For teams looking to add pass rushers to their front seven, this week's NFL Scouting Combine is the place to be.
This year's draft class has an abundance of edge rushers and defensive linemen with pass rushing skills in their DNA. Baltimore finished second in the NFL in sacks with 54, but adding an impact pass rusher is a definite possibility.
Even if the Ravens address their offensive line or secondary in Round 1, they can still find a quality pass rusher on Day 2 this year. Projected to have 11 overall picks, the Ravens could double-down on pass rushers this year while staying true to their draft board.
"If we're picking at (No.) 27, and there is an edge rusher, and he is the best guy, we're probably going to pick him," General Manager Eric DeCosta said. "It's an important position. We were second in the league in sacks last year, but having a continuous influx of young pass rush talent – guys that can set the edge and play the run, guys that play like Ravens, physical players who can get to the quarterback – that's a priority for us, for sure."
The Ravens drafted a playmaker from Boston College two years ago, and it paid immediate dividends when they selected Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers. Another Boston College product could be on the Ravens' radar this season – edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku, who exploded for 16.5 sacks last season. Edge rushers and defensive linemen will participate in on-field workouts Thursday at the NFL Combine, and Ezeiruaku is one of many talented pass rushers competing for the spotlight.
In his latest mock draft, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah had the Ravens selecting edge rusher Shemar Stewart of Texas. But if Stewart or another pass rusher they covet is off the board by pick No. 27, the Ravens will still have ample opportunities to fortify their pass rush.
"I think there's a lot of depth along the defensive front, not just edge rushers, but D-tackles," Jeremiah said on a conference call. "If they want to be patient, I think one comes to them.
"Someone like Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College kind of fits what they like in rushers. He's real long. He's firm. He's got some power, and he's got a lot of production. There's going to be edge rushers there."
Unlike Ezeiruaku, who had explosive stats over the past three years (44 tackles for loss, 37 sacks, four pass breakups, 8 forced fumbles), Stewart had just one 1.5 sacks in each of his three college seasons, which could make some teams wary.
However, sacks for college pass rushers don't always project their NFL potential. Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh didn't have a sack during his last season at Penn State, but the Ravens drafted him 31st overall in 2022 and he blossomed with a career-high 10 sacks in 2024.
During his Thursday interview session at the Combine, Stewart defended his lack of sack production by saying he's an all-around player who's a stellar run defender.
"I wasn't a sack-chasing warrior," Stewart said. "I just wanted to become the best player for my team. Sometimes the stats don't show that."
The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Super Bowl with a defensive front that wrecked the game for Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Head Coach John Harbaugh believes the Eagles' blueprint for success could have an impact in this year's draft, with more teams looking for edge rushers and interior linemen who can collapse the pocket.
"It might move some guys up in the draft for sure," Harbaugh said. "I don't think anyone's ever not thought that way. I think the Eagles did the best job the last couple of years of hitting on guys. They drafted guys high. They paid guys a big amount of money. They've done a good job of building the trenches on both sides, especially on the defensive side. I do think people will be looking at how they did it."
Edge rusher James Pearce Jr. of Tennessee and defensive tackle Darius Alexander of Toledo are two other explosive pass rushers the Ravens could pursue on Day 1. However, this draft is littered with bigger defensive tackles who can bring inside pressure. Whether it's at edge rusher or defensive tackle, this draft will give the Ravens plenty to choose from.
"You want a defensive tackle (Round 3), I mean, this is the draft to do it," Jeremiah said. "There's a ton of them. You've got Jamaree Caldwell from Oregon kind of in that range. You've got Ty Hamilton, Ohio State. You've got Omarr Norman-Lott from Tennessee, Jordan Phillips from Maryland.
"There's a lot of defensive tackles. It's as deep of a defensive tackle draft as I can ever remember."
