The Baltimore Ravens’ 2026 NFL Draft was focused on adding physicality and size at key positions. They need to revamp the trenches and reclaim that bully ball mentality that carried Baltimore teams through the 2000s. They did just that.
The only area that Ravens fans could come away upset that general manager Eric DeCosta didn’t address is center. That’s a completely valid concern given the void Tyler Linderbaum left. However, in pretty much every other way, Baltimore added the necessary improvements.
One of their last picks may have been one of the better ones in terms of value. The move also gave Jesse Minter his Michigan guy. In the seventh round at No. 250 overall, the Ravens selected Rayshaun Benny, a defensive tackle from Michigan.
Jesse Minter gets draft prospect he’s extremely familiar with in late-round selection
Benny played with the Wolverines from 2021 to 2025. From 2022 to 2023, he played under Minter, who was the defensive coordinator at the time. In 2023, the two hoisted the National Championship Trophy, a season in which Benny played the best ball of his collegiate career. He tallied 5.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
Benny joins a Baltimore team that could use one more piece on the interior defensive line. Broderick Washington Jr. is widely expected to be cut, and Nnamdi Madubuike, despite the optimism, has an uncertain future due to his neck injury. That could open the door for Benny to fight for a roster spot this offseason.
The 23-year-old is expected to be a contributor as a run stopper. He doesn’t really have the explosiveness off the line to be much of a pass rusher, but his ability to diagnose and collapse on rushing lanes should make him a competent player against the run. He has the size and length to continue to develop in that area, as well.
Benny also has the perfect chance to continue that development due to that connection with Minter. His best collegiate season came with Minter calling the shots on defense, and the 42-year-old head coach will be calling the plays on defense for the Ravens. As a result, he will have a big part in the player that Benny could eventually become in Baltimore.
It shouldn’t come as a shock that Minter and the Ravens come away with a Michigan guy in this year’s draft. There were several Michigan defenders drafted in this year’s draft, and Minter got his guy late. He and Benny are undoubtedly super excited.
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