After filling up a few needs in free agency, the Baltimore Ravens have some glaring positions to target for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Edge Rusher, guard, and defensive back come to mind. However, they could look at other positions as well, and if these players slip somewhat, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Ravens decide to be aggressive and trade up. With 11 picks in the draft and picking at 27 in the first round, if the right guy falls, they could easily package picks to move up for their guy, whether it’s a nose tackle or a hybrid linebacker.
This draft is pretty deep at edge rusher, so they may look to day two to address that need. Baltimore could also get creative and take linebackers who can also rush the passer. Versatility just helps any defense, and finding players who are above average to elite at multiple spots across the front seven is just a benefit. Although they have Roquan Smith at middle linebacker, their former third-rounder Trenton Simpson, didn’t take that next step forward in his sophomore season. Also with Michael Pierce retiring, having a big guy to plug up the run would be nice to have.
Here are four players that I think the Baltimore Ravens would trade up for if the price is right to make the move.
Jalon Walker Could be the Solution at EDGE/LB
Jalon Walker‘s draft stock is all over the place, as the hybrid backer-turned-edge rusher can do it all. In a 3-4 defense especially, you could ask him to play in the middle and on key downs, have him get to the quarterback off the edge or on blitzes from wherever he is aligned.
At 6’1″ and 243 pounds, he is a smaller but explosive edge rusher and can also display off-ball instincts in coverage on bluffs. Baltimore is known for sending the heat but also faking it as well, as that would key in on Walker’s strengths more so than his weaknesses.
The Georgia backer had 6.5 sacks this past season and 5 the year before, with 61 total tackles in 2024. A popular comparison for the Bulldog is Haason Reddick, as he has become a productive but tweener type linebacker before he committed to the position switch as an edge and thrived with the Philadelphia Eagles.
For the Ravens, taking Walker would allow them to still give valuable snaps to Simpson in his third year as a starting middle linebacker while being meaningful in their edge rush rotation with Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Adisa Isaac, and Tavius Robinson opposite the veteran Kyle Van Noy.
Jihaad Campbell is in a Similar Boat as LB/ EDGE
More of an edge who moved to linebacker due to what Alabama had, Jihaad Campbell is another example of a jack-of-all-trades or Swiss army knife type backer who can rush the passer. At 6’3″ and 235 pounds, he is a bit bigger than Walker and can fill out his frame a bit more. Campbell does have more natural coverage skills and range as a sideline-to-side line tackler. He is more similar to Simpson than Walker is but both have more pass rush experience.
Campbell was used differently with the Crimson Tide in 2024 compared to his first two years, as he had 5 sacks and 119 total tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 pass deflections, and an interception. The Baltimore Ravens have had great success with Bama backers in the past, although this one offers juice rushing the passer off the edge as a plus. Every team is trying to find the next Micah Parsons, as they should, as both Campbell and Walker provide the potential skillset to do so in the right scheme.
Run Stopping NT Could be Too Good to Pass Up
If either Kenneth Grant from Michigan or Walter Nolen from Ole Miss are available in the early 20s or late teens, the Baltimore Ravens may want to jump the gun. While it is highly unlikely, both would fit a need in the interior of the defensive line. Grant is way better at plugging up run holes with his size, but Nolen has a quick first step that is great against the run. Nolen also has the potential for upside as a pass rusher, while Grant is more of a gap mauler to take on blockers only with potential double teams.
Even though Pierce retired, the Baltimore Ravens have Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones. But in their 3-4 system, both are defensive ends, and Madubuike, in particular, had more of a down season with more attention going his way. There is the argument that if they took the Rebel at 6’4″ and 296 pounds, Jones could move to more of a nose tackle role, and Nolen could play inside/outside as a defensive end as well. But for the Wolverine at 6’4″ and 331 pounds, he would plug right in at nose if the Ravens wanted to move up for him.
However, Grant, more so than Nolen, is likely not getting out of the top 15 with so many teams needing interior defensive linemen. Baltimore would have to jump a handful of teams for a shot at a player like that. Grant has 6.5 career sacks in three seasons, while Nolen had 6.5 just in 2024 and 4 sacks the previous season. But the role of the nose tackle is to just take on gaps to help clog the middle and free up the edges so that it doesn’t show up on the stat sheets.
Another defensive tackle to mention is Oregon’s Derrick Harmon (6’4″ and 313 pounds) but he falls to their range more so than Grant and Nolen usually. He is more of a pass-rushing defensive tackle (5 sacks in 2024 for the Ducks) but is weaker against the run compared to the two defensive tackles mentioned. It would be a Ravens type move for Baltimore to move up for a position most fans aren’t expecting. However, with the depth in this draft at certain positions, it does make sense to address it earlier to attack other needs later.