For the first time since the 2021 season, the Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs. It was a disastrous 2025 campaign, and as a result, they’re getting their offseason started early.
The Ravens wasted no time making their first and biggest move of the offseason, firing 18-year Head Coach John Harbaugh. It was a move that sent shockwaves through the NFL, but it was also a move that was long past due. Now, they’re spending their time on locating their next head coach that will lead them into the foreseeable future.
At the same time, though, Baltimore has plenty of other duties to attend to. One of those includes scouting for the 2026 NFL Draft. It was clear this past year that the team desperately needed depth and some more firepower at certain positions. As it always is under General Manager Eric DeCosta, the draft will offer a prime opportunity to improve next season’s squad.
Perhaps the most crucial area of need is pass rush. The Ravens failed to apply pressure on opposing quarterbacks all year long and finished with just 30 sacks, a stat that ranked tied for third-worst in the NFL.
While many fans want proven talent in that department, it’s likely inevitable that Baltimore’s front office will select at least one edge defender in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In an offseason overview article, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid identified two pass rushers that the Ravens could draft in April. Reid wrote:
“The Ravens defense has taken a massive step back this season, which has primarily been because they can't generate any pressure. Zion Young (Missouri) and Derrick Moore (Michigan) are two edge rushers who fit the profile of players that Baltimore has gravitated toward in prior drafts.”
Two draft prospects Ravens fans should get to know
Neither Zion Young nor Derrick Moore has gotten much hype as first-round prospects. Both are believed to be day-two selections, but as Reid wrote, the two prospects fit the mold of what DeCosta and the front office tend to like when it comes to drafting pass rushers.
At this point in the draft process, Young is the more coveted of the two. He rounded out his collegiate career with an impressive 2025 campaign. He totaled 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss.
Young is a stout run defender with the size and strength necessary to hold the edge. He’s also a high-motor guy who can bend the outside edge and win one-on-one pass rush battles with quick hands.
In Moore’s case, he could prove to be a lethal pass-rush option. He also had a career-best year in 2025, totaling 10 sacks after not tallying more than five in a single season prior to that.
Moore’s potential jumps off the screen with no shortage of explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. That quickness immediately makes him a threat to penetrate the pocket, and his relentless motor keeps opposing offensive lines on their heels. He’s also a terrific athlete who possesses the versatility to align in various formations.
The Ravens may need more of a splash acquisition to truly turn their pass rush woes around, but Young and Moore could end up being valuable rotational options in 2026.