OLB Zion Young, Missouri, Round 2 (45)
Will Young’s first-year impact match his enthusiasm?
Young’s fired-up reaction to being drafted by the Ravens was one of the highlights of the draft, as he repeatedly told General Manager Eric DeCosta, “Let’s get it!”
The Ravens want to set a physical, nasty tone on both sides of the ball, which suits Young’s playing style. He’s a proven run-stopper who started to blossom as a pass rusher, from 2.5 sacks in 2024 to 6.5 sacks in 2025. Minter talked about using Young as a chess piece who can set the edge and rush from different positions.
“I do think he has the ability to rush up and down the line,” Minter said. “He has some versatility there, particularly as you get into third down, and you want to put different guys in different spots.”
The challenge for Young is to develop quickly enough to earn consistent reps as a rookie, as Mike Green did last season. If Young’s impact matches his enthusiasm, Baltimore’s defense will be better for it.
