The Baltimore Ravens made it clear entering the 2025 NFL Draft that the secondary was going to be a priority—and they’re sticking to the plan. After taking Georgia star Malaki Starks with their first-round pick, the Ravens added another intriguing piece on Day 3 by selecting Western Michigan cornerback Bilhal Kone with the 178th overall pick in the sixth round.
Kone, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound corner with legitimate speed (4.43-second 40-yard dash), brings athletic upside, versatility, and special teams value to a Ravens secondary that still has some depth questions to answer. After bouncing from Iowa Central Community College to Indiana State and finally Western Michigan, Kone finally put it all together, posting 112 tackles, two interceptions, and 17 pass breakups across the past two seasons.
Baltimore lost Brandon Stephens in free agency and needed to reload at cornerback. Kone may not be a plug-and-play starter right away, but the athleticism and instincts are real—and in Baltimore, traits like that tend to get maximized quickly.
Bilhal Kone adds speed, upside to Ravens’ defensive backfield
The first thing that jumps out about Kone is his movement skills. He has quick feet, good eye discipline in zone coverage, and the speed to carry deep routes without panicking. His 7.80 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) ranks among the top third of all cornerbacks drafted since 1987, which only underscores how much athletic clay the Ravens are getting to mold.
While his lean frame and tackling issues will need work—especially in a Ravens defense that demands physicality—there’s a clear role for Kone early as a special teams ace and backup boundary corner. Baltimore prides itself on developing DBs from all backgrounds, and Kone fits the type they’ve had success with before: toolsy, scrappy, and unafraid.
Several draft analysts projected Kone to go as early as the fourth or fifth round, so getting him at Pick 178 represents great value for Eric DeCosta and the Ravens' front office. Even if he needs some seasoning, the long-term upside is well worth the swing. He'll need to improve his tackling if he's going to see consistent playing time, but he'll have some time to sit behind Nate Wiggins, Chidobe Awuzie, and Marlon Humphrey. The ball skills also need some fine-tuning.
The Ravens still might look to add a veteran cornerback before the season but don’t overlook Kone’s potential to carve out a role. In a secondary built around speed, smarts, and competitiveness, he checks a lot of boxes.