This post reviews the edge linebacker prospects in the 2023 draft from the Ravens’ perspective. The following positions have been reviewed to date:
Offense:
Wide Receivers, which can be found here and which was updated on April 20, 2023
Interior Offensive Lineman, which can be found here.
Defense:
Cornerbacks, located here.
Defensive Linemen, located here.
The Ravens Current Edge Linebacker Situation and the Need
The Ravens have a continuing need at the outside linebacker position. I expect Tyus Bowser to come back stronger in his second year removed from his Achilles injury. This will allow him to play on the strong side much more, and free up Odafe Oweh to get away from tight ends. Then we will see what the Ravens really have with Oweh. As far as David Ojabo goes, 2023 will be his rookie year as a practical matter. His first full training camp; getting in the work necessary to be on the field in running situations. Ojabo has a lot to do to become a full-time player in the NFL.
As of now, this is the Ravens edge linebacker complement. They need more help. Could they sign Justin Houston or Frank Clark after May 1? You bet, and I expect they will make a move like that. But neither Oweh nor Ojabo is a proven, effective commodity at this point. The need at the outside position continues. I expect the Ravens to jump in the water in the draft.
The Edge Linebacker Prospects
This is a very good crop of players. Edge linebacker is probably the deepest position in the draft.
Will Anderson
There’s really no reason to dwell on Anderson. He’ll be gone before the Ravens can say Jack Robinson.
Tyree Wilson
Ditto for Tyree Wilson. I don’t need to do a write-up here. If he’s available at pick 22, which he won’t be, you’d take him immediately and go home.
Lukas Van Ness
Van Ness is 6’5 and 272 lbs. from Iowa. Now one could fairly argue that Van Ness is no more likely to drop this far than Wilson. And there’s a 95% probability that’s right. But just in case.
Van Ness is an excellent athlete. He has long arms. Maybe one of his biggest assets is his massive hands, which should allow him to readily shed blocks in the NFL. He ran a fantastic 4.58 forty and his 3-cone was also outstanding. Van Ness is a player who is explosive, very strong, bends easily, has good balance, and uses his hands well. He sets a strong edge, and he will chase hard to the other side of the field. He’s also a powerful tackler.
Van Ness can get low, which I just love to see in an edge rusher. Now where he needs to improve is with the variety of moves he can bring on the outside. He played quite a bit in his career as a three-technique. Perhaps as a result Van Ness became very reliant on his bull rush capabilities, which he mastered. But Van Ness will have to put together a broader rush repertoire on the outside. We did see various club and rip moves surfacing in his playbook, so I believe there is much more he can master.
There’s clearly rush development work to do here. Is Van Ness the perfect edge player at this point? Not yet. But there’s a lot to work with here. If he’s there, take him. Round 1.
Nolan Smith
Smith is 6’3 from Georgia and carries a very light 235 lbs., struggling to hit 240 pounds. Smith is a much-ballyhooed prospect yet there are a few questions. But first, Smith the athlete. And boy is he a great athlete. He ran an unbelievable 4.39 forty, which is faster than most of the wide receivers at the Combine. His vertical jump and broad jump numbers were super elite. These are phenomenal traits. Smith is absolutely explosive; he has a tremendous first step. On the other hand, his arms are very short, his hands are miniscule, and his weight is at the very bottom of anyone you’d ever want to see play the edge linebacker position.
Smith’s explosion and twitchiness allows him to change directions on a dime. He has great pursuit and can threaten the edge with his elite quickness. Smith is relentless, runs with a super hot motor, is a hard worker, and a high character player. Though blessed with high end skills, he needs more work in developing a more consistent plan. He will be that much more effective when he learns the nuances of pass rushing instead of just relying on his gifts.
Unsurprisingly, Smith doesn’t offer an elite anchor on the edge, and he may struggle holding the point of attack against large offensive tackles. Smith needs more work in dropping into coverages, which the Ravens ask their outside linebackers to do. Smith’s sack production was not as high as one would’ve thought, though he wasn’t just given the green light to go get the quarterback. And I don’t see much by way of power rush from him.
For the Ravens the question is how much Smith adds as compared to what David Ojabo brings to the table. There is projection with Ojabo, and there is some projection with Smith too. Like Ojabo, Smith is coming off of an injury (torn pectoral). Smith is an elite talent. If by some chance he’s still there at pick 22 it would be very hard to ignore him. And if Eric DeCosta really does stick to his board it’s hard to think Smith isn’t a lot higher than 22. The Ravens met with Smith. Round 1.
Myles Murphy
Murphy is 6’5 and 258 lbs. from Clemson. He ran an excellent 4.53 on his pro day and brings a good wingspan with tiny hands. Murphy is a very powerful and explosive player who, some say, played better as a freshman than he did as a junior last year. When he brings that power he is very difficult to handle. He brings a very good bull rush to the table though he needs to more regularly drop his hips to get maximum production. What I don’t see from Murphy is a pass rush plan. There’s a lot of work to do here. He can shove you way back but fails to use his hands to great advantage, and he hasn’t developed much in the way of counters. Murphy is not going to be your edge speed rusher and might not be best suited for a 3-4 defense.
Murphy maintains his balance when on the move. His power is evident. He holds the point of attack on running plays, and he will chase you down. When his pads get high he can get stalled out in the run game. But his combination of natural gifts is hard to match. He may need two or three years, like Zadarius Smith did, to reach his potential. Would I draft him at 22? That’s a tough call. Round 1.
Will McDonald IV
McDonald is 6’3 and a mere 239 pounds from Iowa State. McDonald has the same physical dimensions as Nolan Smith. He weighed in at 245 pounds on his pro day. McDonald has very long arms and brings great explosiveness. He only ran a 4.69 forty. McDonald is an outstanding speed rusher who had some excellent reps at the Senior Bowl practices.
McDonald has excellent bend and brings an excellent spin move. He brings great ankle flexion and has excellent hip strength. His combination of attributes gives him a chance to be an outstanding rusher. This is a player who can get away from blockers and get to the quarterback in a hurry. What he doesn’t bring is power to his rush game, and he thinks a bit too much when attacking as opposed to reading the offensive tackle and exploiting him. This can be coached up. And I see him as a bit of a liability right now as a run defender. That bulk just isn’t in his lower body. Play strength could be an issue without it. With more strength McDonald has a chance to be dominant on the edge. At this point, he’s a guy who shouldn’t be playing with his hand in the dirt.
But let’s face it. With his kind of explosion, ankle flexion, hip fluidity and very long arms, he’s equipped to become a speed rush monster. This is a guy I’d grab in the second round if the Ravens wind up there. Round 1-2.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah
Anudike-Uzomah is 6’3 and 255 lbs. from Kansas State. He didn’t run due to a hamstring issue. A-U brings outstanding bend that you just can’t teach, but isn’t the athlete that some of his peers are. Although he knows what he’s doing as a speed rusher, he’s not as dominating up the arc as you’d like to see, and he certainly doesn’t set the edge as consistently as he’ll need to in the NFL. A-U brings a hot motor but he doesn’t have elite lateral agility or quickness. He could stand to improve his use of leverage in his attack.
He’s not the well-rounded edge setter and rusher that the Ravens have historically targeted. He’ll chase you down and play hard and physical. But he’s not the complete package and I don’t think he’s the perfect target for the Ravens. Round 2.
B.J. Ojulari
Ojulari is 6’2 and 251 lbs. from LSU. He did not run the forty due to a hamstring injury. His broad jump was excellent but his vertical was not. Ojulari is barely 21 years old and brings long arms along with enormous hands. He brings excellent hand usage, and very good balance and excellent bend at the top of the arc. Speed and quickness are his game. The primary way he wins is with speed around the edge. He has a wide array of moves already developed including a ghost move, spin move, chop, and more which is truly impressive given that he is only 20.
Ojulari can adjust is moves in rush. His power is lacking (though he is good with a long arm), and he can get engulfed and unable to escape. This is a player who could stand to add some strength below the hips to become a more complete player in the NFL. I don’t see him being able to set a hard edge in the run game at this point. I’m not sure how effective Ojulari will be with his hand in the dirt; time will tell. Can his frame support more? And he needs to add some counters to the inside.
Ojulari’s great speed will make him a real threat off the edge if he can keep himself clean. He’s a natural dipper while on the move and he will chase you down. Ojulari brought as many pressures as anyone. He brings a strong variety of moves and brings great effort all the way across the field. Ojulari is a very high character guy who was also a team captain at age 20.
He has been able to play down the field against tight ends and running backs. Right now, I see Ojulari as a pass rush specialist supreme. Can he get to the point of playing three downs? The weight room and coaching are the key (he needs to improve his power and hand placement). His talent will likely land him in the second round. But would he bring the Ravens more than what Ojabo already (in theory) offers? Round 2.
Keion White
White is 6’5 and 285 lbs. from Georgia Tech. White is a very big man who is scheme versatile, as he lined up quite frequently in a stand-up position at Georgia Tech even at that size. I can easily see him lining up inside on passing downs. He ran a 4.76 forty when his hamstring was not 100% (great for a man his size). He has quick on his feet. White brings a built upper body but a lighter mass lower frame which hinders him, and he finds himself off balance a bit too much. He doesn’t have the initial burst that others at the top of this class bring, but he brings good bend and could be further coached up in that regard. There’s tape where he struggles to anchor, and down blocks give him trouble.
White brings a strong and powerful punch, though he can be inconsistent and his hand technique needs a lot of work; he is inconsistent and sometimes really struggles. His pass rush game needs refinement as he relies on his power more than a plan, lacking go-to moves. He brings a lot of power, and that was evident in the Senior Bowl practices, where he performed well. He also brings good bend and flexibility.
White is a high energy player and known to be a very hard worker who takes to coaching. He sustains and continues to generate power. He’s 24 years old. White needs to improve his diagnosis ability. He brings an interesting combination of abilities, with a combination of power, speed and bend that offers upside. I’m not sure why he weighs 285 pounds. I think he’d be more effective at 265. But I’m also not sure he’s agile enough to set the edge in the Ravens’ scheme. I can see him more as a 5-technique, though he’s wildly inconsistent in gaining proper leverage. White is a difficult projection. Some see him as a first rounder. I don’t. The Ravens met with White. Round 2.
Tuli Tuipulotu
Tuipulotu is 6’3 and 266 lbs. from USC. Tuipulotu brings great power and effort to his game. He is relentless. He played at 290 pounds at USC but is now down to 266 and if he can maintain that weight (which he has struggled with ) could be playing the edge in the NFL. Tuipulotu is not explosive but is quick to diagnose and generate momentum. He’s a young and ascending player. He has short arms which can be problematic in getting free, and sometimes plays at a high pad level. There are too many instances where he doesn’t complete the play. What he does bring are powerful and active hands. Tuipulotu is more of an instinctive pass rusher than anything else. But he plays with bend and has some decent inside counter moves.
Tuipluto can play both inside and outside. It’s easy to see him dropping inside on passing downs and using has hands and power to penetrate the pocket. He’s a good, tough player in short-space. I’m not as convinced that he has the range to play on the edge in a Ravens scheme. Round 3.
Derick Hall
Hall is 6’3 and 254 pounds with very long arms from Auburn. He’s an excellent athlete, having run a 4.55 forty and bringing a tremendous broad jump. This guy is very explosive. Hall is an incomplete player. He has an unbelievable first step and can accelerate into the frame of an offensive tackle before the tackle has set his base, which is where most of his wins occur. But he lacks good counters and if doesn’t win immediately he can get stalled out. He is more linear than anything else where he simply brings speed to power. He uses his long arms well, and is particularly effective with a stab punch.
It’s hard to project him as becoming a number one pass rusher on your defense. When he tries to change direction and turn the corner he’s just too tight in the hips. As a result he loses his momentum. Hall just doesn’t win with the speed rushes, which I think will limit his effectiveness in the NFL. He has a hot motor. In the run game he gets knocked over quite a bit and has difficulty holding the point of attack. Hall doesn’t appeal to me; he’s just too one-dimensional. Round 3.
Isaiah Foskey
Foskey is 6’5 and 264 lbs. from Notre Dame. Foskey is a good but not athlete and ran an exceptional 4.58 forty. He brings explosion and strength to this game. At this point I see Foskey as a traits prospect who could be somewhat of a tweener. He has good get-off and brings speed to the table. Foskey was very productive in the backfield and was a team captain. His pass rush attack is somewhat undeveloped at this point, relying on his long arm and stab but lacking the type of counters he will need in the NFL.
Foskey shows a solid ghost move. I don’t think he has enough bend at the arc to consistently threaten tackles, and he may have challenges defeating good anchors. He has not dominated in the run game the way he should and he was handled fairly easily by the two Ohio State NFL-caliber offensive tackles..
Foskey is relentless and will chase down on the backside. He needs to play with more pop in his hands. Foskey has room to get better, but I’m not convinced where his best role will be. Round 3.
YaYa Diaby
Diaby is 6’3 and 263 pounds from Louisville. He ran an excellent 4.51 forty and tested very well athletically. Diaby has a good push and pull move as a solid bull rusher but is lacking effective counter moves. He holds the edge well and is able to shed blocks. He is relentless and will chase you down. I see him as a 5-technique defensive end. He’s not an instinctive pass rusher at this point, and how he grows there (to what degree) will determine his future in the NFL. Therefore, it’s a lot about projection with Diaby.
I thought Diaby did not distinguish himself at the Senior Bowl practices. He clearly needs refinement to his rushing approach but he offers the type of natural explosion and power that you look for. Round 4.
Isaiah McGuire
McGuire is 6’4 and 268 lbs. from Missouri. He ran a 4.76 forty (not fast at all). He brings great bend along with good foot balance and strength. McGuire can set the edge and should be very good against the run in the NFL. His bend allows him to attack successfully as a bull rusher and he brings a good rip move. But he is not sudden. To take his pass rush game to the next level, he will have to develop stronger counter moves in order to win more frequently when he’s getting stalled out. What McGuire is not is the twitchy, quick player on the edge. Round 4.
K.J. Henry
Henry is 6’4 and 253 lbs. from Clemson . He ran a top tier 4.63 forty but otherwise did not test well. Henry is a man who knows how to use his hands. He’s very consistent with them too. He can go inside on pass rushing downs. The problem for Henry is that he’s just not explosive enough to threaten the edge. He does offer a very good club-swim move. I’m always leery of older prospects (he’s 24) who still have a way to go to develop their skills. Henry brings a very hot motor and chases down the backside. He’s not a higher-end edge setter, and that gives me pause since he’s not an elite pass rusher. I’m not sure I see anything that can be elite about Henry. I grade him lower than most. Round 5.
Byron Young
The second of the two Byron Young’s in this draft, this Byron Young is 6’2 and 250 lbs. from Tennessee. He ran an absolutely blazing 4.40 forty and is an outstanding athlete. Young is already 25 years old which, as noted elsewhere, always scares me when projecting the possibility for future growth. Young is probably headed to be a rotational pass rusher in the NFL. He is very explosive, has great twitch and a very good first step, and knows how to attack tackles in space. Young brings a very good bag of moves and is very quick when stunting. He also understands how to attack as a bull rusher. When he explodes forward with his arms punching he is difficult to stop. But he has very short arms and small hands, which is a bad physical combination. Young is very determined.
Young obviously has a small frame, which creates its own limitations on the edge. He tends to rely on his athleticism more than attacking with a plan. His hands need work and he has not developed an adequate set of counters. Young is easily swallowed up in the run game, and there’s no way he’s going to set a hard edge in the NFL. He just isn’t a guy to stack and shed. I don’t think the Ravens need or want a player who is pretty much a one-dimensional situational pass rusher. Pass. Round 4.
Zach Harrison
Harrison is 6’5 and 274 lbs. from Ohio State. Right now Harrison to me is more traits than production. He offers great size and length but did not use them to great effect frequently enough. He doesn’t have any go-to moves as a pass rusher, primarily relying on winning with his first step. Harrison is a linear player. He needs much more discipline as a pass rusher as well, as there were too many instances on tape where he was just washed up the arc, creating easy underneath lanes for the quarterback. When he wins, he does it with power.
Harrison does not play with great bend and can be slow off the ball. Because he plays too tall too often, lacking leverage, tackles can get under his pads and stall him out. I’m struggling to see Harrison as developing any elite qualities. He lacked consistent production in college. I don’t think he can do it as a pass rusher at the NFL level and see him at this point as an athlete whose ceiling is not as high as others might think. Round 4.
D.J. Johnson
Johnson is 6’4 and 260 lbs. from Oregon. Another older prospect (he’ll be 25 during the season) Johnson ran an excellent 4.49 forty. Johnson is an explosive player who hasn’t developed the refinements as a pass rusher that you need in the NFL. He’s reasonably effective at converting speed to power and is a good knee bender. Johnson has a powerful bull rush that he generated with his hands and good arm extension. Johnson’s hips are a bit too tight, leading to high pad levels. This is a player who still has a lot of development work ahead, and I just don’t touch those type of guys when they are this old. Pass. Round 4-5.
Nick Hampton
Hampton is 6’2 and 236 lbs. from Appalachian State. He ran an excellent 4.58 forty. He had solid jumping numbers. Hampton is obviously quite small, and its hard to project him having a major impact unless he bulks up his frame first. He is so small in the lower part of his frame that its just impossible seeing him being able to hold the edge in the NFL. Further, he is mostly linear and is not the most fluid of players.
Most of the time Hampton relies on simple speed to win. He hasn’t developed the type of counter-moves that he will need in order to be successful in the NFL. Hampton is not my cup of tea. Sure, perhaps you can use him as a situational rusher and on special teams. But I’m not drafting those types of players unless he is an elite rusher, which Hampton isn’t. Pass. Round 5-6.
Andre Carter II
Carter is 6’7 and 260 lbs. from Army. Carter’s athletic testing was simply putrid. And he ran a horrible 4.91 on his pro day. Physically, he’s just not there from an NFL perspective. Right now, it’s hard to imagine seeing Carter lined up over an offensive tackle. He just doesn’t have the muscle mass to make you think he can compete there. To say that he lacks a strong base is an understatement. Carter has a ton of work to do in the weight room. And with his height, gaining leverage will likely be an issue. It’s very hard to see him being able to set any kind of reasonable edge in the NFL until (if) he adds the necessary strength.
Carter moves easily on the field, with good agility on tape. Notwithstanding his size, he showed notable bend. And although he has a good group of swipe and club moves, his lack of strength reduces their effectiveness. Carter will pursue hard. Carter is very much projection at this point. I just don’t see where he would fit in for the Ravens. Others grade him much higher than me. Round 6.
Viliami Fehoko
Fehoko is 6’4 and 276 lbs. from San Jose State. Fehoko ran a 4.72 forty and does not present as a top end athlete. He’s surprisingly quick for his size, though he is not an explosive player. He will not beat you around the corner with great bend. Fehoko has relatively short arms, which could present challenges for him against top NFL tackles. What Fehoko brings is good power and the ability to utilize his hands to maximum effect. He maintains his balance well and plays with good pad level. Fehoko has a motor that won’t quit and doesn’t seem to tire during the game.
Fehoko’s excellent hands allow him to counter reasonably well. Unlike some of the other rush prospects in this draft, he know what he’s doing and seems to have a good backup plan. But because he’s not an elite athlete it’s hard to see him consistently winning on the edge. He’s the kind of guy you want to slip inside on pass rushing downs. But can he be dominant anywhere? I don’t think so. He’s a rotational player. Round 5.
Dylan Horton
Horton is 6’4 and 257 lbs. from TCU. He ran a 4.73 forty and otherwise tested poorly. He is not going to beat you with great athleticism. The strength of Horton’s game so far is his hands. He’s quick out of his stance and understands what he sees. He can play too tall, and he doesn’t set a hard enough edge because he doesn’t anchor well enough, or have a consistent ability to shed. His short area quickness is also not where it needs to be in the run game. As a pass rusher he has good explosion, but he has not yet developed the type of counter moves that he will need at the next level. Round 5-6.
Mike Morris
Morris is 6’5 and 275 lbs. from Michigan. Morris had a terrible athletic performance at the Combine and ran the grandmother 40 time of 4.95. He’s a better player on tape than athlete, however. Morris is not going to bring great burst to the table. He struggles getting and staying low and just hasn’t played very much in his career. He does bring good agility. The general problem with Morris is that at his size he really can’t be an edge linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and would figure better playing the 5-technique. I must say that his horrible testing just scares me away. Combine that with the fact that he’s not a dominant run defender, and I just don’t see him fitting. Pass. Round 6.
Lonnie Phelps
Phelps is 6’2 and 244 lbs. from Kansas. Phelps ran a very good 4.55. But his size and very short wingspan make you wonder where he fits in. What Phelps brings is an outstanding explosion on the snap with low pads. He is very quick laterally and has good agility. He brings a good dip and rip move in his pass rushing attack, and he has a decent spin move as a counter when called upon. Phelps never quits. He does not, however, set a hard edge and will likely struggle there in the NFL without a stronger and larger base. He will chase down the line, but if you run right at him he can find himself in trouble.
I see Phelps as a situational pass rusher at this point. Round 6.
