The Baltimore Ravens have handled business this offseason. They locked up Ronnie Stanley, brought in DeAndre Hopkins, and kept everything else simple. But even after a relatively boring free agency, they still have clear needs heading into the 2025 NFL Draft—most notably at pass rusher and in the secondary.
Baltimore had 54 sacks last season, second most in the NFL, but Kyle Van Noy is turning 34, Odafe Oweh is still inconsistent, and David Ojabo hasn’t developed into a reliable contributor. They need another young pass rusher to keep the pipeline stocked. On the back end, the Ravens released Marcus Williams and haven’t found his replacement, leaving a hole at safety that forces Kyle Hamilton to play more deep coverage instead of roaming the field where he’s most effective.
With those needs in mind, Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft has Baltimore drafting for need, taking the responsible route. He has them selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks at No. 27. It’s a great pick. It fills a need. It probably makes the Ravens’ defense better on Day 1.
But the problem? One pick later, James Pearce Jr., one of the most athletic pass rushers in the draft, comes off the board to the Detroit Lions. And that’s where things get tough.
Mel Kiper Jr. has Ravens passing on James Pearce Jr.
Kiper’s reasoning for the Starks pick is solid:
“I’ve mentioned the big-play woes for Baltimore’s defense in the past, and the team didn’t really do anything to fix them in free agency. It allowed 58 plays for 20 or more yards this past season, third most in the NFL, and Baltimore hasn’t added a defensive back. But Starks has the skill set to thrive alongside Kyle Hamilton from the back end.”
Starks is a rangy, ball-hawking safety who can cover deep, play the run, and allow Hamilton to move around like a chess piece. That’s exactly what the Ravens want. If they draft him, he’s probably an immediate starter and an impact player right from the jump.
But Baltimore also values elite pass rushers, and Pearce is the type of talent teams can build around. He had just 7.5 sacks in 2024, but his 19% pressure rate was second in the FBS. He’s got an explosive first step, he’s long and powerful, and he’s exactly the kind of disruptive force the league typically covets.
If Baltimore drafts Starks, they’re getting a great player. But if Pearce turns into a game-wrecker, this could be a pick they look back on and second-guess.
There’s no real “wrong” answer here. Starks would step in and fill a major need, and his presence would make the secondary better from Day 1. But Pearce has the tools to be the next great Ravens pass rusher, and letting him slip away would be tough.
It’s the classic draft conundrum: take the safe, high-floor pick or swing for the high-upside fun pick. At least for the Ravens, either way, they’ll get a difference-maker. But man, Pearce would be hard to pass up.