Every team has needs and areas where depth is required, but the Baltimore Ravens’ goal is to go into each NFL Draft without any gaping roster holes. Yet, at least this year, it sure feels like they have more front-line needs than they’re accustomed to heading into a draft.
The Ravens need a starting center and potentially another starting guard. They need a No. 2 tight end and a No. 3 wide receiver. They need a starting interior defensive lineman and depth at pretty much every other position defensively, including edge rusher, inside linebacker and cornerback.
When the three-day draft gets underway on April 23, the Ravens will have 11 selections. General manager Eric DeCosta will be mulling the usual decisions of selecting the best player available and addressing Baltimore’s needs.
In our final pre-draft Ravens big board, we look at players who could interest Baltimore on all three days. The list, which isn’t meant to be conclusive, takes into account needs, pre-draft visits/intel and the team’s drafting history.
Day 1
(The Ravens have one first-round pick, at No. 14.)
Spencer Fano, OL, Utah: There’s some uncertainty with how the top offensive tackles will come off the board. Fano, Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor have all been mentioned as potential top-10 picks. However, one or two of them figure to be available for the Ravens at No. 14. Fano lacks elite size and length, but he has good feet and balance and plays with a nasty demeanor. He also offers versatility. Some evaluators believe he’ll ultimately move inside in the NFL.
Keldric Faulk, OLB, Auburn: Ohio State’s Arvell Reese will be gone within the first couple of picks, and Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. are unlikely to fall out of the top 10. If the Ravens are determined to add an edge rusher early, Faulk or Miami’s Akheem Mesidor are the most logical options. Faulk had modest college production with 10 career sacks. Yet, he’s still just 21 years old and has enticing traits.
Vega Ioane, G, Penn State: Probably the player most connected to the Ravens in the pre-draft process, Ioane is a big and powerful blocker who can be dominant in the run game. At 6 feet 4 and 320 pounds, he possesses an ideal combination of strength and athleticism. He didn’t allow a sack or get called for a holding penalty over his final two college seasons. He saw snaps at every offensive line spot at Penn State, but all of his starts came at guard, where he’d be a plug-and-play guy.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC: A unanimous All-American and the Biletnikoff Award winner last season, Lemon did a little of everything for the Trojans, catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns, registering two touchdown runs and throwing a touchdown pass. He doesn’t have elite speed or size, at 5-11, 194 pounds. He just has a knack for getting open. When the ball is in the air, he usually comes down with it. His playing style has drawn comparisons to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee: Widely considered the second-best corner in the draft behind LSU’s Mansoor Delane, McCoy is a high-risk, high-reward first-round pick. He was one of the top cornerbacks in the country in 2024, breaking up nine passes and intercepting four. However, he didn’t play last year because of a knee injury. He has all the characteristics of a shutdown corner, but teams are going to have to be comfortable with his health and limited starting experience.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon: Expected to be the only tight end taken in Round 1, Sadiq is a physical specimen with off-the-charts upside. Oregon’s leader in receptions last year, Sadiq is 6-3, 241 pounds, and he ran a 4.39 in the 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s a big-play threat — he had 13 catches last year for more than 20 yards and eight touchdowns — and he also has the tools to be an effective blocker. There’s still a rawness to his game, and he had six drops last year.
Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State: The 21-year-old was highly productive the past two seasons at Arizona State, totaling 136 catches for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s not a burner, but he knows how to use his speed and savvy, along with precise route running, to get open. He’s also adept at making contested catches, and he averaged more than 14 yards per reception. The question is whether he can stay healthy. He missed multiple games every season.
Day 2
(The Ravens have one second-round pick, at No. 45, and one third-round pick, at No. 80.)
Caleb Banks, DT, Florida: If not for injury concerns and the fact that he missed most of his final college season because of a foot issue, Banks would likely be a first-round pick. He offers a rare combination of size, strength and quickness. He is 6-6, 327 pounds, but he moves like a smaller man. He needs polish and to improve his conditioning.
Denzel Boston, WR, Washington: The Ravens brought several receivers into the facility for pre-draft visits, including Texas A&M’s KC Concepcion and Boston, who had 20 touchdowns over the past two college seasons. At 6-4, 212 pounds, Boston has the length teams are looking for and knows how to use his body to win 50-50 balls. He’s a physical runner with the ball in his hands, and he has punt return value.
Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia: Delp’s college production doesn’t stand out despite being a three-year starter for the Bulldogs. He averaged just under 22 catches for 264 receiving yards over the past three years, although he did have eight touchdowns. However, his size (6-5, 245 pounds) and athleticism suggest his best football is in front of him.
Jalen Farmer, G, Kentucky: Other likely Day 2 guards, such as Texas A&M’s Chase Bisontis, Oregon’s Emmanuel Pregnon and Iowa’s Gennings Dunker, are more celebrated, but there’s a lot to like about Farmer. He already has an NFL body and the desired arm length, and he plays with an edge. He played every snap at right guard, so he doesn’t offer much in positional flexibility.
Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee: The Ravens are always a threat to take an early-round corner, and Hood is projected to come off the board anywhere from the late first round to mid-second. He had only 13 career starts as a collegian, and he was primarily an offensive player until he got to college. However, his competitiveness, confidence and aggression are qualities the Ravens covet in cornerbacks.
Logan Jones, C, Iowa: Could the Ravens replace Tyler Linderbaum with a player who has been frequently compared to him? Like Linderbaum, Jones is a decorated prospect — he won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center — known for his grit, physicality and athleticism. Like Linderbaum, he’s good on the move, rarely is penalized and doesn’t miss games. Also like Linderbaum, he’s undersized at 6-3, 299 pounds and could struggle against bigger defensive tackles.
Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech: Rutledge transferred from Middle Tennessee and became the first Yellow Jacket to be a first-team All-American in back-to-back years since Calvin Johnson. Georgia Tech coach Brent Key called Rutledge the toughest player he’s ever coached. The Ravens would have to be comfortable with some medical red flags.
Jake Slaughter, C, Florida: The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Slaughter as the No. 1 center in the draft. A three-year starter in the SEC, he’s well built at 6-5, 305 pounds and is a technician who knows how to utilize leverage. He’s also well regarded for his leadership skills and intangibles. Slaughter doesn’t have any eye-popping traits, but he gets the job done.
Peter Woods, DT, Clemson: Woods was projected as a potential early first-round pick after a sophomore season in which he had three sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in 11 games, but his production dipped last year. Still, he flashes enough as an interior disruptor that certain teams will likely overlook that. He can win with quickness and brute force. His biggest issue is consistency.
Zion Young, OLB, Missouri: A two-year starter, Young is expected to be taken in the early stages of the second round. He had 6.5 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles last season. He lacks elite quickness off the edge, and he still needs to broaden his pass-rushing repertoire. Still, he’s a rangy and physical run defender who has the tools to suggest he’ll become an effective pass rusher in the pros.
Day 3
(The Ravens have one fourth-round pick, at No. 115; four in the fifth round, at Nos. 154, 162, 173 and 174; one in the sixth round, at No. 211; and two in the seventh round, at Nos. 250 and 253.)
Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan: Benny’s position coach at Michigan, Lou Esposito, now works for the Ravens. The 6-3, 298-pounder had only one year of starting experience in college. Yet, he performed well at the Senior Bowl, an event the Ravens put a lot of stock in. He could contribute as a rotational guy.
Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M: The former walk-on didn’t post big numbers for the Aggies in his final college season, but his combination of size (6-5, 245 pounds), athleticism and versatility should help carve out a role at the next level. That he can line up outside, in the slot or in the backfield will be attractive to first-year Baltimore offensive coordinator Declan Doyle.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas: Baltimore is content with Tyler Huntley as Lamar Jackson’s backup, but it’s always looking to add a young, developmental quarterback. Green, a two-year starter at Arkansas after beginning his college career at Boise State, is a true dual-threat quarterback who creates explosive plays with his arm and legs.
Roman Hemby, RB, Indiana: Hemby is a no-frills downhill runner who is comfortable as a pass catcher and kick returner. The Maryland native has proven durable and consistent. He has fumbled only twice in 840 career touches. He’d be a solid late Day 3 pick, and his return ability gives him a chance to crack a roster.
Jalen Huskey, S, Maryland: The Frederick, Md., native said he hit it off with Ravens special teams coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. at the combine. He has extensive special teams experience, and that will be his clearest path to a roster spot. As a safety, he plays with discipline and has great ball skills. Huskey had 11 interceptions over his final three college seasons.
Jackson Kuwatch, ILB, Miami (Ohio): Kuwatch started his college career at Ohio State and finished it at Miami, starting just 14 games as a collegian. In his final college season, he had 109 tackles and five sacks, excelling as a blitzer. He performed well on the college all-star game circuit.
Connor Lew, C, Auburn: Lew was a three-year starter at Auburn and a team captain. His best traits are his quickness and ability to block on the move. He’s also adept at recognizing blitzes and making adjustments. He can, however, struggle at times at the point of attack.
Wes Pahl, P, Oklahoma State: Even after signing Luke Elzinga, the Ravens are still in the punter market. Pahl, who has a huge leg, averaged just over 46 yards per punt for the Cowboys and also has experience holding. Other top punter options include Michigan State’s Ryan Eckley, Georgia’s Brett Thorson and Elon’s Jeff Yurk.
Wesley Williams, OLB, Duke: Williams had only two sacks in his final college season — he had 7.5 as a junior — but he generated 46 pressures. He’s a high-energy pass rusher who doesn’t have a deep arsenal of moves. Williams is good against the run and a contributor on special teams, where he’s adept at blocking field goals and punts. Williams’ college position coach, Harland Bower, is now with the Ravens.
