I’m out of my hibernation. It’s time for the annual Ravens pre-draft positional analyses for the upcoming 2025 draft! This analysis, and each of the ones to follow, are not intended as generic player reviews. Rather, the focus is on analyzing which players fit the specific needs of the Ravens. These reviews are solely from the Ravens perspective. Some very good players, high up on mock draft boards, just don’t make sense for Baltimore, and are rated accordingly. This post starts with edge linebackers.
All of this analysis ends up incorporated in my “Big Board” thoughts, posted after all of the position analyses are finished.
NEW BLOG SUBJECT – As a side note, this blog is adding a section on the JFK Assassination. Of long-standing interest to two people who will be posting, the assassination remains one of the great mysteries in U.S. history. Our amateur sleuths will plumb a lot of depths with factual analyses of what actually happened that day in Dallas, and more. Readers currently on the email list will have links forwarded as posts are made. Feel free to send us comments.
Now, back to the draft!
This year, I’m again ignoring quarterbacks and centers. If time permits (and it might not), I’ll look at tight ends. But the current schedule for reviews (if I get to it all) is as follows:
Edge Linebackers
Safeties
Cornerbacks
Defensive Tackles
Inside Linebackers
Guards
Offensive Tackles
Wide Receivers
Running Backs
Tight Ends
There’s a heavy focus on getting through the defensive positions, given the Ravens’ obvious needs on that side of the ball. Starters are arguably needed at all levels of the defense. The offense is in much better shape, where it’s entirely possible that no starters are currently needed.
Now, time to start in with the edge linebackers.
Edge Linebackers
At the edge linebacker position the Ravens currently have Odafe Oweh (in the last year of his contract), Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo, Adissa Isaac, and Malik Hamm. Van Noy is trying to outrun father time, and is most effective on passing downs. Oweh is continuing to make gradual improvement but has not been used as a full time player. Robinson is just a run stopper, and the other three have made no on-field impression at all. There is no pure full-time player in this group.
There’s a serious need for a high-end edge rusher. Ideally, the Ravens will draft someone who can play three downs and set a hard edge. There’s no sense thinking about Abdul Carter, for obvious reasons, but the rest of a deep edge linebacker class has several candidates who the Ravens could consider in the first and second rounds. It’s the deepest group in years.
Mike Green
Green is 6’4, 248 pounds and 21.75 years old from Marshall. He’s an excellent athlete and ran a 4.57 forty, but lacks elite length. Green is a wide-9 type of rusher. He needs more play strength, but he showed some power in the run game in pushing back tackles, and he improved in 2024. There are reasonable concerns that large tackles will stall him out in the run game, given his size. Green also showed some ability to stack and shed in the run game, but doesn’t possess the mass you look for in a hard edge setter.
Green brings excellent quickness, has a side-step ability, and great change of direction. He owns an excellent spin move due to top-level ankle flexion. Green is very fast, possessing elite speed for the position, and he has a very good burst. His hands are very active, with excellent power even though he weighs only 247.
Green converts speed to power. He maintains his body control while bending and can dip around the corner as well as anyone in this class. He possesses loose hips and owns a large bag of moves, including a stab, an outside spin, and a very good stop-start. As a result, he can attack as a pass rusher at all of the attack points. He brings a good group of counters as well. Green plays angles well. He plays hard all the time.
There were prior accusations against Green involving sexual assault (which he denied) and he was suspended by UVA as a result, but the investigation of the incident was dropped. There was also a sexual assault allegation against him in high school, but he was never charged. Character issues apparently arose again at the Combine, and supposedly some teams weren’t happy with his conversations about them.
At the Senior Bowl, Green displayed a strong variety of moves, including that good inside spin and some very good swipes. He was very impressive. Green is able to get low and under the pads of bigger offensive tackles. He is a relentless pass rusher who had a lot of productivity. But at this point he could struggle setting a hard edge against the run.
For the Ravens, the problem with Green is that, to date, he’s a stand-up edge player, i.e, a 5-technique backer. He has work to do as a run defender, as power blockers who get into him can negate him. If he frees himself he will pursue, and he’s effective against tight ends. With more strength these limitations can diminish. But he is blessed with great talent as an edge rusher. He has all of the skill you need to threaten around the edge, with bend, acceleration, power, and more. Round 1. Ravens – Yes, depending on the outcome of the character issue.
Shemar Stewart
The 21 year old Stewart is 6’4 and 281 pounds from Texas A&M. Even at his large size, he is one of the most freakish athletes you will ever see, with long arms (83.5” wingspan), and having run a blazing 4.59 forty (amazing for a man his size). Yet, Stewart has never had more than 1.5 sacks in a season (4.5 for his career), lacking production just like Odafe Oweh did at Penn State. But he did have a high level of pressures.
Stewart possesses excellent raw power combined with unusual explosiveness. He is tough to dislodge. Stewart has won with very good outside speed, and also possesses a series of inside moves. He is a natural speed-to-power player. Stewart has violent, though raw, hands.
In the run game Stewart is a strong stack and shed player. He sets a hard edge. He brings positional flexibility and can play inside, where he offers an explosive first step with the ability to penetrate. Stewart is fast in the open field and chases plays down on the back side. Unlike James Pearce (below) and Michael Green, Stewart sets a hard edge and, at this point, is a more rounded player. With elite straight-line speed, he easily chases plays down from behind. He has excellent lateral quickness.
As a pass rusher Stewart brings explosiveness and a natural bend. He easily slides inside. He converts speed to power. Too often Stewart finds himself off-balance. And he lacks any real pass rush moves repertoire.
For all of his phenomenal traits, Stewart was a disappointing tackler in college, with a very high missed tackle rate. At his size, Stewart can play too high. Yet, at that size he has excellent bend which, combined with his explosiveness, allows him to get around the arc and flatten to the quarterback. Stewart possesses a good mix of stunts and twists, with the ability to redirect himself, but needs to improve his ability to stack those moves together.
As with other gifted yet under-productive pass rushers, Stewart must develop a better pass rush plan. He really doesn’t have one at this point. This is where coaching – and coachability – are so important. His hand usage certainly needs work as he is too frequently landing too wide. And Stewart lacks a “go-to” move at this point.
Stewart dominated at the Senior Bowl with both power and speed rushes. He won with outside speed and showcased a variety of inside moves with powerful hands. I heavily favor players who are big winners at those practices. Yet, the complete lack of production and lack of any creative bag of tricks flash a yellow warning sign. Traits wise, he’s amazing. But . . .
Stewart could be a boom or bust player. He’s elite as an athlete, but raw as a football player. If you believe you can coach him up, and that he’ll take to the coaching, then he’s your guy. He’s known as a player with an uber competitive streak so that gives me optimism. I don’t typically care for boom or bust prospects, especially not in the first round. But Stewart’s as tempting as anyone from that perspective, so tempting that if he somehow fell to the Ravens, I’d turn in the card. Round 1. Ravens – Yes.
Jalon Walker
From Georgia, Walker is 21 years old, 6’1 and 243 pounds. Walker has experience both on the inside and on the outside. He is extremely light for an edge rusher with very short arms (only 32” – both of these traits are only 6th percentile), two traits that can be anathema in the NFL. To me, these traits alone scream for him to play on the inside and not align as an edge rusher. I may be in the minority on this point.
Walker has excellent initial quickness, and excellent burst. He also has outstanding closing speed. Walker has reasonably good counters and moves, particularly for a guy who didn’t really see the edge until last year. But he lacks the natural bend you look for in an edge defender. And he needs work on his hand usage to become a more dominant pass rusher. He’s a very good athlete in space. I think Walker could have some difficulty as an edge run defender. It’s a hard projection to see him consistently disengaging from big offensive tackles in the run game.
To me, Walker is better suited on the inside, where he can use his great speed to stay clear of the wash and run to the football. He’s made to play in space.
Walker is a high-character, natural leader. From the Ravens perspective, he’s just too small to project him as an edge-setting pass rusher. He’s probably better suited on the inside and as a blitzer. I don’t think he fits what the Ravens are looking for on the edge. But I think Walker can be a very good NFL player, arguably elite, on the inside, where the Ravens need is not as great. Round 1. Ravens – Pass.
James Pearce, Jr.
Pearce is 21.5 years old, 6’5 and 242 pounds from Tennessee. I note right off that allegedly there were character and work ethic issues at the Combine. These included rumors of issues with the Tennessee staff that led to a reduction in snap count, and potentially an attitude issue.
Pearce had a rare testing day, and ran a 4.47 forty. He looks fantastic on film. One can make a strong argument that he is the second best pass rusher in the draft. This is a guy who produced against top level competition. His game is based on his speed and first step explosiveness. Pearce has quick hands that he uses to keep linemen away from his body. He’s a speed-to-power guy without any other elite moves at the moment. Pearce could use a bit more upper body strength. He doesn’t bend as much as you’d like, which will make it harder for him to get around the corner in the NFL. As a run defender he is moved too easily and is not yet an edge setter. There’s no escaping that Pearce had an elite 29.8% pass rush win rate, lining up almost exclusively wide at Tennessee.
Pearce has almost all of the natural ability that you want. He needs polish in his pass rush attack; although he is somewhat reliant on his two-hand swipe, he utilizes some cross-chops, jabs and swims, and with NFL coaching and his natural gifts you expect him to develop a deeper plan of attack. The question for Pearce is whether he is willing enough to develop these skills; given the need in conjunction with his work ethic issues, one has to have doubts.
As a result, Pearce is a guy who could easily drop down the draft board, potentially all the way to the Ravens. I don’t like character issues, particularly coaches/work ethic concerns. I wouldn’t feel the need to take the gamble on Pearce if he fell to the Ravens. But make no mistake; without these concerns, he’s somewhere in the top 15 (if not higher) talent in this draft. Round 1-2. Ravens – Pass.
Mykel Williams
From Georgia, Williams is 6’5 and 260 pounds and 21 years old, with long arms. Williams brings size and athleticism to the party. He’s versatile, having played inside and outside at Georgia, though he’s clearly best suited on the edge. Williams is long. He is already an elite run defender. He anchors extremely well, gets his eyes into the backfield quickly, can stack and shed, and hold the edge. He’s also effective when forced inside as he possesses the quickness to penetrate and shoot gaps.
Williams can be too slow getting off of the ball, instead of regularly exploding at the snap; he’s inconsistent. But he owns the explosiveness you need. From a pass rush perspective he’s a bit stiff in changing direction when countering. His counter repertoire needs further development. Williams has plenty of power but has to refine his hand usage. He gets his arms extended but sometimes doesn’t disengage with those hands as well as he should. On occasion he uses his hands to push off a lineman quickly, getting them free and in excellent position. On other occasions the hands stay latched on too long. More refinement is needed in his pass rush repertoire, and it would be nice to see him add a pull to his push move. But he already possesses a very good club move and flashes a very good rip move. And he has excellent speed-to-power.
Williams can play too tall, and needs to learn to better sink his hips. But he plays all-out. He’s tough. In all, to this point he is not an elite pass rusher, and his college pass-rush win rate was low. In Williams you have a guy who should be a top-level run defender but needs work as a pass rusher.
Williams is a very good prospect in need of further development. From the Ravens perspective, he doesn’t figure to be an immediately impactful pass rusher in year one. He needs to add some weight to his frame, and must build out his pass rush package. But Williams has a high ceiling.
I can make the case for drafting him, as the Ravens have never been reluctant to draft edge rushers who need more refinement. One could fairly argue they haven’t been very successful at it in recent years. Personally, I’d prefer a more developed day-one pass rusher for the Ravens, which I think is the bigger need. Williams is a tough call for the Ravens. I would pass from their perspective, but I wouldn’t be jaw-dropped disappointed if they selected him. Round 1-2. Ravens – Maybe.
Olu Oladejo
Oladejo is 6’3 and 259 pounds out of UCLA. He owns long arms, and is 21.6 years old. Oladejo has a powerful frame, and brings positional versatility. That combination of length and power should allow him to deliver plenty of pop to offensive tackles. He played two years as an off-ball linebacker, only transitioning to the edge during his senior season. Oladejo is therefore very inexperienced as an edge rusher, and his rush repertoire shows it. Yet, he already shows a nice outside chop move, has demonstrated a good spin, and brings powerful hands. He has quick feet combined with the ability to shed blocks. Oladejo is also a strong tackler.
Oladejo is a strong edge setter who finds the ball carrier. He utilizes very good extension, though his pads can get high, indicating he needs technique work. He is the type of player who will chase on the backside with the speed to get there, and he shows very good range in the run game.
Oladejo also brings excellent explosiveness, is very aggressive, and is just beginning to evolve as a pass rusher. He played very well at the Senior Bowl practices, was dominant in the game (he had a sack on a beautiful interior speed rush), and brought very good bend, a cross chop, and that nice spin ability. But even in the Senior Bowl practices it was evident that he needs more work on developing counters.
Oladejo has good power and brings powerful hands, showcasing some natural leverage. He’s not easy to overpower. He uses leverage well. Because he’s raw as a pass rusher, he needs work on his timing and hand placement. But he’s naturally instinctive and brings a lot of upside. He needs to improve his play recognition, i.e., he must get in some serious study on the edge.
This is a player I really like because I think he has a lot of upside. The key for him is whether he can be coached up, and the Ravens have to be satisfied in that respect. Most observers considered him as a Day Three prospect before the Senior Bowl practices. I rate him much more highly (I’m sure he’s moved up boards). Round 2-3. Ravens: Yes.
Nic Scourton
Out of Texas A&M, Scourton is 6’4 and 280 pounds, and is 20.7 years old. Scourton is a big man playing the edge. He is not particularly explosive coming off the blocks.
Scourton is fairly dominant as a run stopper, bringing a lot of power at the point of attack. He can shed and tackle. Scourton holds his gap, and is a solid tackler. However, his discipline is inconsistent as he sometimes fires to the gap too quickly. His motor runs hot, but he’s not as laterally fluid as you’d like. Scourton gives great effort. He is a relentless pursuer, though he lacks elite speed.
As a pass rusher, Scourton has an excellent inside spin move. He relies too much on his bull rush. Although he rushes with a plan, Scourton has his share of moves but doesn’t possess the full bag of tricks like many of his smaller and quicker peers. He’s not a great bender nor does he have elite speed. Scourton too often plays with a high pad level. It’s hard to see him at this point as a player who will threaten to the top of the arc. I don’t think he will develop into an elite pass rusher as a result, but he is very young.
Scourton is a Courtney Upshaw type of player at this point, albeit with more in his pass rush bag than Upshaw. I think he can hold the edge like Tavius Robinson while offering more on passing downs. But it’s not easy to project him as a dominant pass rusher. Round 2-3. Ravens – Maybe (but unlikely, given the apparent love affair with Robinson).
Bradyn Swinson
At almost 23 years old, the LSU alum Swinson is 6’4 and 255 pounds with long arms. Swinson’s hand usage jumps off the tape. They are very active and powerful and, combined with those long arms, allow him to clear himself off of offensive tackles.
Swinson brings a very quick first step and is a very good athlete. He understands how to use leverage and knows how to dip his shoulder. However, he’s a bit stiff in the hips which shows on the tape as he’s just not an elite bender to get up the arc. He’s not the ideal fluid player that you often look for in edge rushers. But I saw a player who brings power at the snap, firing his long arms into the tackle and driving him backwards. In my view, power is the essential element to a pass rusher’s game, and Swinson shows it. Swinson adds his finesse moves on top of that power, and this is what makes him an interesting prospect as a rusher. His true pass rush win rate was the sixth best in the class.
Swinson plays with a very hot motor, and he chases plays down until they end. In the run game Swinson showed some real inconsistency, as he overran gaps too often. In addition, his stack and shed ability is a bit suspect at this point, and he lacks the functional strength needed to hold the edge against the run. He has to add more strength. In addition, his missed tackle rate in college was just way too high.
I like Swinson as a high caliber edge rusher. He’s situational at this point, and I don’t see him on the field on first down given his challenges as a run defender. But is he a better alternative than David Ojabo and Adissa Isaac at this point? Yes. Round 2-3. Ravens – Yes (in the third round).
Josiah Stewart
Out of Michigan, the 22 year old Stewart is 6’1 and 249 pounds, all inferior traits for an edge rusher. He’s just undersized, which by definition makes him a greater risk as a draft prospect. But Stewart is a very aggressive player who has the base ability to pass rush attack at all four primary routes to the quarterback (power through the tackle, dipping the inside shoulder, around the corner with speed, and attacking the outside shoulder of the tackle). He’s stronger than one might expect, and plays all out at all times.
At the Senior Bowl practices Stewart showcased good bend and explosiveness and an ability to change direction on the move. His elite quickness was evident. He worked the inside shoulders well. But he had some difficulty getting off tackles once they latched on to him. And his hand usage was inconsistent. At the same time he struggled a bit holding the edge, illustrating the likely challenge he would have as an edge defender in the NFL. To this point, I don’t see him as having the power to consistently stack and shed on the edge. He lacks both length and mass for an edge setter.
Stewart brings a good bend and has good hand strength and usage as a rusher. He has very quick feet, which allows him to win with inside counters. Stewart is likely not going to dominate in any one way as an edge rusher, but brings enough of each quality, including power, to threaten in a variety of ways. Now his power is adequate, but nowhere near elite, and his greatest strength is likely his quickness. He needs more variety in his modes of attack.
Given all of this, it’s hard to project Stewart as a superior pass rusher. I don’t see him as elite in any particular way. Round 3. Ravens – Pass.
Donovan Ezeiruake
Ezeiruaku is 21.5 years old, 6’3 and 248 pounds but with long 34” arms, and played at Boston College. He’s an excellent athlete. In spite of the fact that he’s small, Ezeiruaku brings good speed off the edge and is able to convert his speed to power. At the Senior Bowl practices he won with a fast chop move and highlighted an impressive rip move as well.
Ezeiruaku generally has a good plan of attack as a rusher, and his finesse moves are impressive. He knows how to use his hands. He was disruptive setting the edge, but was a bit inconsistent getting off. I have questions regarding his initial burst, and though lacks elite quickness, he is quick laterally. He’s not a natural bull rusher. But he was highly productive last year, with 16.5 sacks, and he won the Ted Hendricks Award.
Ezeiruaku brings some nice moves, including a nice arm-over and dip-rip. He has very good, if not elite, bend at the top of his rush, allowing him to finish. The issue for him is his ability to hold the edge. He just doesn’t offer the power below the hips or the dense mass that you look for (which also applies to his lack of a powerful bull rush). He’s a high-character player (two year captain).
I see Ezeirauku as a third down pass rushing specialist at this point. And one who could be very effective at it. At this point, he shows me more than David Ojabo has in his so-far wasted time with the Ravens. But I rate him lower than others, and I don’t think he’ll last to where I grade him. Round 3. Ravens – Yes.
Jack Sawyer
Sawyer is 6’5 and 265 pounds, and is 23 years old out of Ohio State. Right now, Sawyer projects as a dominant run defender but incomplete pass rusher who relies almost exclusively on his bull rush. A tough player, Sawyer lacks bend and explosiveness and best projects as a 4-3 defensive end, in my view. Although he’s working on developing a deeper rush plan, he’s not there yet. He’s neither quick nor twitchy, but brings a burning motor. A long review for Sawyer hardly seems worth it as I just don’t think he fits the Ravens. Because I see him as fairly one dimensional at this point, I grade him lower than most. Round 3-4. Ravens – Pass.
Landon Jackson
Jackson is from Alabama, and is 6’6 and 264 pounds, 22 years old, with a huge wingspan. He’s a very good athlete. I didn’t think he showed particularly well in the Senior Bowl practices as he was stoned several times in his bull rush and looked pretty stiff. He played better in the game. But I didn’t like what I saw in those practices. As a pass rusher Jackson just doesn’t look that natural. He’s not particularly quick off of the line, and he didn’t show out to be overpowering either. He’s not a great bender (fairly stiff), nor is he particularly twitchy.
Jackson can hold his own in the run game, though he’s not elite at shedding blocks. He brings a solid anchor, and offers a good punch.
I see Jackson as a somewhat one-dimensional player at this point, and better suited in a 4-3. He’s not better equipped than Tavius Robinson. Round 3-4. Ravens – Pass.
J.T. Tuimoloau
Out of Ohio State, Tuimoloau is 6’4 and 265 pounds, 22 years old and with comparatively shorter arms. He is a physical player who is a very strong run defender, with the strength to shed blocks.
As a pass rusher he unsurprisingly relies on a very good bull rush to do most of his work. He stays low, utilizing good leverage to maintain his power, and has shown an ability to redirect. But he’s entirely one dimensional at this point, lacking the agility or bend to threaten to the outside or to spin back to the inside. Nor does he possess a quick first step. And he needs to develop more effective counters. But he plays hard all the time through the whistle and he chases everywhere.
I see Tuimoloau as an unintriguing edge prospect who just doesn’t figure at this point to become an imposing pass rusher. I think he’s quite a bit over-rated. Whether I’m right or not, I don’t see him in any way as a fit for the Ravens, as he’s just too small to slide him to the inside. And I grade him lower than the consensus. Round 3-4. Ravens – Pass.
Princely Umanmielen
From Ole Miss, Umanmielen is 6’4 and 244 pounds and is 23 years old. He is a very good athlete. As a pass rusher, Umanmielen has excellent burst and brings a very good bend and dip to get around tackles. He has a very good first step and brings speed. His flexibility allows him to turn the corner at the top of his arc. Umanmielen knows how to attack the outside edge of offensive tackles. He mixes in some good dip moves and also offers a nice spin back to the inside. On occasion, he can get too upright too soon.
With that out of the way, Umanmielen was unimpressive in the Senior Bowl practices. He consistently lost his footing and was generally unable to defeat the tackles. There was nary a standout play. To my mind, his poor performance really pushes him down the board, notwithstanding his solid play on film as a rusher during the season.
Umanmielen lacks a big punch and his hands are just average. He struggles with converting speed to power, and getting off of blocks. He could use additional upper body power. To date, he does not offer a consistent edge-setting anchor in the run game, and just isn’t that physical at the point of attack. Tackles who got their hands on him locked him out. His high pad level doesn’t help. He’s just not consistent enough stopping the run, and could improve his ability to deconstruct blocks.
Umanmielen is rightly seen as a pass rushing specialist at this point. He clearly needs more physicality as a run defender if he’s going to be a three-down edge setter. There are character concerns with Umanmielen. He’s another prospect who the Ravens could consider as a second and third down player to go get the quarterback. But to me, those Senior Bowl practices scared me off, and he’s not at the top of my pass-rusher specialist board. Round 3-4. Ravens – Pass.
Jordan Burch
Out of Oregon, Burch is 6’4 and 279 pounds and 23.5 years old. Burch is a prospect I just didn’t see as having any standout trait. He has a solid frame and good mass, and has shown some position versatility throughout his career. Although he generally has a good initial burst, he can be slow in getting off of the snap. Burch brings a good dip move and highlights a nice cross chop, but his package needs more development. Although he possesses heavy hands, he has not mastered hand usage. Burch is a solid bender, especially for someone his size. He brings good power as a rusher, reducing his angles. Burch converts speed to power well and, unsurprisingly, is an effective bull rusher.
As a run stopper, Burch generally has trouble keeping his pads down. He’s not a great lateral mover which results in a loss of some functional strength. He’s had difficultly disengaging from offensive tackles. I see Burch as more of a 4-3 defensive end than fitting into the Ravens schemes. Round 3. Ravens – Pass.
Sai’Vion Jones
From LSU, Jones is 6’5 and 280 pounds and is 21.8 years old. Jones had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl practices and in the game, where he brought a great swim move leading to a sack. However, he is not the type of player to bring great explosiveness or fluidity. What he does bring is a strong punch and a hot motor. He’s well suited as a run defender who can set an edge, but he projects as one dimensional in that respect, and his lack of athleticism greatly limits his edge rusher potential.
Jones does not have the complete traits that you want for an edge player. It’s hard to see him as an impact pass rusher from that position. Round 4. Ravens – Pass.
Ashton Gillotte
From Louisville, Gillotte is 6’3 and 264 pounds, but with relatively short arms. Gillotte is a thick mass, very strong player who brings powerful leg drive. As a result, his pass rushing strength is as a bull rusher and he also provides a strong anchor against the run with good functional strength. He gets under pads and uses his leverage to great effect. Gillotte is very tough, and he brings the wood. He has a good explosive first step and has shown the ability to use his hands to get around the edge. Those hands are powerful.
Gillotte will not threaten the edge with speed. But he brings pressure to the outside in a variety of ways. He is very effective as a stunter, schemes the Ravens like to run. He’s a smart player, not easily fooled by misdirection. Gillotte is not a destructive, penetrating player but more of a gap controller. But he had a high pass rush win rate throughout his career.
Short arms are always a negative and make it more difficult for edge defenders both to get under the offensive tackles pads and to get separation on running plays. At the least, I think Gillotte will be a very effective run stopper who can help out on the edge in a rotation as a pass rusher. Round 4. Ravens – Maybe.
Kyle Kennard
A South Carolina guy, Kennard is 6’4 and 254 pounds and is 23.3 years old. Kennard was highly productive in his one season in the SEC. The biggest knock on Kennard is his lack of functional play strength. He just gets knocked around too easily, such that as a pass rusher one has to scheme him out wide so he can avoid an initial punch to keep hands off of him. He’s not there yet with his hands though he strikes reasonably well. It’s clear on the tape that he’s best lining up wide, probably in a Wide-9 set, which is not a cornerstone of the Ravens schemes.
Kennard brings an excellent initial burst. He brings a good dip-and-rip move but relies too heavily on his speed to get around the edge, and is light on his counter moves. There’s no bull rush to his game. In the run game he can beat runners to the outside, but it’s clear that he lacks the mass to consistently set a hard edge.
In all, Kennard is just not the type of player who fits the Ravens. Round 4-5. Ravens – Pass.
Jared Ivey
Another Ole Miss player, Ivey is 6’6 and 279 pounds and 23.3 years old. He is not a top level athlete like many of the top edge rushers in this draft. He brings excellent strength and good length, but is not the flexible guy one likes to see on the edge. For that matter, his comparative explosiveness is not great. His value in the NFL will likely be against the run, at least at the beginning of his career.
Against the run, he has plenty of power and strength to hold the edge. He’s shown a solid ability to shed blocks. But his pads consistently get too high. As a pass rusher, he’s a guy without a real plan. He has initial pop and power, showcasing a bull rush capability but he compromises that because too often he’s too high. Ivey has learned to hit the gaps quickly. Ivey offers nice club and arm-over moves. His hand usage needs work. Ivey lacks the lateral burst that you like to see, a challenge for him on misdirection plays. He’s a guy, in my view, who is likely better suited on the inside as a pass rusher. The Ravens seem to be well stacked already in that regard.
I really don’t see any area where I believe Ivey is exceptional. Also, he doesn’t play with a consistently hot motor. I rate him lower than most. Round 5-6. Ravens – Pass.
Antwaun Powell-Ryland
From Virginia Tech, APR is 6’2 and 258 pounds and has very short arms. He was a very productive player in college but those short arms are going to be a big problem in the NFL. However, he’s just the type of player to take a chance on in the late rounds. APR knows how to set up his pass rush moves. He’s a good technician. He utilizes his hands very well, has decent but not great explosion, and can win with a rip and a cross-chop move. He offers an excellent spin move. APR offers good counters, and he brings decent, though not exceptional bend. He plays with good leverage.
I don’t see APR as an edge setter in the run game. His small wingspan limits his tackling radius. His short arms limit the impact of his punch, and he’s just outright limited in the run game. But he will chase down the backside.
APR has a shot as a situational pass rusher. Playing special teams would certainly help. Round 6. Ravens – Yes.
Others
David Walker – 4-5 Round. Ravens – Maybe.
Jah Joyner – Round 5. Ravens – Maybe.
Tyler Baron – 6th round. Ravens – No.
Ahmed Hassanein – 6th round. Ravens – No.
Barryn Sorrel 5th Round. Ravens – Maybe.
Glad your back in playing shape, as the season starts to come in focus.
It’s the least I can do.