The defensive line prospects in the 2024 NFL draft are reviewed from the perspective of the Baltimore Ravens. Previous position analyses are listed below:
Offensive Players:
Running backs are reviewed here.
Wide receivers are reviewed here.
Tackles are reviewed here.
Guards are reviewed here.
Defensive Players:
Edge linebackers are reviewed here.
Cornerbacks are reviewed here.
Safeties are reviewed here.
The Ravens Current Defensive Line Situation and Need
Defensive line is one of the positions that is fairly well settled going into the 2024 season. The Ravens are bringing back their entire 2023 defensive front: Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, and Brent Urban. Pierce and Urban are likely in their last seasons in Baltimore, and it’s conceivable that Urban could be forced off the roster this year depending on who else the Ravens might bring in. The Ravens will very likely draft at least one defensive line prospect.
A Thought on Conceptualizing the Defensive Line and the Ravens Draft Capital
The question this year is: how much draft capital do the Ravens spend on a position of lighter need in 2024? By comparison, last year, fully expecting Patrick Queen to leave the team in 2024, the Ravens expended third round draft capital on Trenton Simpson. They were perfectly willing to go that high, even though Simpson was unlikely to play in 2023, because they knew a starter’s spot would be open in 2024.
But bear in mind that Simpson figured to be a full-time starter in 2024, getting 95% of the snaps (it’s hoped) at the weakside position. Under that scenario, spending third round capital made perfect sense.
Let’s contrast that with the most probable defensive line situation for 2025. Michael Pierce is a central part of the defensive line rotation (Urban is clearly the fifth lineman of the group). Going into 2025, assuming Pierce is gone, the Ravens will need a player who can contribute at least 20-25 snaps per game. That works out to less than 50% of the defensive line snaps. In that case, the argument for spending third round capital this year for someone who will likely play less than half of the snaps next year is less compelling.
With this background, I’m concentrating on 3-4 defensive line prospects who I think are not likely to get drafted before the third round. This eliminates from consideration: Johnny Newton; Byron Murphy II, and Kris Jenkins. And the real focus is trying to find someone who will go no higher than the bottom of round three. Of course, there’s always the possibility that a compelling lineman could fall down the board into round three.
Now when we consider which defensive line prospects could fit the Ravens front, we should bear in mind that all five Ravens defensive linemen last year lined up in multiple different gaps on at least 20% of their respective snaps (“A’ gap between the center and guard; “B” gap between the guard and tackle, and over the tackle). Thus, the Ravens prefer defensive linemen who offer versatility. I look for that below.
Defensive Line Prospects
I don’t think this is a deep year for prospects with a third round grade or lower. There are very few defensive line prospects who I think are draftable below the third round as fits for what the Ravens generally want.
Mike Hall Jr.
Hall is not quite 21 years old, 6’2 and 299 pounds from Ohio State. Hall is comparatively small for a defensive tackle, with average hand size and arm length. What Hall brings is quickness to the inside. And it shows up to great effect as a push rusher where, even though Hall generated just 1.5 sacks last year, he was second in the country among defensive tackles in his pass rush win rate. He was constantly winning but counting on his teammates to get the sack. Hall uses an outstanding arm-over move and his raw power to win towards the quarterback. He spins well and has good range.
The challenge for Hall is in the run game. He lacks the mass you’d like to see in a Ravens front at really all techniques. He doesn’t generate the drive you want on a consistent basis. He’s certainly not a Michael-Pierce type in the run game, nor is he able to win in the run game the same way Justin Madubuike can. He can get knocked around on the inside. Hall hasn’t developed how to use his hands correctly, either in run or pass.
Now Hall is very young and offers further possible development. I don’t think he projects well in the A gap, and he’d more likely be usable like Justin Madubuike – in the B gap or over the tackle. His game at this point, and the skills he brings, just aren’t well suited for the positional need. Round 2-3. Ravens: No.
Ruke Orhorhoro
Orhorhoro is 22.5 years old, 6’5 and 294 pounds from Clemson. The strengths of his game are using leverage to get under blockers, and first step explosiveness. He possesses quick feet and has a powerful pop in his active hands. He is a good tackler. Orhorhoro incorporates spins, twists, and stunts into his game. But he offers limited lateral agility, which turns him into a straight-line pass rusher. And his pass rush attack needs more refinement.
The Ravens prefer that their defensive linemen stop the run first. But Orhorhoro is just not proficient as a run stopper at this point. He is not a space-eater, and I don’t see him offering the positional versatility to be moved around the line. He lacks adequate mass to take on double-teams, and sometimes has a difficult time disengaging. Orhorhoro needs more time to max out his game. And there is a potentially high ceiling. But I don’t think he’s the right type of defensive line prospect for the Ravens at this point. Round 2-3. Ravens. No.
T’Vondre Sweat
Sweat is 22.8 years old, 6’4 and an absolutely massive 366 pounds from Texas. Despite his size, he’s an above-average athlete who is very quick. He is not the stereotypical slow moving giant. Sweat is a run-stuffing defensive tackle supreme. He just dominated at the Senior Bowl where he was almost unblockable in one-on-one drills, and highlighted an overpowering bull rush repertoire. I admit I’m predisposed to preferring tackles like this for the Ravens scheme who show domination at the Senior Bowl.
Sweat started as a nose tackle where he can handle two gaps, but he’s also capable of playing the 3-technique and potentially even some 5-technique, similar to how Travis Jones is developing. He brings great upper body strength combined with a tremendous anchor. Sweat really knows how to use his hands. He has an excellent punch, and can glide his hands over the head of the blocker and shove the blocker away. Sweat would easily fill a role in Baltimore where he could occupy blockers and allow the inside linebackers to clean up. But he potentially could bring much more than that.
Sweat can stack and shed and has reasonably good short space change of direction ability. He’s certainly a bull rusher but has also demonstrated an ability to chase the quarterback. He can collapse the pocket. Sweat is a three-down player in my view. But he needs to improve his conditioning.
I have a high grade on Sweat. Would I take him at the bottom of the third round? It’s possible. Round 3-4. Ravens: Yes.
Braden Fiske
Fiske is 24.25 years old, 6’4 and 292 pounds from Florida State. Fiske unfortunately brings extraordinarily short arms. He tested out as an excellent athlete though, and put on an amazing performance for a defensive tackle at the Combine.
Fiske has a high football IQ. He knows how to get under a lineman’s pads, using his hands to gain excellent leverage to get past either shoulder. Fiske also uses those hands to great effect shedding blockers. He brings elite snap anticipation and can push the pocket. Fiske has good bend. He also has good ankle flexion. And although he has good technique against double teams, he still has had some trouble against them. But he has the ability to find the runner even when he’s engaged by a blocker.
Fiske had a very good performance at the Senior Bowl. He was the most difficult interior defender to block, highlighting his great burst off the line of scrimmage. He’s an effort player who will pursue anywhere. Fiske is relentless. He uses his physicality to generate push into the backfield, or squeeze into the gap. I can see him as a 5-technique (outside the tackle’s outside shoulder) and possibly in the B gap. He occupies blockers well on twists and stunts on passing plays. But he’s not going to consistently win getting to the quarterback. However, I think Fiske could be fairly effective in stunts and rush schemes. He has the feet and necessary athletic ability in that respect.
Fiske could be a good fit for the Ravens in the roles outlined. But he will not be a good successor as a Michael Pierce replacement as a nose tackle or A gap player. Round 3-4. Ravens: Yes.
Maason Smith
Smith is 21.5 years old, 6’5 and 306 pounds from LSU. He has extraordinarily long arms but tested poorly athletically. Smith has a good thick frame with a lot of upper body strength and the power to shove blockers aside and plug the gap. Smith doesn’t always use his power to advantage. He can be too upright off the snap, and generally can get too high too often, allowing blockers into his body and stalling out. Leverage can be an issue. And I didn’t see that lower body leg drive that you like for a man to be a true run stopper.
Smith can be a bit too lazy on occasion. In addition, he’s very raw with his hand usage. But he has the ability to move laterally and has a natural quickness that is unusual for a man his size.
Smith’s production has not met his ability, with only 9.5 tackles for loss across 17 games. He was suspended by the NCAA in 2023 for one game for having received an improper benefit, putting his personal judgment at issue. He also missed the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL.
Some evaluators see Smith as a second round prospect. I think that’s a very big stretch; I just don’t see it. Yes, he has some upside, but he has a long way to go to maximize his talents. Presumably, at age 21, and given his inexperience, he will have ample opportunity to do so. I rate him much lower, and see him to some degree as a traits prospect who needs a lot of work. Those aren’t the type of defensive linemen that I prefer. Round 4 (he’ll go higher). Ravens: No.
Mekhi Wingo
Wingo is barely 21 years old, 6’0 and 284 pounds from LSU. He is an undersized, but powerful, lineman with great power below his hips. Unfortunately, he has very short arms. Wingo has terrific, violent hands and the ability to escape lateral blocks down the line. Unsurprisingly, his lack of length can become an issue. Wingo possesses excellent lateral quickness and will control whatever gets into his range. His athleticism should play to his advantage on the interior.
Wingo has very good snap reaction and easily maintains his balance. He could have some utility as a penetrating pass rusher. He’ a tough kid; a team captain who works very hard. Wingo does not have the ability to hold two gaps, and can be engulfed by bigger lineman.
Like some others in this draft, Wingo’s skillset does not seem to completely mesh well with what the Ravens do. He’s a talented player with some upside, but also with obvious limitations. He can not play the nose and I don’t see him in the B gap; his short arms make him a bit suspect over the tackle. Round 3-4. Ravens: No.
Leonard Taylor III
Taylor is almost 22, 6’3 and 303 pounds from Miami. Taylor is an excellent athlete who brings some rare traits to the position. But right off the bat, I don’t think he’s capable of playing the nose (zero-technique) because he just doesn’t hold up well against double teams and won’t keep the inside linebackers clean. Taylor’s penetrating style is best suited as the 3-technique (where he lines up outside the shoulder of the guard) or even as a 5-technique.
Taylor has been an inconsistent player. At times, he plays utterly dominant, bringing a top-end explosive first step, and a violent rip move that can be devastating. He shoots gaps with real efficiency. Though he’s not super powerful in his upper body, he has enough strength to shed single blockers. He has long arms that he uses to gain leverage and brings violent hands to the point of attack.
Taylor has real bounciness to his feet, allowing him to fire off the ball. Although he has the frame and athleticism to be a dominant pass rusher, he has yet to become consistently impactful in the passing game. At this point, he lacks sufficient moves to be a regular threat. He can get washed out when he stalls because he lacks a second move. And he can be challenged converting speed to power, as well as having difficulty maintaining his anchor. As a run defender he brings good lateral movement and can flatten down the line to make plays. But he is not equipped to play the A gap. He can play too tall, and when he does his leverage disappears and he loses out against powerful blockers.
Disappointingly, Taylor had a much better season in 2022 than in 2023. There is plenty of talent to work with, but he’s an inconsistent player (can clearly disappear) and has a level of boom or bust in him. Now because of his athleticism you could argue that he would fit well within the Ravens base defense. You can move him around, he’d likely do well on stunts, and potentially offers some defensive line versatility. But the risk with him is just too high, in my view. Round 3-4. Ravens: No.
Gabe Hall
Hall is 23.3 years old, 6’6 and 294 pounds from Baylor. Hall is another lineman who is probably best projected to the 3-technique in the NFL. He brings very good size, is well built, and a very good athlete. When he plays well, he is very good. Hall brings very good length (long arms). He is quick off the snap (though I wouldn’t call him explosive) and can both overwhelm blocks with his long arms and beat them with penetration.
Hall has good pop in his hands and can create knock-back separation. He brings good power at the point of attack and can stall out his blocker. Hall has a wide tackling radius. However, he is a tall player who has some difficulty bending down, leaving himself exposed and unable to shed blockers. Hall’s understanding of what he sees needs to improve.
Hall also lacks consistency. He had some very dominant reps at the Senior Bowl where he looked like a more advanced player. He highlighted his arm-over move as a way to get to the quarterback. But there’s enough tape where he was not able to consistently finish. And Hall doesn’t possess a high level of movement skills. It’s difficult to project him as an impactful pass rusher, where he lacks first-step explosiveness. Hall has been reasonably successful holding up against double teams, using his wide base to offer a stiff anchor.
Hall will likely get drafted higher than my grade. I see him as a player with some upside if he puts in the hard work, but with probably a lower ceiling than I’d like to see. Round 4-5. Ravens: No.
Brandon Dorlus
Dorlus is 23 years old, 6’3 and 283 pounds from Oregon. I see Dorlus as a tweener. He has played on the inside and, last year, played quite a bit of edge. Some see these qualities as offering positional versatility. But from the Ravens perspective, the challenge with Dorlus is whether he can hold up in the A gap or the B gap. I have my doubts. Dorlus lacks the strength to hold up against double teams in the run game. He plays too high too often, allowing blockers to drive him off the ball. He has difficulty disengaging. Dorlus is somewhat lean below the hips, and doesn’t consistently generate a powerful drive. Overall, he is a bit suspect as an interior run defender.
I don’t see an explosive first step in Dorlus’ game. Nor do I see a wide variety of pass rush moves. He has some quickness, but lacks lateral agility. His length and quickness suggest that he could be an effective rusher on the inside, but the consistent production has not been there. Because he plays too high, he gets washed out on occasion as a bull rusher. He can actually be a bit stiff. On the edge, he lacks necessary power to set a hard edge in the run game. And he showed very little by way of pursuit speed, so I can’t envision him playing as a pure edge defender. Could he play the 5-technique? Perhaps.
In all, I don’t think Dorlus has NFL-level positional versatility to the degree the Ravens would likely prefer. Round 3-4. Ravens: No.
Jowon Briggs
Briggs is 23.6 years old, 6’1 and 313 pounds from Cincinnati. I try to find one or two players who fly below the radar, and Briggs is a candidate this season. He is 313 pounds of muscle and has incredible strength. What is notable about his game is his snap quickness combined with his power. Briggs brings a nice explosive first step, allowing him to penetrate into the backfield on the snap. He brings very powerful and heavy hands, and a doggedness to his game.
Briggs certainly is not a prototypical interior defensive lineman. He ran a 5.0 forty, benched 39 reps, and demonstrated excellent athleticism on his pro day. Briggs has versatility, having been aligned all across the defensive front during his career, playing as a 5-technique (and even on the edge). He’s capable of stunting, with very quick feet, and his speed allows him to pursue, where he will close with a burst. Briggs obviously lacks ideal length. But he attacks blocks and keeps his feet churning.
Briggs has developed some moves as a pass rusher, including a nice arm-over and a solid club. But he can have trouble disengaging from blocks. He’s fairly straight-line in that respect. Briggs can get too high, a trait that will have to be corrected if he is to stick on an NFL roster.
Now I don’t know whether he’ll get drafted. But if I’m sitting in round six with several picks in my pocket (which the Ravens might be), I’d turn a card in on Briggs (as opposed to playing the undrafted free agent game) as a person who can add versatility across the defensive front as a rotational player. Round 6-7. Ravens: Yes.
Khristian Boyd
Boyd is 24 years old, 6’2 and 329 pounds from Northern Iowa. Boyd is a thick, powerful man. He brings a nice, explosive first step, generally keeps his pads low, and has a stout base. He’s perfectly built to take on double teams on the defensive line, but was inconsistent in doing it. Boyd also has powerful hands and a very good grip. He can find and get to runners in the gaps.
Boyd lacks lateral agility. He doesn’t possess great length (he has short arms), and can struggle disengaging as a result. He had a good showing at the Shrine Bowl. But I have some problem seeing Boyd being able to turn his hips. As a pass rusher he is still a work in progress. He’s added a few moves to his bull rush inventory but lacks a good counter. Boyd has upside in his game, as he improved nicely last season, albeit against a lower level of competition. He’s on my board, but not as high as others have him. I don’t see him as a pure nose tackle, and think he lacks positional versatility. Round 6-7. Ravens: No.
McKinnley Jackson
Jackson is 22.3 years old, 6’1 and 326 pounds from Texas A&M. He has a nose tackle’s body (played largely over the A gap last year) but could bring more than that. Jackson had a solid week at the Senior Bowl. He brings the technique and skill of a solid nose, with a low center of gravity, and the raw power in both his upper and lower body that you need to succeed at that spot. Jackson has an explosive first step and gets right into the chest of blockers. He can also penetrate. Jackson can sometimes get stuck on his blocks and doesn’t always shed as well as one would think given his power.
Jackson could stand to improve his punch and explosion in his hands. He doesn’t discard blocks as well as you’d like on a consistent basis. He brings good balance. As a pass rusher his package is still under development. I was shocked on one beautiful inside spin move as he blew by his blocker, leaving me wonder where did that come from? That one move alone demonstrated surprisingly good footwork and excellent balance. There’s some ability there that needs more water to grow. Jackson also possesses a decent bull rush, but must further develop counters.
The question with Jackson is whether he can play two-gap in the NFL, i.e., can he control the gap on each side of the center? Because if you don’t think that he can, he’s probably best served in a 4-3 alignment.
Unfortunately, Jackson has character concerns. He was arrested on drug charges in 2021 and suspended for two games. And his conditioning might be suspect as he averaged only 36 snaps per game last season. Jackson certainly has talents and is probably a player on the upswing. Is he the best fit for the Ravens, notwithstanding the potential character and conditioning issues? Round 6-7. Ravens: Yes (but only if the character issue is resolved).
Others: No
Dewayne Carter – Duke
Justin Eboigbe – Alabama (medical concerns; mediocre Senior Bowl)
Marcus Harris – Auburn
Fabien Lovett Sr. – Florida State
Jaden Crumedy – Mississippi State
