OTL: This is the Draft to Solidify the Pass Rush

Let’s talk about a word we’re likely to hear a lot until the start of next season, and probably even through the first few games next year: Defense.

Lockdown defense pic.twitter.com/c3nK0q7sPI

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2024

It’s been the hallmark of Ravens football since the team’s inception. Several of the greatest defenses ever constructed by consensus have donned black and purple. Hell, we have a super fan named Captain Dee-Fense for a reason. That’s why last season was so jarring for a lot of the Flock, especially at the beginning and during the postseason.

The Eagles had more takeaways in a 6-minute span Sunday (2⃣) than the Ravens have in every Lamar Jackson playoff start since 2019 (1⃣).

Wrote about the Ravens’ absurd postseason turnover habits (), 4-man pass rush stats and the maybe-vulnerable Chiefs: https://t.co/xvPm1KpAxU pic.twitter.com/lR0HDzoNut

— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) February 10, 2025

When Mike Macdonald departed for Seattle, the assumption among a lot of pundits would be that growing pains were inevitable, but those first ten weeks of the season were rough to watch. Brandon Stephens’ production regressed from the flashes we saw in the ‘23-’24 campaign, Marcus Williams fell off a cliff, and the secondary was hemorrhaging yardage.

It looked like Zach Orr’s guys got it together in large part down the stretch, but to see a defense that went from being 1^st in sacks, points allowed and turnovers to then post the 31^st pass defense in the league is a whiplash-inducing change, and we all agree that something’s got to give to bring balance across from this fantastic new-look offense. In large part, the lack of a reliable pass rush was to blame.

Amazing to see the sack numbers and realize BAL had one of the lowest pass rush win rates in the league ahead of only the Saints, Panthers and Jags.

Something’s gotta give. I hope this is the offseason Coach Smith breaks through with these guys. https://t.co/pksOwpHqk2

— KMack Sports (@KMackSports) February 10, 2025

The good news is that, if you’re looking to try to build up your defense in the trenches, this is a great draft class to do it.

A reminder how LOADED this DL class is…

DTs invited to last year’s Combine: 25

DTs invited to this year’s Combine: 41

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 13, 2025

Abdul Carter might have some company pic.twitter.com/tzPg6S7D94

— Football Insights (@fball_insights) February 14, 2025

Mason Graham has the production to back up expected draft capital, Omarr Normal-Lott and Thor Griffith have nice profiles for day 2/3. https://t.co/BAP7YUohPD pic.twitter.com/J4RGo50bnl

— Football Insights (@fball_insights) February 13, 2025

Yes, the Ravens are likely to be eyeing an OT early if they can’t figure out a way to keep Ronnie Stanley (and that’s a big ask given what the market for him is going to look like this season). Still, they have the draft capital to look at moving up and chasing one of these pass rushers if they were to fall, especially in the second round. Traditionally, Baltimore has been much more of a “trade back” team than a “trade up” team, but we’ve seen them get aggressive in situations like the Hollywood Brown trade, and that paid off in spades for the offense. With several picks and a few veteran players’ contracts that they might want to get off the books, this would be an opportune moment to take a risk. Our guy Cole Jackson took advantage of just such an opportunity in his most recent Mock Draft.

Mock Draft Monday 2.0 – Baltimore Ravens 7-Round Mock (w/Trades)

There are a lot of things subject to change with the Combine and Pro Days still to come, but there are so many intriguing prospects that could help the Ravens improve their push up front. As always, Georgia continues to use their mad science lab down in Athens to produce athletic freaks that are good at everything…

Dane Bruglar’s Top 100 was just posted. Some notables:

– Jalon Walker, EDGE2, No. 3 OVR
– Shemar Stewart, EDGE3, No. 9 OVR
– Mike Green, EDGE4, No. 12 OVR
– Will Johnson/Malaki Starks: 13/14 OVR
– Walter Nolan, iDL4, No. 29 OVR

Reasonings for Walker, Green, and Stewart pic.twitter.com/eVaAsCSywZ

— Jared Feinberg (@JRodNFLDraft) February 11, 2025

…but even into the later rounds, you have gems that could come from local sources, like Maryland’s Jordan Phillips and Tommy Akingbasote on the interior. With the sack numbers the Ravens had last season, it feels like they’re only a couple of pieces away. Madubuike was almost constantly double-teamed, and Oweh and Van Noy each got to double-digit sacks. If they can add in one or two more disruptors up front, this team is going to be very hard to stop on either side of the ball.

Now’s the time, EDC. Push the chips to the center of the table and make it happen.

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