Baltimore Ravens: Edge Rushers to Watch at the Combine

What a year so far for the Baltimore Ravens in 2025. Starting from the playoff loss against the Bills in Buffalo to Josh Allen winning MVP over Lamar Jackson, this was not the end to their misfortune. It was just the start. Not to mention the slew of off-the-field issues this team is going through with multiple players, including Justin Tucker and Ben Cleveland. On a positive note, the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is starting up with defensive linemen and linebacker drills on Thursday, February 27 to kick off Combine weekend. Here is who to watch and which edge rushers could fit the needs of the Baltimore Ravens come late April for the 2025 NFL Draft.

First-Round Edge Rusher is in Play at Pick 27

With 11 total draft picks, the Ravens’ biggest need that can be addressed this offseason could be edge rusher, depending on free agency. Assuming they can re-sign tackle Ronnie Stanley, the offensive line is their other big need, as guards can be found later in the draft. However, impact edge rushers are at a premium and this class is loaded with them. Baltimore will likely target someone with their first or second selection from Thursday’s workout.

Veteran Kyle Van Noy has one year left on his deal after a career-high 12.5 sacks but is mulling a return to Baltimore, according to the Baltimore Sun. With his future in flux as a Raven, the players they have at the position include former first rounder Odafe Oweh on the fifth-year option and former second rounder David Ojabo. With Ojabo and his injury history, the experiment may be over, as he was benched at times late in the season in 2024 over former fourth round pick Tavius Robinson even as a role player.

Last year, the Baltimore Ravens drafted Adisa Isaac in the third round but he was out most of the season due to injuries. When he did play, it was just in limited fashion. Now again, they will have to invest in high draft capital at the position even if Van Noy comes back. Oweh had his moments with a career-high 10 sacks last year, but the Ravens have forced just two turnovers on defense since 2018. According to Russell Street Report, the Jackson era’s defense fails in comparison to the other great quarterbacks in the AFC that routinely make it to the playoffs.

That makes pass rush the biggest need on the team, as we all saw what the Philadelphia Eagles did to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Baltimore can’t have a defense that just doesn’t take away the football at a consistent basis when it is needed most. While blame can go to their secondary, the Ravens don’t have a playmaker at the edge position. Here are a few players that could go in the first or second round that fit the mold of transforming Zach Orr’s defense that went from nothing to something in 2024.

Texas A&M or Ohio State Edges’ Makes Sense

Out of any potential Ravens, Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart seems like he fits Baltimore’s style of a hybrid defensive end to a tee. At 6’5″ and 281 pounds from Florida, Stewart has inside-outside versatility across the defensive line and would get them an explosive disruptor at edge rusher.

There is buzz he may shatter the Combine with his testing and if he does, according to him in an interview with CBS, he may not fall to Baltimore’s pick when all said and done despite his lack of production. His tape said it all.

His teammate, Nic Scourton, is not far behind in the conversation, as he is also built as a bigger end at 6’4″ and 280 pounds. He could be taken in the back end of the first round, like Stewart and Ohio State edge rushers Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, who are technically sound pass rushers and are both 6’5″ in the 260-270 lb. range.

Both of them have the production that Texas A&M’s prospects didn’t have, with 9 for Sawyer and 12.5 for Tuimoloau for the Buckeyes. Scourton had 5 and just 1.5 for Stewart for the Aggies in 2024. However, pressure rates are more important than raw sack numbers, and predicting those is more stable year to year.

Pearce or Ezeiruaku Would Be Late Round Steals

The Ravens could go after an ultra-productive edge from Boston College, a former teammate of Zay Flowers in Donovan Ezeiruaku. While he is smaller at 6’2″ and 247 pounds, that size is plenty like a Haason Reddick-type to be a menace on the outside with his quick twitch and finesse.

Although there are rumored character concerns with James Pearce Jr., at 6’5″ and 243 pounds, he has all the physical combination of traits to be a productive, impactful edge in the NFL. He had a slight down year for the Tennessee Vols with 7.5 sacks but he had 9.5 the year prior.

Mykel Williams or Mike Green Could Fall Mid 1st

The uber-productive edge rusher from Marshall is a divisive player at 6’3″ and 251 lbs. Mike Green has the talent to be a first round caliber player on the field. He does carry off-the-field red flags that stem from his time in Virginia, as that will be part of the bigger evaluation. Green had 17 sacks in 2024 and Baltimore has gone for smaller school but highly productive players before (rest in peace Jaylon Ferguson from LA Tech). That could take him off the board but if he does indeed fall enough, the risk would likely be worth the selection.

Mykel Williams is in a similar boat to Pearce, as he didn’t have that monster season in college with just 5 or less sacks each season. But the length he brings at 6’5″ and 265 pounds is crazy as a Bulldog. By consensus, he is rated behind Abdul Carter from Penn State, who is potentially the top rated prospect on the board.

Williams is reportedly not working out at the Combine, as he played the 2024 season “hurt” and will plan to work out at his Pro Day. The Georgia edge rusher also said one of his favorite players to watch at his position is Oweh. A potential tandem with both is insane to think about given their wingspans and speed they bring to the table.