Final Grades Are in for Ravens
The Ravens entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a handful of needs and double-digit draft picks. By its end, the Ravens selected 11 prospects – with many filling needs – and earned high grades across the NFL media landscape.
To review, here are the Ravens' picks:
- Round 1(No. 27) – S Malaki Starks, Georgia
- Round 2 (No. 59) – EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
- Round 3 (No. 91) – OL Emery Jones Jr., LSU
- Round 4 (No. 129) – ILB Teddye Buchanan, Cal
- Round 5 (No. 141) – OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
- Round 6 (No. 178) – CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
- Round 6 (No. 186) – K Tyler Loop, Arizona
- Round 6 (No. 203) – WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
- Round 6 (No. 210) – DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
- Round 6 (No. 212) – CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
- Round 7 (No. 243) – OL Garrett Dellinger, LSU
Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: "Grade: A. The Ravens should be the prime example of'letting the draft come to them.' They needed more safety playmaking and added a lot more production to the pass rush while getting two early first-round defensive talents in Starks and Green. Jones also filled a need for a backup tackle option. Don't sleep on Buchanan being a dream tackler for them."
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: "Grade: A. The Ravens are perennial contenders because they let the draft board come to them. Starks will be a playmaker no matter where he lines up. Green was still available late in Round 2 because of off-field concerns, but he has a chance to provide a lot of value off the edge. Jones could be a solid starter at guard or tackle in time. Buchanan met a need for Baltimore and Peebles should immediately step into the D-line rotation. The Ravens took a massive tackle in Vinson and a tough guard in Dellinger, who will compete for playing time early. The fluid Kone and quick Longerbeam figure to make an impact in the secondary as rookies. Loop might be the replacement for Justin Tucker amid questions about his future with the team. Wester is a tough, quick slot receiver and punt returner."
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr.: "B+. "Malaki Starks will help there. Next to Kyle Hamilton at safety, he has the closing speed to arrive as the ball does and either break up the pass or immediately wrap up the receiver. Starks also spent a lot of time at slot corner at Georgia, so Baltimore can use that versatility to its advantage. … Mike Green finished 18th on my Big Board, and he had 17 sacks last season to lead the nation. Speed, power and a wide array of pass-rush moves allow him to consistently get pressure. … The Ravens didn't make any in-draft trades last year, they had made only eight over the prior five drafts, and they traded down twice this year. They let the board come to them and got some good prospects. Emery Jones Jr. should kick inside to guard and compete for work with Daniel Faalele. Robert Longerbeam is a good nickel corner and came at great value; I had him ranked 116th overall, and Baltimore took him late in Round 6. Aeneas Peebles will work into the defensive tackle rotation. And Bilhal Kone has some promising athletic traits. Finally, Tyler Loop was my No. 1 kicker this year. He has a massive leg, hitting a 62-yarder in college."
Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi: "Grade: B+. S Malaki Starks (27) is mature, talented and can thrive on a team that knows how to develop safeties. Edge Mike Green Jr. (59) is excellent value. He was a first-round projection who slipped due to off-field concerns. OT Emery Jones Jr. (91) and LB Teddye Buchanan (129) are possible … steals."
CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: "Grade B+. General manager Eric DeCosta is one of the savviest decision-makers in football, routinely allowing the draft to come to him. Starks creates a crowded element in the safety room, but he can do it all as a defensive back. Green and Buchanan are two explosive defenders up front with modern-day, well-rounded games, and Jones and Vinson are two developmental types up front on offense, although Jones is much closer to being starter-ready. Kone has the ball skills to be a starting outside corner sooner than later, and there probably was a legitimate need to add a new kicker. Keep an eye on Peebles as an explosive interior pass-rusher. Great Round 6 find. Another prudent draft weekend for Baltimore."
The Score’s Dan Wilkins: "Grade: B+. Starks is the quintessential Ravens pick; it shouldn't be surprising they were the ones to scoop him up when he fell further than expected in the first round. His instincts, range, and ball skills will make him a great fit next to Kyle Hamilton in the secondary. Green fills a big need on the edge… Jones is a talented lineman who could have some starter upside with a transition inside to guard, and Buchanan's coverage skills at linebacker made him one of my hidden gems of this class. Another strong year for Baltimore."
USA Today’s Nate Davis: "Grade: B. From a football perspective, they got two standouts in the first two rounds with S Malaki Starks and OLB Mike Green, respectively – each addressing what are among the few needs for one of the league's powerhouses, Starks likely to start from Day 1. Green led FBS with 17 sacks in 2024 and could make an immediate splash, too."
Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame: "Grade: B. Baltimore has a type, and it certainly stuck to it this year. The Ravens took Starks in the first round to pair with Kyle Hamilton, giving them one of the league's top safety pairings if Starks reaches his full potential… Jones is a value pick on the offensive line, but whether he sticks at tackle or kicks inside remains to be seen."
The Washington Post’s Mark Maske: "Grade: B-. Purely on football considerations, the Ravens fortified their defense meaningfully by getting safety Malaki Starks in the first round and Green in the second. They did far less to help quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense. The selection of kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round gives the Ravens a potential alternative to Tucker."
New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy: "Grade: B-. Starks-Kyle Hamilton could quickly become the NFL's best young safety tandem. Jones has inside-outside versatility."
The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: "Grade: C. The Ravens scooped up excellent value in Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a versatile playmaker in the secondary who should complement Kyle Hamilton perfectly and give defensive coordinator Zach Orr incredible flexibility. … The team addressed offensive line depth by grabbing LSU tackle Emory Jones Jr. and Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson and added some defensive depth in Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan and Western Michigan corner Bilhal Kone. Starks is the anchor of this class, but outside of that, I'm left with some concerns. Vinson, Kone, and Green all come from smaller schools, and Green's background is troubling. … Overall this doesn't feel like a typical Ravens home run draft."
Reactions to Ravens' Day 3 Selections
Here were the reactions to the Ravens' picks on Day 3:
ILB Teddye Buchanan, Cal
PFF: "Buchanan had one year as a starter at Cal after four years at UC Davis. He was a balanced linebacker, finishing with a PFF grade between 72.0-76.0 in run defense, coverage and pass rushing. While he was an off-ball linebacker, he was experienced at blitzing, rushing the passer at least nine times in most of his games last season. The Ravens lost both of their backup linebackers in Malik Harrison and Chris Board in free agency, so Buchanan is slated to be their top backup behind Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson."
NFL.com’s Eric Edholm: "Buchannan's physical traits are good, and his mental makeup will give him an edge. He's a former QB who elevated from the FCS level to put up some decent tape last season at Cal."
USA Today’s Ayrton Ostly: "Grade: B. Buchanan is inexperienced but offers great size at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds and decent speed. He's a sure tackler and competitive enough to carve out a role as a rookie and grow from there. He's a great depth piece who could eventually become a starter."
OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
PFF: "Vinson is likely to slide inside to guard at the next level after playing tackle at Alabama A&M. He posted an 81.7 pass-blocking grade last season while allowing just 10 total pressures."
Edholm: "Vinson stepped up at the Senior Bowl with some terrific reps against bigger-school competition. His size and movement skills are worth investing in, either at tackle or guard."
Ostly: "Grade: B+. Vinson is an intriguing small-school prospect at tackle. He's got great size at 6-foot-7, 321 pounds and an 84 3/4-inch wingspan. He has good feet and solid power as a blocker. He will take some time to develop at the NFL level but has the tools to become a starter in a couple years."
CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
PFF: "Kone allowed a completion on just 45.7% of throws that tested his coverage last season. He forced eight incompletions and tallied one interception while allowing just one touchdown."
Edholm: "Kone offers good length and athletic traits, and he's taken the long road to success, with various spots along the way. He's regarded as mentally tough and has worked his way into the league because of it."
Ostly: "Grade: A. Kone is a small-school prospect with the size, speed and skills to make it on the perimeter. The Ravens get great value with the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Kone who needs some development to become a long-term starter but the foundation is there for the Ravens to get more help in the secondary."
K Tyler Loop, Arizona
PFF: "Loop hit on six of his nine 50-plus-yard field-goal attempts in 2024. He did miss two extra points and a field goal under 30 yards, though."
Edholm: "The big-legged Loop was six of nine on attempts from 50-plus yards, including a 62-yarder, last season. Could this be Justin Tucker's replacement?"
Ostly: "Grade: B. Like the Patriots, this isn't too early for a kicker and there's a big need for the Ravens at the position considering Justin Tucker's struggles on the field and storylines off of it. Loop has average kicker size at 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds with consistent power and accuracy. He hit a career-best 62-yard field goal in 2024."
Russell Street Report’s Nikhil Mehta: "Grade: A. Arizona kicker Tyler Loop has a big leg, and I trust Randy Brown and the rest of the Ravens' special teams to identify their successor to Justin Tucker. If he's the guy, this is a good pick, and I'll defer to the experts in the Castle. It became clear, at this point, that the Ravens were not as high on this iDL class as others and could wait a while to address the position."
WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
PFF: "Wester needs to add bulk to his frame, but he still managed a 66.7% contested catch rate in 2024 while also earning an 81.5 receiving grade against man coverage."
Edholm: "Wester is a tiny-framed, speedy weapon who has 19 receiving TDs over the past two seasons and has scored multiple times as a runner and returner. He'll almost have to cut his teeth in the NFL as a punt returner first."
Ostly: "Grade: B. Wester's undersized at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds but has great speed and explosive acceleration (4.46-second 40-yard dash). He will likely be stuck in the slot at the NFL level which may limit his ceiling overall but offers depth at the position for the Ravens."
Baltimore Beatdown’s Zach Canter: "Wester is a highly productive receiver who can separate naturally with elite route running. He can get up to top speed quick with quick burst and the ability to decelerate and move suddenly with great hips. While only 5'9, the main reason for his slide, he can win a surprising number of jump balls down the field but will be limited in the NFL. He does struggle against press but should be hidden as a slot guy. The biggest value is the Ravens get an electric returner whose movement abilities to start-stop and get up to a top speed with suddenness should bring a spark to kick and punt returners since Jacoby Jones"
DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
PFF: "Peebles is an instinctive, finesse interior pass rusher, and the Ravens will find a role for him. He produced an outstanding 91.2 true pass set pass-rush grade and a 17.8% pass-rush win rate in 2024."
Edholm: "It's back-to-back Hokies late in Round 6. Peebles wasn't for everyone as a prospect, given his size limitations, but the Ravens look past that and see his high level of activity and disruption inside."
Ostly: "Grade: A-. Peebles is a near-perfect fit for the Ravens' defense. He's undersized at 6-foot and 289 pounds but his high motor and twitchy first step gets him early wins against blockers. He doesn't look like your typical defensive tackle but, in a rotation alongside Nnamdi Madubuike, he'll be an effective player sooner than later."
CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
PFF: "Longerbeam is a quick slot cornerback who forced 11 incompletions in 2024. When targeted in coverage, opposing passers posted just a 78.0 passer rating."
Edholm: "Longerbeam's profile is similar to several former Rutgers DBs, bringing good balls skills, excellent speed and coverage feel to the job, although his 175-pound frame will be a big obstacle to overcome."
Ostly: "Grade: B+. Longerbeam is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds but put on a show at the NFL combine with impressive testing numbers. That, plus his film at Rutgers, bodes well at slot cornerback in the NFL. The Ravens get more depth in the secondary with him in the building."
OL Garrett Dellinger, LSU
PFF: "Dellinger is the fourth LSU offensive lineman drafted this weekend. Despite playing just 268 pass-blocking snaps due to injury, he surrendered only three total pressures and did not allow a sack."
Edholm: "Interior blocker who has battled through injuries almost every step of the way. Dellinger isn't a gifted athlete by NFL standards, but he plays with power and purpose."
Ostly: "Grade: B-. Dellinger was the left guard in Baton Rouge next to Will Campbell for much of the 2024 season before an ankle injury forced him to miss the second half of the year. His injury history is concerning and dropped him all the way down to Round 7. Still, he packs power in his 6-foot-4, 320-pound frame. He's not a very athletic prospect but has the makings of a depth piece at guard."
Ravens Ranked No. 2 in NFL Power Rankings Post-Draft
The Ravens' roster was top five entering the NFL Draft and according to Sportsnaut’s Matt Johnson, they exit ranked No. 2.
"The core of the Baltimore Ravens roster remains in place, with the re-signing of Ronnie Stanley standing out as one of the best moves in the offseason," Johnson wrote. "We already know the Ravens' offense can play at an elite level – first in EPA per Play (0.199) last season – and its defense performed at a top-five level after Marcus Williams was benched. In Round 1, Baltimore found its Williams replacement with Malaki Starks, whose instincts and range complement the secondary perfectly."
The only team ranked above the Ravens were the Philadelphia Eagles, meaning the Ravens are projected as the best team in the AFC.
