Stay with me. Ziggy Ansah was supposed to be the next big thing.
An athletic marvel out of BYU, Ansah lit up the 2013 NFL Combine and had teams drooling over his size, burst, and raw upside. He went No. 5 overall to the Detroit Lions that year, and while he had a few bright flashes—most notably a 14.5-sack season in 2015—he never quite reached the stardom his traits hinted at. He finished his career with 50.5 sacks over eight injury-marred seasons. Not bad, but not what the hype machine hoped.
Ansah’s story is the kind of cautionary tale that echoes loudest around draft time, especially for teams like the Baltimore Ravens, who pride themselves on finding value in all the right places. Baltimore’s front office has made a name for itself by letting the board fall to them. They don’t chase. They sit, they wait, and more often than not, they hit. But even for the Ravens—who have a history of drafting toolsy edge guys like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo—the clock is ticking on waiting for results.
In this year’s draft, Baltimore has a few clear priorities. They could use a starting-caliber guard after losing Patrick Mekari and the uncertainty around Andrew Vorhees. They need a swing tackle. They could absolutely use another defensive back, whether it’s a boundary corner or a safety who can unleash Kyle Hamilton. And yes, edge is still a need—but only if the guy can rotate in ASAP.
Which is exactly why Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart might look like a fit on paper… but probably isn’t.
Why Shemar Stewart isn’t the right pick for Baltimore
Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski recently released a piece identifying one player each team should avoid in the 2025 NFL Draft. For the Ravens, that name was Shemar Stewart. And he didn’t mince words:
“Yes, Stewart presents tremendous upside. He’s an elite athlete with the type of profile that signals a 10-sack-per-season career. But he’s never been that prospect at the collegiate level. Furthermore, the Ravens don’t have time to waste on waiting another three or four years hoping Stewart develops, as Odafe Oweh eventually did.
With Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP level on an annual basis, the Ravens need immediate impact additions.”
He’s right. Stewart blew up the Combine with crazy numbers: a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, a 40-inch vertical, and a near-11-foot broad jump—all at 6-foot-5, 267 pounds. His Relative Athletic Score? A perfect 10.0. The tape, though? Not quite as telling. Stewart recorded just 4.5 sacks in college, never really looked like a consistent disrupter, and is still learning how to put it all together. Could he eventually be a game-wrecker? Absolutely. But Baltimore is on borrowed time.
He's a fine pick if you’re a team with time to burn. But the Ravens are just in a different spot.
Baltimore doesn’t need another multi-year project. They need someone who can get on the field this year and make plays. They’ve already got enough developmental edge rushers in the building. What they don’t have is time. Lamar Jackson is 28, playing the best football of his life, and fresh off breaking the all-time QB rushing record.
The window is open. You don’t wait around hoping Stewart figures it out. You draft someone who’s already close and ready to help this team get to the Super Bowl.
Whether that’s Donovan Ezeiruaku, Mykel Williams, or someone who can solidify the offensive line or secondary, there will be better fits at No. 27. Stewart’s upside is real. But the risk is too big. The timeline is too tight. And the Ravens can’t afford to bet the now on the hope of what might come down the line.