As the Baltimore Ravens inch closer to their 2026 campaign, it’s hard to ignore what could be a stacked rookie class. They made 11 picks, filling some major needs, and they may have uncovered some steals along the way.
One of those steals could be second-round pick Zion Young. He was the 20th-ranked player on Baltimore’s board, and they got him at No. 45. That’s already enough reason to be super excited, and based on his performance through the early stages of OTAs, it sounds like he’s already prepared to make an impact.
On Tuesday, Baltimore Ravens reporter Ryan Mink highlighted Young’s performance. His praise was pretty straightforward, and it says it all about what the 22-year-old is coming to Charm City to do.
“Zion Young is gonna be tough to run at,” Mink wrote in a post on X.
Baltimore Ravens have a standout rookie already proving his worth at OTAs
Zion Young could be one of the rookies to be an instant contributor in 2026. You usually expect that from your second-round pick, but Young is joining a crowded outside linebacker room. The Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson this offseason, drafted Mike Green in the second round last year, and also have Tavius Robinson, who’s going to demand snaps. Simply put, Young will have to fight for reps in the early going. And he’s off to a really good start.
Everyone knows that Young has some work to do as a pass rusher. His sack production was lackluster throughout his college career, never notching more than 6.5 sacks in a season, and although he had good pressure rates, it’s fair to be concerned about those numbers not translating to sacks at the college level. You can’t match his ability and effort in run defense, though.
The Missouri product showcases all the talent in the world as a run defender. He made it seem effortless at times and ended up posting a very strong 16.5 tackles for loss in 2025. Judging by Ryan Mink’s comment, that’s already starting to translate at the NFL level.
Of course, it’s only OTAs, so you have to take play on the offensive and defensive line with a grain of salt. The pads haven’t gone on, and live contact isn’t permitted. Still, it sounds like he’s proving his worth in the trenches.
Young could have an even bigger impact beyond his play and production, too. He could be the final piece to Jesse Minter’s edge rush puzzle.
The second-round rookie has a great mentor in Tavius Robinson, who plays a similar brand of football to him. Under Robinson’s guidance, Young could quickly turn up the intensity and see a smoother transition to the professional level.
As for Baltimore’s other young pass rusher, Mike Green, Young could help create a formidable duo and unlock Green in year two. With Young potentially taking on a heavy workload in run defense, that could pave the way for Green to focus primarily on being the best pass rusher he can be. They could become a dangerous one-two punch under Minter.
Hopefully, this is just the start for Zion Young. He’s quickly checking off some boxes, and with each passing day, he should continue to grow.
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