American honors and winning Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year.
The Ravens stayed true to their board and found another player with a clear path to contributing early. If not for the off-field issues, Green would have been a first-round pick.
Mike Green brings more juice to an already loaded Ravens defense
Green doesn’t have ideal length or mass (6-foot-4, 248 pounds) for a prototypical edge rusher, but he makes up for it with explosiveness, quick hands, and natural flexibility around the corner. His first step and ability to finish plays in the backfield made him one of the most disruptive defensive players in college football last season.
There were off-field questions during Green’s early college career at Virginia, but from a pure football standpoint, the production and ability are obvious. Baltimore is confident in its ability to develop players in-house, and Green fits what they are looking for—high-motor defenders who can provide an impact immediately.
Green will now join a rotation that includes Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Adisa Isaac, and Kyle Van Noy. He won’t be asked to carry the load right away, but he gives Baltimore another option off the edge and a player with room to grow into a bigger role. Something expected from someone of his stature.
Having pass rush specialist Chuck Smith on the coaching staff should also help Green’s transition. Smith, who has been instrumental in developing Baltimore’s edge group, gives Green an experienced voice to sharpen his technique and build out a deeper rush plan at the next level.
After securing Starks in Round 1, the Ravens just added another potential massive steal with Mike Green in Round 2. Somehow DeCosta finds a way.