The Baltimore Ravens aren’t in desperate need of an edge rusher. But don’t let that fool you. With 11 picks in their back pocket and a GM who’s never one to sit still, they’re clearly circling that position—and Eric DeCosta didn’t even try to hide it.
Speaking to the media ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, DeCosta dropped more than a few breadcrumbs when asked about the team’s pass-rushing outlook. The Ravens might have brought back every outside linebacker from last year’s squad, but when the general manager says the class is “really strong” and “exciting for us,” you can go ahead and pencil it in as a likely target.
The Ravens finished second in the league in sacks last season. That didn’t stop DeCosta from openly praising the edge group in this year’s class and listing it among the top three positional strengths of the entire draft. It’s no longer a question of “if” Baltimore takes an edge—it’s “when.”
Eric DeCosta likes the edge class, and he’s not hiding it
When asked directly about the Ravens’ outlook at edge rusher, DeCosta said:
“Well, I do. I do think it’s a good Draft class. Now also, if I’m not mistaken, we’ve got our entire outside linebacker core coming back this year, so that’s a great situation for us, because we didn’t lose anybody… Now again, there are some really talented guys in this Draft class, and there are guys that we’ll be looking at as first-round guys, second-round guys, third-round guys [or] fourth-round guys we think could come in and compete to play right away or develop and become really good players, so that’s exciting for us.”
Translation? Depth now, starters soon. And if Baltimore’s track record is any indication, they’ll take a swing on traits and upside over college box scores.
DeCosta emphasized it again when asked about production versus projection:
“It’s a cocktail… you take everything into account. It’s not just production… It’s the totality of all that stuff that we look at when we build out our Draft board.”
Sound familiar? That’s exactly how the Ravens ended up with Odafe Oweh—no sacks his final year at Penn State, but all the traits. Three years later? Double-digit sacks.
So who fits that mold this year?
Abdul Carter is going top-five, but names like Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), and Nic Scourton (Texas A&M) all check tons of boxes.
Ezeiruaku, in particular, has popped up in multiple Ravens mock drafts—he’s a twitchy, bendy pass rusher with elite get-off who can rotate early and develop fast. Stewart and Pearce bring the size-speed combo Baltimore loves. Scourton’s motor and pass-rush toolkit scream “Day 2 value.”
There’s also LSU’s Bradyn Swinson, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, and Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart—all guys who can contribute in a rotational role early and fit the Ravens’ 3-4 edge profile on Day 2 or 3.
With Kyle Van Noy turning 34, Odafe Oweh entering a contract year, and David Ojabo still an enigma, Baltimore can’t afford to wait on its next edge weapon. DeCosta might have the league’s most complete roster heading into this draft. But even he knows the pass rush needs to keep evolving. Don’t be surprised if that evolution begins early on April 24. DeCosta practically confirmed it.
