The Ravens enter the 2026 NFL Draft in a familiar position: a playoff‑caliber roster with a long‑term need to reinforce the edge. At the NFL Scouting Combine, both Eric DeCosta and Jesse Minter reiterated themes that point toward a premium defensive investment.
DeCosta again emphasized the importance of adding young defensive talent to sustain Baltimore’s identity, while Minter highlighted the value of defenders who can win one‑on‑one and generate pressure without relying on heavy blitzing: an approach consistent with his schematic background.
Those comments align naturally with the strengths of this year’s edge class. The 2026 group is deep, athletic, and filled with players who fit Baltimore’s prototype: explosive movers with versatility, strong hands, and the ability to impact both the run and pass.
With the Ravens selecting at pick 14, they sit in the ideal range to land a high‑impact edge defender, even if it’s likely not Reuben Bain Jr. (Miami) or David Bailey (Texas Tech), who shouldn’t fall to them.
Cashius Howell, Texas A&M
Cashius Howell is a long, fluid athlete with the ability to bend and flatten to the quarterback. His combination of length, movement skills, and upside places him firmly in the mid‑first‑round conversation. Howell’s developmental arc fits the Ravens’ history of maximizing athletic edge defenders.
Keldrick Faulk, Auburn
Kedrick Faulk is one of the most physically imposing edge defenders in the 2026 class. At 6’6″, 280 pounds, he brings rare length and power, with the ability to collapse pockets and set a firm edge.
While not as bendy as some of the lighter prospects, Faulk wins with strength, leverage, and heavy hands. His frame and play style align with Baltimore’s history of developing long, powerful edge defenders into multi‑phase contributors.
T.J. Parker, Clemson
TJ Parker offers a strong blend of size, power, and technique. At 6’3″, 265 pounds, he sets a sturdy edge in the run game and wins with leverage and hand usage: traits that align with Minter’s emphasis on physicality and discipline. His floor is among the highest in the class.
Zion Young, Missouri
Zion Young is a long, 6’5″, 265‑pound rusher with the frame and athleticism to develop into a complete defensive end. His combination of size and movement skills has drawn attention as a potential riser during the pre‑draft process.
Akheem Mesidor, Miami (FL)
Akheem Mesidor enters the 2026 draft cycle as one of the most polished and versatile edge defenders available. At 6’3″, 265 pounds, he brings a deep pass‑rush arsenal, swipes, arm‑overs, cross‑chops, bull rushes, and more, executed with fluid sequencing and advanced hand usage.
Mesidor’s versatility, capable of aligning on the edge or sliding inside situationally, makes him an especially strong fit for a Ravens defense that values multiplicity. His biggest question mark is run defense consistency, but his third‑down impact is NFL‑ready.
How Pick 14 Fits Baltimore’s Draft Philosophy
Baltimore’s draft history under DeCosta shows a consistent willingness to invest in the defensive front when value aligns. With Minter shaping the defensive vision, the Ravens appear poised to target players who can win with both athleticism and technique: traits that define the top of this year’s edge class.
Mesidor and Faulk both fit the Ravens’ prototype in different ways as bigger edge defenders that they have previously coveted in the past.
Given the depth of the 2026 edge group, at least one of these players, or Howell, Parker, or Young, should be available at pick 14. Each offers a blend of explosiveness, versatility, and long‑term potential that aligns with Baltimore’s defensive identity and the Combine‑week messaging from DeCosta and Minter.
