The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 NFL Draft needing to shore up their offensive line depth after losing both Josh Jones and Patrick Mekari in free agency. They took a big step toward solving that on Day 2 by drafting LSU’s Emery Jones. But Eric DeCosta wasn’t done just yet.
On Day 3, the Ravens went back to the trenches, selecting Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson with the 141st pick in the fifth round. Vinson isn’t a household name—but that’s exactly the kind of profile Baltimore loves to bet on. Big frame. Heavy hands. Tough mindset. Developmental upside. Also, he's an absolute athlete.
Vinson said it best: "The biggest thing with me is I bring tenacity and I'm an athlete."
The Ravens lost a lot of experience with Jones heading to Seattle and Mekari heading to Jacksonville, but in Vinson, they’re banking on raw traits and the Ravens’ proven track record at developing linemen into contributors.
Ravens tap into size and upside with Alabama A&T OT Carson Vinson
At 6-foot-7 and 314 pounds, Vinson looks the part. He's... big. His length (34.5-inch arms) and nasty demeanor jump out immediately. He plays like a tone-setter in the run game, looking to finish blocks and punish defenders when he gets his hands on them.
The foundation is there: size, attitude, and just enough movement skills to believe he can grow into a serviceable swing tackle.
That said, Vinson is far from a finished product. His pad level gets too high, his technique can get sloppy, and he struggled against Power Five competition when Alabama A&M faced Auburn last year. But for a fifth-round flier, the Ravens aren’t looking for perfection—they’re looking for traits they can mold.
Baltimore’s success with mid- and late-round linemen is well-documented. Vinson will get time to refine his footwork and improve his angles behind Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten. If he progresses as expected, he could eventually fill the jumbo-package role Josh Jones handled last season—and maybe even more down the line.
With the addition of Emery Jones and now Carson Vinson, the Ravens are rebuilding their offensive line depth the right way: big bodies, versatile skill sets, and long-term upside. Jones and Mekari are out. Emery Jones and Vinson are in. This was a good pick for DeCosta.