With a new head coach for the first time in 18 seasons, the Ravens are at an inflection point in their history. So, too, are their second-year players. Due to the exodus of free agents this offseason, there are more starting and second-string roles open than usual for young players to grasp. And while GM Eric DeCosta leads the draft process, these rising sophomores were all selected, in part, by a coaching staff no longer in the building.
Meanwhile, new head coach Jesse Minter will be part of his first draft with the Ravens in late April. Those selections will all push for playing time and may be favored by a head coach who had a direct say in choosing them.
The Ravens’ 2025 draft group will have opportunities to improve and grow into bigger roles this season. But they will be competing against a new crop of young talent and must understand what the new coaching staff expects of them as the team moves in a new direction.
Here is what the Ravens’ 2025 draft class achieved as rookies and what success in their second season might look like:
S Malaki Starks (Round 1, No. 27 overall)
Perhaps the most impressive part of Starks’ rookie season was his playing time: He led the Ravens in total snaps played with 1,210, appearing in all 17 games and starting 15. He was consistent at the line of scrimmage in the run game, meeting running backs in the hole as well as cleaning up plays on the perimeter.
Starks also played a strong center field, allowing fellow safety Kyle Hamilton to roam, and finished tied for third among rookies with two interceptions. Both of his takeaways came when he attacked the ball at the highest point, demonstrating his confidence and ball skills in coverage, which bodes well for future turnovers. He added 84 tackles and nine passes defensed.
Year two progress would be: Starks evolves from a solid contributor to an above-average player. He intercepts five passes, adds another 80 tackles and again sees a remarkable amount of playing time. Commentary about the Ravens’ secondary changes from “look out for Hamilton” to “look out for Hamilton and Starks” as he earns his first Pro Bowl nod.
OLB Mike Green (Round 2, No. 59 overall)
Green showed flashes rushing the passer and setting the edge last season but lacked consistency and was swallowed up at times by bigger offensive tackles. He had 3.5 sacks, 41 tackles (7 for loss) and 14 quarterback hits. The Ravens were miserable as a unit getting to the quarterback in 2025, registering only 30 sacks, and responded this offseason by adding top free agent edge rusher Trey Hendrickson after a trade for Maxx Crosby fell through due to a failed physical.
Year two progress would be: Green feasts as a disruptive second fiddle while opponents dedicate attention and double teams to Hendrickson. He gains strength and develops an arsenal of pass rush moves. He totals 8.0 sacks, 50 tackles and 20 quarterback hits.
OL Emery Jones Jr. (Round 3, No. 91 overall)
Jones missed the first half of his rookie season recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and appeared in five games as a rotational lineman. He totaled just 49 offensive snaps, plus nine on special teams.
Year two progress would be: Jones takes a starting spot on the offensive line and plays 17 games. He is a perfect example of a player with a lot to gain in his second season. Center Tyler Linderbaum signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Right guard Daniel Faalele signed with the New York Giants. Left guard Andrew Vorhees and right tackle Roger Rosengarten had less-than-stellar seasons in 2025.
Owner Steve Bisciotti even called out the lack of development of the offensive line during his end-of-season news conference in January. With the signing of guard John Simpson and another lineman likely to be added through the draft, progress for Jones would be beating out the competition and becoming a Week 1 starter in 2026.
ILB Teddye Buchanan (Round 4, No. 129 overall)
One could argue Buchanan was the Ravens’ most consistent rookie in 2025. He took inside linebacker Trenton Simpson’s starting spot early in the season and didn’t look back, finishing with 93 combined tackles, good for third on the team. The Cal product helped force a fumble against Miami in Week 9 and won AFC Defensive Rookie of the Month for October. He tore his ACL in Week 15 and missed the rest of the season.
Year two progress would be: Buchanan’s first goal is to return to full health and be ready for Week 1. Progress would be to play and start all 17 games, record 100 combined tackles and add in some game-breaking sacks, tackles for loss and forced fumbles as he becomes a defensive stalwart.
OL Carson Vinson (Round 5, No. 141 overall)
Drafted as a developmental prospect, Vinson played sparingly as a rookie, mostly on special teams. He appeared in seven games but only played seven snaps on offense.
Year two progress would be: Vinson makes the 53-man roster as an extra offensive lineman and special teams contributor. When Vinson was drafted, one of his primary advocates was former offensive line coach George Warhop. But Warhop is now in Cleveland under Todd Monken. The Ravens hired Dwayne Ledford as the new offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Vinson will need to take strides as a polished blocker and win over the new coaching staff to get playing time.
CB Bilhal Kone (Round 6, No. 178 overall)
Kone suffered a major knee injury in the Ravens’ preseason game against the Colts and did not play in 2025.
Year two progress would be: Kone returns from injury and is able to play in 2026. He makes the team and provides depth at corner while contributing on special teams.
K Tyler Loop (Round 6, No. 186 overall)
The good: Loop made 88.2 percent of his field-goal attempts as a rookie, including 29 of 30 from under 50 yards. The bad: He missed two extra points, was 1 of 4 on field goals of 50 or more yards and led the team in penalties with eight kickoff infractions. The one miss from under 50 yards was the season-ending kick in the final seconds against Pittsburgh in Week 18 that cost the Ravens the win and a playoff berth.
Year two progress would be: Loop is able to put the Steelers miss behind him. His challenges in 2026 will be more mental than physical. If Loop is able to follow the mantra that the most important kick is the next one, he should succeed in Year Two. But if he misses some short field goals early on and can’t correct the kickoff mistakes, pressure within the organization and fan base will be immense.
WR LaJohntay Wester (Round 6, No. 203 overall)
After flashing in the preseason with a punt-return touchdown against the Colts, Wester played in all 17 games as a rookie as the primary punt returner and saw some action returning kickoffs alongside Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell. He averaged 12.4 yards per punt return and 24.6 yards per kickoff return (Ali and Mitchell averaged 25.4 and 26.9 yards per kickoff return, respectively). He did not catch a pass as a receiver.
Year two progress would be: Wester continues as the primary punt returner and takes the departed Mitchell’s spot as the second kick returner next to Ali. He increases his return averages by a few yards, records his first punt-return touchdown and integrates more into the offense for an occasional target as a receiver.
DT Aeneas Peebles (Round 6, No. 210 overall)
Peebles played in the first five games of 2025 as a rotational interior lineman but then played in only one more game all season — Week 13 against Cincinnati. He was a healthy scratch in 11 games even though the Ravens suffered season-ending injuries in September to defensive linemen Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington. The Ravens opted to play the likes of Travis Jones, John Jenkins, Brent Urban and C.J. Okoye inside instead of Peebles, who is undersized for a defensive lineman at 6-foot and 289 pounds.
Year two progress would be: Peebles establishes himself as a viable depth piece along the defensive line. He is active for 14 games and records 15 tackles and three for loss.
CB Robert Longerbeam (Round 6, No. 212 overall)
Longerbeam had a similar rookie year to fellow cornerback Kone. Longerbeam injured his knee in August and missed the entire 2025 season.
Year two progress would be: Longerbeam gets fully healthy and is ready to play at the start of the 2026 season. He makes the team as a depth corner and special teams contributor.
OL Garrett Dellinger (Round 7, No. 243 overall)
Dellinger did not make the Ravens’ 53-man roster as a rookie and is currently a member of the Tennessee Titans.
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