The 2025 NFL draft is officially in the books, so what should we expect for the coming season and beyond from the 11 players the Ravens selected?
General manager Eric DeCosta chose defensive players with three of his first four picks, and Baltimore made a franchise-record five picks in the sixth round, which resulted in two players with a special-teams focus and a pair of cornerbacks. Overall, the Ravens drafted six defensive players, four offensive players, and a kicker. DeCosta came away with an 11-man draft class for the second time in four years.
Below is an early look at how each draft pick fits immediately and in the long run:
S Malaki Starks
Drafted: First round (27th overall) out of Georgia
2025 projected role: The presence of Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington gives Baltimore the luxury of easing Starks into three-safety sub packages and not putting too much on his plate too soon, but no one should be surprised if the rookie quickly chips away at Washington’s every-down snaps.
Long-term outlook: With Hamilton destined to become the highest-paid safety in the NFL at some point in the near future and Washington signed only through 2025, Starks will be expected to settle into a starting role at a much cheaper rate than Marcus Williams while providing more versatility. It isn’t difficult imagining Hamilton and Starks becoming the league’s best safety duo in the years to come.
OLB Mike Green
Drafted: Second round (59th overall) out of Marshall
2025 projected role: Even with Baltimore returning its entire 2024 group of edge defenders other than Malik Harrison, the talented Green shouldn’t have too many problems cracking the top three in the rotation behind projected veteran starters Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh.
Long-term outlook: Considering the character questions that prompted his fall to the second round, Green is arguably the most promising edge rusher that the Ravens have drafted since Terrell Suggs, which reflects the mostly light early-round investment made at the position for years. With neither Van Noy or Oweh under contract after 2025, Green needs to stay out of trouble and become the real deal.
OL Emery Jones Jr.
Drafted: Third round (91st overall) out of Louisiana State
2025 projected role: With the left guard and No. 3 tackle roles up for grabs after Patrick Mekari’s free-agent departure, Jones — a right tackle at LSU — could be in the mix for either of those jobs.
Long-term outlook: The consensus among draft pundits is the 6-foot-5, 315-pound Jones being a better fit for guard at the next level, but neither DeCosta nor head coach John Harbaugh sounded ready to dismiss him playing tackle. With right guard Daniel Faalele entering a contract year and left guard favorite Andrew Vorhees still unproven, there’s a clear path to Jones becoming a starting guard.
8ILB Teddye Buchanan
Drafted: Fourth round (129th overall) out of California
2025 projected role: You never expect a fourth-round rookie to push for a starting job, but Buchanan should have a big special-teams role and could push Trenton Simpson, who was benched late last year.
Long-term outlook: DeCosta noted the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Buchanan being “an excellent coverage linebacker” and “explosive,” so you could see him being in the mix for the starting weak-side inside linebacker job and sub packages as he gains more experience. At the very least, Buchanan has the athletic profile that should make him a strong special-teams player and a useful backup linebacker.
OT Carson Vinson
Drafted: Fifth round (141st overall) out of Alabama A&M
2025 projected role: The 6-foot-7, 321-pound tackle made a good impression at the Senior Bowl and will compete for a game-day reserve role while continuing to develop his skills at the next level.
Long-term outlook: The only HBCU player at the Senior Bowl, Vinson is an interesting developmental prospect who would ideally grow into a viable left tackle option over the next couple years with Ronnie Stanley on the wrong side of 30 and no stranger to injuries. Of course, there’s no guarantee Vinson will come anywhere close to that, but he was a favorite prospect of offensive line coach George Warhop.
CB Bilhal Kone
Drafted: Sixth round (178th overall) out of Western Michigan
2025 projected role: Kone will compete to secure a 53-man roster spot and try to carve out a role on special teams while continuing to develop as a 6-foot-1, 190-pound secondary piece.
Long-term outlook: DeCosta said Kone has “really good coverage ability” with the skills to play off or press, but the general manager acknowledged the need for the lanky corner to get stronger. Playing on the outside at the next level is a heck of a challenge, so we’ll see whether the Mid-American Conference defensive back can become a serviceable backup over the next couple years.
K Tyler Loop
Drafted: Sixth round (186th overall) out of Arizona
2025 projected role: The first kicker to be drafted by the Ravens in their 30-year history, Loop will either be competing with the beleaguered Justin Tucker or replacing the seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
Long-term outlook: That the Ravens did serious homework on Loop and his strong leg says plenty about where they stand with Tucker as the NFL continues its investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. However, we also know any sixth-round pick is hardly a roster lock, so Loop must prove he’s capable of handling the job in 2025 and beyond, regardless of what happens with Tucker.
WR/RS LaJohntay Wester
Drafted: Sixth round (203rd overall) out of Colorado
2025 projected role: The 5-foot-9, 170-pound Wester’s path to a roster spot will be competing to become Baltimore’s primary return specialist with a focus on the punt returner job.
Long-term outlook: DeCosta acknowledged how weak the Ravens were in the punt return game last year and pointed to Wester’s return success at Colorado and Florida Atlantic that included two touchdowns. It’s also worth noting Wester was a productive receiver despite his slight stature, so he could also develop into a slot or gadget-play option over the next couple years.
DL Aeneas Peebles
Drafted: Sixth round (210th overall) out of Virginia Tech
2025 projected role: The 6-foot, 289-pound defender will compete for a 53-man roster spot in a group lacking established depth behind Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington.
Long-term outlook: A favorite of Harbaugh in pre-draft evaluations, Peebles doesn’t fit the mold of the typical Baltimore defensive lineman, but he could develop into an interior pass rusher in sub packages with DeCosta labeling him “a twitchy, disruptive player” with a good motor. He’s certainly not the run-stopping interior defensive lineman this roster still lacks in the wake of Michael Pierce’s retirement.
8CB Robert Longerbeam
Drafted: Sixth round (212th overall) out of Rutgers
2025 projected role: Longerbeam will compete for a 53-man roster spot by trying to stand out on special teams while developing as a 5-foot-11, 174-pound defensive back.
Long-term outlook: Though a good athlete and regarded as a high-character guy, Longerbeam’s lack of size will all but force him to transition to a slot role after playing outside as a three-year starter at Rutgers. On paper, Kone figures to have the upper hand in a potential battle for a roster spot, but DeCosta described Longerbeam as someone who “plays bigger than his size.”
G Garrett Dellinger
Drafted: Seventh round (243rd overall) out of Louisiana State
2025 projected role: The 6-foot-5, 320-pound lineman will compete for a roster spot or a practice-squad job while trying to develop as a true guard at the next level.
Long-term outlook: You’re never expecting a seventh-round pick to develop into anything more than a decent backup, but Dellinger made 30 career starts at LSU, which says something about his ability to compete at college football’s highest level in the SEC. He is a good athlete and has the physical traits to develop into a solid depth piece down the line.
