Baltimore Ravens Rookie Forecast 2025

Ravens Rookie Forecast 2025

Solid Starter

Mike Green, DE, Marshall – Round 2

During the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft, there were many analysts projecting Marshall edge rusher Mike Green to be a high first-round pick. Green was coming off a 17-sack season and generated some highlight reel rushes in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl. Thus, many were surprised when Green slid to very late in the second round.

As a pass rusher, Green (6-3, 250) has the speed and strength to be a challenge for offensive tackles. As a pass rusher, Green can burn tackles with a speed rush and also can to fight them off with his hands. After his quick first step to get upfield, Green uses his hands and feet at the same time nicely with agility to redirect to the inside or sink his hips while running the loop on the outside. Green has a dangerous speed cut to the inside and a lightning spin move to fire past tackles. Green has excellent closing speed to eat up space in a blur. As a pro, Green has the potential to be a dangerous speed rusher.

While Green is fast around the corner, he lacks some strength and is not a power rusher. NFL tackles that are capable of handling Green’s speed could shut him down, and not having the change-up of being a power rusher is a significant limitation. That could make Green’s pass-rush production go through some peaks and valleys, depending on the team he’s playing. He might have a big season, followed by some down years. Some team sources feel Green’s limitations make him the kind of player that could struggle with consistency.

The Ravens have been needing some young edge rushers to emerge across from Odafe Oweh, and Green is a great scheme fit in the Ravens’ 3-4 system. With five technique ends there to help occupy the tackle, that could cut down on Green having to go one-on-one with players that have 50-80 pounds on him. Green can learn from veteran Kyle Van Noy and rotate into the game as a designated pass rusher. While Green could be disappointed with his slide in the draft, he landed a great opportunity to carve out a good pro career in Baltimore. Green could turn into a solid starter across from Oweh.

2024: Adisa Isaac, DE
2023: Zay Flowers, WR
2022: Kyle Hamilton, S
2021: Rashod Bateman, WR
2020: Patrick Queen, LB
2019: Miles Boykin, WR
2018: Hayden Hurst, TE
2017: Chris Wormley, DE
2016: Ronnie Stanley, OT
2015: Maxx Williams, TE
2014: C.J. Mosley, LB
2013: Arthur Brown, LB

Most Likely To Bust

Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU – Round 3

The Ravens selected Jones in the third round, and this pick could be a boom-or-bust. Jones has talent, but there were some rough moments on tape. In pass protection, Jones (6-6, 320) has flashes of being capable. However, he only has flashes, and there were consistent issues with him getting beaten and giving up pressure in 2024. Jones’s feet can struggle to get depth to cut off the corner from speed rushers, he can allow leverage on outside speed to power, and he gets off balance when his weight gets over his toes. He will sometimes bend at the waist and reach after defenders. Jones will showcase some mean streak and physicality when he gets a defender blocked, but he is not consistent enough on the edge against a quality pass rusher to depend on him keeping his quarterback free of pressure and sacks. I think Jones should move inside to guard, and he has the potential to be a solid starting guard. Of the Ravens’ early-round picks, I think Jones has the most bust potential.

2024: Roger Rosengarten, OT
2023: Trenton Simpson, LB
2022: Travis Jones, DT
2021: Ben Cleveland, G
2020: Justin Madubuike, DT
2019: Jaylon Ferguson, DE
2018: Anthony Averett, CB
2017: Tyus Bowser, LB
2016: Bronson Kaufusi, DE
2015: Carl Davis, DT
2014: Timmy Jernigan, DT
2013: Brandon Williams, NT

Potential Boom Pick

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia – Round 1

Many teams in the NFL do not prioritize taking a safety in the first round, but the Ravens place a big value on having dynamic defenders in the deep middle of the field. A few years after taking Kyle Hamilton in the first round, Baltimore added a free safety to pair with him in Starks. Starks could have gone in the top 20, but once again, a great prospect fell in their lap.

In pass coverage, Starks (6-1, 205) is a reliable deep centerfielder to provide good coverage downfield. Starks is an instinctive defender and helps his defense by preventing big plays deep downfield. Starks doesn’t take false steps, reads routes well, and covers up the receivers that come into his area. He is very good in zone coverage to react to the offense and break over to defend receivers he is responsible for. With a quick burst, Starks eats up ground with the speed to close on receivers. Starks times his reach well to break up passes and shows respectable ball skills for a safety. With his quickness and athleticism, Starks can play some slot corner and cover receivers in man coverage. Starks really likes to cover and is natural in coverage as a free safety. He will be an asset to his pro team for preventing big plays over the top.

Starks is not a liability as a run defender, but he is not elite in this regard. He is a quality tackler, but is not a physical force that is an intimidator in the middle of the field. At the same time, Starks is a willing tackler who comes downhill to make stops in the ground game and is adept at defending the perimeter screen game. Starks looks more comfortable in coverage and more natural playing deep over being the eighth man in the box.

With Hamilton playing strong safety, Starks is in a perfect situation to be the deep free safety. Starks is known to be a great leader and locker room presence. He loves football, and is a high character individual off the field. Starks will be a great fit in Baltimore and could be another boom pick for the Ravens.

2024: Nate Wiggins, CB
2023: None
2022: Tyler Linderbaum, C
2021: Jayson Oweh, OLB
2020: J.K. Dobbins, RB
2019: Marquise Brown, WR
2018: Lamar Jackson, QB
2017: Marlon Humphrey, CB
2016: Kamalei Correa, LB
2015: Breshad Perriman, WR
2014: Terrence Brooks, S
2013: Matt Elam, S

Future Depth Player

Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M – Round 5

Vinson was a nice value pick in the fifth round for Baltimore. While they have good starters ahead of Vinson, he is a good athlete with a skill set to develop. He could be a nice project for the Ravens coaching staff to develop into a swing tackle backup. Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten are in place as the starters, but after some development, Vinson could replace Joe Noteboom as the swing tackle backup. For a fifth-round pick, getting a backup at tackle would be a nice value for the Ravens.

2024: Cade Stover, TE
2023: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB
2022: Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB
2021: Tylan Wallace, WR
2020: Malik Harrison, LB
2019: Justice Hill, RB
2018: Deshon Elliott, S
2017: Jermaine Eluemanor, G
2016: Tavon Young, CB
2015: Buck Allen, RB
2014: Brent Urban, DE
2013: John Simon, LB