The Ravens continued to add to their team through the draft on April 24, taking Missouri edge rusher Zion Young with the 13th pick of the second round (45th overall) and USC wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane with the 16th pick in the third round (80th overall).
After drafting guard Olaivavega Ioane at No. 14 overall on April 23, the Ravens continued to invest in the trenches by adding one of the best edge-setting prospects in the draft. At 6-foot-6, Young uses his length and motor to shed blockers and get into the backfield, where he recorded 16.5 tackles for loss in 2025.
With current Ravens edge defenders Trey Hendrickson and Mike Green profiling as more pure pass-rushers, Young will slot in well as a run-stopping edge on early downs with the potential to be a disruptive force on passing downs. While he will need to continue to develop a full arsenal of pass-rush moves, he did notch 6.5 sacks in 2025 and sees himself as a three-down defender.
“I’m a guy that’s very consistent on and off the field,” Young said in the Ravens’ post-draft press conference. “I’m looking to stop the run on first and second down and then stop the quarterback on third down.”
Head coach Jesse Minter was excited about bringing in Young.
“Zion is a rugged, tough, physical player. I think he’s just scratching the surface,” Minter said in a news conference following the draft’s second day. “He’s very powerful in the running game. I think he made strides rushing the passer.”
Asked to describe his own style as a defender, Young was succinct in a Zoom call not long after he was picked: “I raise hell. You’ll see pretty soon.”
In the third round, the Ravens addressed their need for wide receiver depth by adding Lane, a 6-foot-4 fluid route runner with a 4.47 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine. Lane had a number of highlight-reel catches and one-handed contested grabs at USC, including 18 touchdowns in 30 career games.
“As soon as that ball’s in the air, you can guarantee it’s coming down with me,” Lane said via Zoom.
However, Lane also had some issues with drops throughout his college career. If he can clean that up, he may be a much-needed red zone target for Baltimore. In 2024, the Ravens were the best team in the NFL at converting red zone trips into touchdowns. In 2025, they dropped to 27th in the league. They need a big target in the end zone for quarterback Lamar Jackson, and Lane could fill that role.
“Catching passes from Lamar Jackson, if that doesn’t put a smile on your face, I don’t know what will,” Lane said.
“We think he’s a ball of clay with a lot of upside,” general manager Eric DeCosta said.
The Ravens still have holes on their roster at center, tight end and defensive line that they will need to address in the later rounds on April 25. DeCosta hinted that the run on tight ends between their second and third picks (six were taken in that span) impacted their interest in drafting a player at that position at pick No. 80.
DeCosta also called Day 3 of the draft the “scout’s day” where under-the-radar players their scouts love will hear their name called. So far, the Ravens’ first few picks were all about getting tougher, meaner and bigger all over the field.
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