The Baltimore Ravens have one of the deepest rosters in the NFL and will look to add to that depth with 11 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft.
General manager Eric DeCosta had plenty of work to do this offseason. The Ravens re-signed Ronnie Stanley before he hit the free-agent market. They added DeAndre Hopkins, Cooper Rush and Chidobe Awuzie in free agency but lost Michael Pierce, Brandon Stephens and Patrick Mekari. We are still awaiting word about the future of Justin Tucker.
The Ravens have an abundance of picks in this year’s draft, but my guess is they do not make all 11 selections. I think it’s a strong possibility DeCosta will move up in the first or second round, but I will not be incorporating trades into this mock draft.
Let’s predict three players at each draft position that could be in a Ravens uniform following the 2025 NFL Draft, with some analysis to follow.
Round 1, No. 27:
Option 1: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Option 2: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Option 3: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Round 2, No. 59:
Option 1: Jared Ivey, EDGE, Ole Miss
Option 2: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Option 3: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Round 3, No. 91:
Option 1: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Option 2: R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson
Option 3: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
Round 4, No. 129:
Option 1: Ty Hamilton, DT, Ohio State
Option 2: Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Option 3: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
Round 4, No. 136 (compensatory):
Option 1: Dont’e Thornton, WR, Tennessee
Option 2: Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville
Option 3: Clay Webb, OL, Jacksonville State
Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory):
Option 1: Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers
Option 2: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Option 3: Tim Smith, DT, Alabama
Round 6, No. 183 (via Panthers):
Option 1: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon
Option 2: Kobe King, LB, Penn State
Option 3: Tyler Batty, EDGE, BYU
Round 6, No. 203:
Option 1: Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
Option 2: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
Option 3: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa
Round 6, No. 210 (compensatory):
Option 1: Joshua Gray, OL, Oregon State
Option 2: Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida
Option 3: Donovan Edwards, RB, Michigan
Round 6, No. 212 (compensatory):
Option 1: Efton Chism, WR, Eastern Washington
Option 2: Isas Waxter, CB, Villanova
Option 3: Craig Woodson, S, California
Round 7, No. 243:
Option 1: Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy
Option 2: Johnny Walker Jr., LB, Missouri
Option 3: Xavier Truss, OL, Georgia
Notes:
The Ravens like to follow their board and select the best player available, but there are three glaring needs that must be addressed in this draft: offensive line, pass rusher and in the secondary. Most of the picks reflect that.
A wide receiver is sure to be drafted at some point. A linebacker seems likely with how Trenton Simpson saw his playing time diminish last season. These are not as pressing needs so look for these positions on the third day of the draft.
The NFL is a copycat league. Teams just watched the Philadelphia Eagles dominate the Chiefs in the trenches on both sides of the ball. This is a strong draft for both offensive and defensive linemen. I would most like to see Derrick Harmon in Baltimore among first-round options. I do think the Ravens are in a strong position to trade back with a team like the Giants or Browns, who could be looking to take a quarterback with a late first-round pick instead of spending a high choice on Shedeur Sanders.
Baltimore has hit on most of its first-round picks, but Day 2 has not been so kind to the Ravens under Eric DeCosta. Rounds 2 and 3 do feature some of my favorite prospects in this draft class. Azareye’h Thomas is the prototypical Ravens corner with his size and speed. I would prefer Xavier Watts to Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori among safeties. Receiver Jaylin Noel has all the tools to excel in the NFL. DeCosta needs to find impact players at this stage of the draft.
The later rounds do have some diamonds in the rough that I will be keeping tabs on. Efton Chism posted insane numbers at Eastern Washington. If Mark Andrews is dealt this offseason, Mitchell Evans and Luke Lachey can fill in as the third tight end. Some developmental linemen I would like to see get a chance in the Ravens’ system are Oregon State’s Joshua Gray and Georgia’s Xavier Truss.
What do you think of this potential Ravens draft class?
Photo Credits: Courtesy of South Carolina Athletics, Eric Evans/GoDucks.com and Texas A&M Athletics