When you have 11 picks and are always a threat to trade back to pick up more, you could enter the draft with the idea of getting one of everything. That, though, is typically not how the Baltimore Ravens go about their business.
They are a “best player available” team that doesn’t aggressively chase needs. They often go into the draft with a future free-agent signing or two in their back pockets, allowing them to de-emphasize certain needs. They aren’t afraid to double down on certain positions or to use picks to address their special teams units.
They’re also a team that aggressively disguises their draft interests, making it nearly impossible to project how they feel about certain players and who they’re targeting with their picks.
However, we use their needs, history, tendencies and pre-draft meetings to highlight some players who could interest the Ravens on all three days. The list is not meant to be conclusive.
Day 1
(Ravens have one pick in the first round at No. 27)
Kelvin Banks Jr., G/T, Texas: While Banks was a standout left tackle as a three-year starter at Texas, his less-than-ideal arm length has some evaluators projecting him as a guard. That’s likely where he would play in Baltimore. Banks pairs really good footwork and hand usage with athleticism and smarts. He’s also been durable, having only missed one start dating back to high school.
Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas: After Travis Hunter, this isn’t a great cornerback class at the top of the draft — and the position seems more of a Day 2 pursuit for the Ravens. Barron, though, is a good prospect who can play a variety of different roles in the secondary. He won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back last year. He’s slightly undersized at 5-foot-11, 194 pounds, and he’s viewed more as a slot corner, but he’s smart, athletic and instinctive.
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama: Considered the top guard in the draft, Booker has a high floor and Pro Bowl potential. The 6-foot-4, 321-pounder anchors well as a pass blocker and moves defenders in the run game. He plays with a nasty disposition, too. With the Ravens unsettled at left guard, Booker would likely be a plug-and-play guy.
Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina: Emmanwori’s freakish athleticism has made him one of the draft’s fastest rising prospects. He lit up the NFL Scouting Combine, clocking a 4.38 in the 40-yard dash at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He might be at his best closer to the line of scrimmage, but he has the size, speed and playmaking ability to line up anywhere. He had six interceptions over his final two seasons, and he returned two of those for touchdowns.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College: You can’t argue with Ezeiruaku’s production. He had 16 1/2 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and 80 tackles last season. He has good length at 6-foot-3, 248 pounds, and he has a refined set of pass-rush moves. There are questions about his explosiveness and how high his ceiling is as a pro.
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall: Green had a breakout final college season, leading the FBS with 17 sacks. He followed that up with a dynamic performance in the Senior Bowl, an event the Ravens put a lot of stock in. At 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, he lacks ideal length for an edge rusher, but he’s a twitchy athlete. Green has twice faced sexual assault allegations, so teams have had to do extensive homework on him in the pre-draft process.
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon: The last time the Ravens used a first-round pick on an interior defensive lineman was Haloti Ngata, another former Oregon standout, in 2006. Harmon is an enticing first-round option if he’s still available. The 6-foot-5, 313-pound prospect led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 55 pressures last season. He’s big, athletic and durable, and he’s equally effective as a pass rusher and run stuffer.
Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State: The Ravens are set at offensive tackle with Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten, but Simmons’ availability would at least give them something to think about. He was well on his way to being a top-10 pick before he sustained a knee injury in October. The Ravens have no tackle depth, and they also need guard help. The 6-foot-5, 317-pound Simmons would give them some options.
Malaki Starks, S, Georgia: A versatile and smart safety, Starks would be a typical Ravens first-round pick, the classic case of the best player available at a non-premium position falling in their laps. Starks checks just about every box for a safety with his athleticism, ball skills, leadership, coverage ability and instincts. He and All-Pro Kyle Hamilton would form one of the NFL’s most dynamic safety duos.
Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M: Stewart is one of the more polarizing players in the draft because his production (4 1/2 sacks and one forced fumble in 37 college games) doesn’t match his traits. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound prospect is an explosive athlete who ran a 4.59 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 40-inch vertical and 10-foot-11 broad jump. His tape shows a plenty disruptive player (he had 39 pressures in 2024) who struggled to finish plays and missed a lot of tackles.
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State: The versatile offensive lineman’s status soared after the Senior Bowl to the point where it’s hardly a lock that he’ll be available when the Ravens are on the clock. He was an All-American left tackle, but some evaluators believe he’ll settle inside in the pros. Dane Brugler, The Athletic’s lead draft analyst, says Zabel has Pro Bowl upside at either guard or center. His athleticism and agility make him a formidable run blocker.
Day 2
(Ravens have one pick in the second round at No. 59 and one pick in the third at No. 91)
Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary: Baltimore did its homework on Grant, who started every game over the past three seasons. At 6-foot-5, 309 pounds, he is athletic, has really good feet and plays through the whistle. Grant played only left tackle at William & Mary.
Donovan Jackson, G/T, Ohio State: Jackson started three years at Ohio State and has experience playing guard and tackle. The Ravens love that kind of flexibility. Jackson, who is 6-foot-4, 317 pounds, is tough, smart and technically sound.
Wyatt Milum, G/T, West Virginia: A four-year starter for the Mountaineers, Milum played both tackle spots and didn’t allow a sack over his final three college seasons. He’s viewed more as an NFL guard. Milum (6-foot-7, 313 pounds) plays with heavy hands and good quickness.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State: He’s considered undersized at 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, but he had a prolific college career with 245 catches, 2,855 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. The Ravens want to come out of this draft with a return man, and Noel averaged 8.8 yards per punt return and 22.2 yards per kickoff return.
Oluwafemi Oladejo, OLB, UCLA: Oladejo is another edge rusher with impressive traits that didn’t translate into strong production. In four seasons, two at California and two at UCLA, he totaled six sacks (4 1/2 coming in 2024). Oladejo (6-foot-3, 261 pounds) is a physical edge setter against the run.
Tate Ratledge, G, Georgia: An All-American the past two seasons and a four-year starter, Ratledge bullied defensive linemen at times in the run game and more than held his own as a pass rusher. While he plays with a nastiness and loves finishing blocks, he was only called for three penalties the past two years.
Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina: His coverage skills are strong, and he’d likely be getting first-round buzz if it weren’t for durability issues. He missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury. He broke up 15 passes and had three interceptions over his final 15 college starts. His size-speed combination makes him an intriguing prospect at a premium position.
Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia: Sanker, who is 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, was a three-year starting free safety at Virginia. He led the ACC in solo tackles in 2023 and 2024 and is at his best close to the line of scrimmage. He’s also an experienced and accomplished special teams player. He had a top-30 visit with the Ravens.
Carson Schwesinger, ILB, UCLA: Widely considered the second-best inside linebacker in the draft behind Jihaad Campbell, Schwesinger led the FBS last season with 90 solo tackles. He’s 6-foot-3, 242 pounds and uses play recognition and quickness to get to the ball carrier. He’s an accomplished special teams player and had a top-30 visit with Baltimore.
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State: The 6-foot-2, 196-pound cornerback was connected to the Ravens throughout the draft process. They love long and athletic corners who play with confidence and competitiveness. Thomas allowed just 17 catches on 33 targets last season. He’s an outside corner with unremarkable ball skills.
Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M: A three-year starter in the SEC, Turner’s best season was in 2023, when he had six sacks, 11 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. He grew up idolizing former Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis and went to the same high school as defensive coordinator Zach Orr. He plays on the edge, and that results in some penalties, too.
Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss: Umanmielen has all the tools to become an effective situational edge rusher in the NFL. He finished second in the SEC last year with 10 1/2 sacks to go along with 14 tackles for loss. Over his career, he totaled 25 1/2 sacks and 40 tackles for loss. His physicality and power don’t overwhelm, but he finds ways to get to the quarterback.
Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame: He’s widely considered the third-best safety in the draft after first-round hopefuls Emmanwori and Starks. Watts’ combination of size (6-foot, 205 pounds) and speed (4.58 in the 40) doesn’t stand out. However, he’s always around the football. He had 13 interceptions, two forced fumbles, 14 pass breakups and 134 tackles over the last two seasons.
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State: Williams’ impact for the national champions didn’t necessarily show on the stat sheet. He had 2 1/2 sacks and eight tackles for loss in 2024. He totaled 11 1/2 sacks over four college seasons. However, Williams has developed pass-rush traits, and the 6-foot-3, 339-pound defensive lineman can be dominant as a run defender.
Day 3
(Ravens have two picks in the fourth round at Nos. 129 and 136; one pick in the fifth at No. 176; four in the sixth at Nos. 183, 203, 210 and 212; and one pick in the seventh at No. 243)
Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State: A three-year starter, Black had a strong senior season with three interceptions and nine pass breakups. He’s a long outside corner and plays with physicality and attitude. Black started 38 games in college and brings special teams value.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas: Despite being part of a running back-by-committee at Texas, Blue managed 1,098 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns in 2024. Due to his explosiveness, receiving ability and special teams experience, he could find his place in a crowded backfield.
Andres Borregales, K, Miami: With Justin Tucker’s future uncertain, the Ravens have done extensive work on kickers. Brugler ranks Borregales as the top kicker in the draft after a season in which he made 18 of 19 field goal attempts and all 62 of his extra-point tries. Borregales was 7-of-10 from 50-plus yards in his college career.
Ryan Fitzgerald, K, Florida State: Ravens senior special teams coach and kicking guru Randy Brown led a private workout for Fitzgerald last week. He made all 13 of his field goal attempts last year and was 5-of-5 from 50-plus yards, including a 59-yarder.
Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech: While the Ravens don’t currently need a tight end, that could change if they deal Mark Andrews this offseason. Hawes, who started his college career at Yale, had 51 catches over four college seasons. He’s one of the most physical and technically sound blocking tight ends in the draft, and that appeals to the run-heavy Ravens.
Shemar James, ILB, Florida: Per Brugler, James models his game after Ravens 2020 first-round pick Patrick Queen. James was a two-year starter at Florida who plays with speed and energy, but he has to show better play recognition. He had 64 tackles and two sacks last season.
Kyle Kennard, DL, South Carolina: He’s coming off a season in which he had 11 1/2 sacks and became the first South Carolina player to win the Bronko Nagurski Award as the nation’s top defensive player. At 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, Kennard lacks a cohesive pass-rush plan and doesn’t stand out as a run defender, but he has a nose for the quarterback.
Keandre Lambert-Smith, WR, Auburn: The Penn State transfer developed into a major big-play threat in his final college season, finishing second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (81.8) and top-10 nationally in yards per catch (19.6). He’s a deep threat, which is a piece the Ravens could use.
Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech: At 5-foot-10, 191 pounds, Lane projects as a slot receiver at the next level. It’s his return skills that should intrigue the Ravens. He averaged 10.9 yards per punt return and 21.8 yards per kickoff return to go along with two return scores in college.
Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy: A four-year starter at Navy, Lane III established himself as a ball hawk and one of the country’s top special teams players. Lane, who grew up in Baltimore and attended the Ravens’ local pro day, had six interceptions and five forced fumbles over his final two college seasons.
Smael Mondon Jr., ILB, Georgia: He’s one of the best athletes in the draft. A three-year starter at Georgia, Mondon plays with physicality and explosiveness. There’s a chance he comes off the board on Day 2, but durability questions could lead to him falling a bit. Mondon was one of the Ravens’ top-30 visits.
Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State: Reed was a defensive enforcer for the Nittany Lions, leading the team in tackles (98) and tying for the team lead in interceptions (three). The 6-foot, 211-pound safety loves getting downhill and trying to land big hits on the ball carrier. He does have some lapses in discipline.
Elijah Simmons, DT, Tennessee: A projected NFL nose tackle, Elijah Simmons ultimately could replace the retired Michael Pierce and play behind Travis Jones. Simmons didn’t play many snaps at Tennessee, and his production has never really matched his ability, but he has upside as an early-down run stuffer.
Jackson Slater, G/C, Sacramento State: Slater is a natural guard, but he took reps at all five positions during the Senior Bowl. He has the versatility and size (6-foot-3, 311 pounds) to be a potential NFL starter.
Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M: One of the top non-FBS prospects in the draft, Vinson was a five-year starter at Alabama A&M. At 6-foot-7, 314 pounds, he possesses strong physical traits and plays with good balance and power.
(Photo of Kelvin Banks Jr.: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)