Pundit Names First-Round Prospect Who Best Fits Ravens' Biggest Need
Having constructed one of the top rosters in the NFL, the Ravens have put themselves in position to select the best player available in the draft.
That said, Fox Sports draft analyst Rob Rang looked beyond the BPA approach to identify each team's biggest need and the first-round prospect who would be the best fit.
For the Ravens, who have the 27th-overall selection, Rang went with Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson. Rang noted that "need" was a relative term in the Ravens' case.
"The seventh-round investment made two years ago in injured former Morris Trophy winner Andrew Vorhees makes replacing free-agent defection Patrick Mekari less of a need than a wish," Rang wrote. "However, with little proven depth behind starting tackles Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, as well, the Ravens could use a versatile, dependable and battle-tested blocker like Jackson to fill in wherever he might be needed."
Calais Campbell Signs With Cardinals
Calais Campbell is returning to his former team, but it's not the Ravens.
The six-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman finalized a one-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals that is reportedly for $5.5 million with a maximum value of $7.5 million.
Campbell was selected by the Cardinals in the second round in 2008 and spent his first nine seasons with them. As noted in yesterday’s Late for Work, the Ravens reportedly were among the teams pursuing Campbell, who played three seasons in Baltimore (2020-2022).
"Campbell had his suitors, but has decided that a return to Arizona was in the cards," NFL’s Grant Gordon wrote.
Two Safety Prospects Outside Round 1 Who Would Complement Kyle Hamilton
The Ravens have one of the NFL's most impactful and versatile safeties in Kyle Hamilton, and they could look to the draft to add a player to complement him.
In ESPN draft analyst Field Yates' two-round mock draft, he has the Ravens selecting Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts in the second round.
"Watts is a ball magnet on the back end, as he led the FBS with 13 interceptions over the past two seasons," Yates wrote. "If Baltimore wants to take the next step, it has to shore up the pass defense. Putting Watts alongside Kyle Hamilton is a good step in that direction."
ESPN's Matt Miller named Texas safety Andrew Mukuba as a prospect outside the first round who fills a need for the Ravens.
"The versatile Texas safety had five interceptions in 2024 and would be the ultimate running mate with Kyle Hamilton in the back end of the Ravens' defense," Miller wrote.
Two of Ravens' All-Time Rushing Records Wiped Out by Incorporation of AAFC Statistics
The Ravens have had a historic rushing offense in recent years, but history has been rewritten.
NFL owners approved a proposal by the Competition Committee Tuesday to incorporate statistics from the All-America Football Conference, which existed from 1946-1949, into the NFL's records. The decision cost the Ravens two team rushing records.
The Ravens had been the all-time leaders in single-season rushing yards (3,296 in 2019) and yards per carry (5.8 in 2024). Those records are now held by the 1948 San Francisco 49ers, who rushed for 3,663 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
