Pundits Share Favorite Ravens Draft Picks
The dust has settled on the 2025 NFL Draft and pundits like the Ravens’ 11-player class. From their prized first-round pick and beyond, here’s what they think:
ESPN’s Jordan Reid: S Malaki Starks (Favorite pick in entire draft)
“Once again, the Ravens allowed the board to fall to them and simply took the best player available. Starks doesn’t play a position of immediate need, but the Ravens don’t bypass talent to reach for needs at certain positions. With the recent release of Marcus Williams, Starks could start right away at free safety and be another crucial performer for an already versatile secondary.”
Draftwire’s Jeff Risdon: Starks
“A top-5 overall talent on my board, Baltimore got the versatile Starks at No. 27. He and Kyle Hamilton are instantly one of the best safety tandems in the league – potentially.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: LB Teddye Buchanan
“The Ravens certainly know what high-level inside linebacker play looks like, and Buchanan has the qualities to become the next fan favorite at the position. The fourth-round pick is a high-energy player who flies around the field and usually ends up around the football. Over five college seasons, the first four at UC Davis and the final one at Cal, Buchanan had 322 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and eight interceptions. At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, he is a physical specimen, and he was one of most athletic linebackers in the draft. He’ll likely immediately become a core special teamer, but he has the potential to challenge Trenton Simpson for the starting weak-side linebacker job as the season goes on.”
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco: OL Emery Jones Jr.
“Third-round tackle Emery Jones was on my Better-Than team as a player who could move inside to guard. The Ravens have had success doing that with players over the years, and Jones will be no different.”
Baltimore Beatdown’s Zach Canter: WR/RS LaJohntay Wester
“I’m coming to love the LaJohntay Wester pick from the sixth round. … Wester could and should be a return to the Jacoby Jones times. More important than actual top speed in punt returns, Wester has incredible burst, acceleration, and the start-stop ability that allows dynamic returns to be created. He was awarded the AAC special teams player of the year where he averaged nearly 20 yards a return on 14 punt returns. Along with the special teams aspect, which is good enough on its own to be worth the sixth-round pick, Wester was an insanely productive slot receiver. He had 1,168 yards and 8 scores in 2023 with Florida Atlantic then nearly had 1,000 again with 10 scores in Colorado behind second-overall pick Travis Hunter. I think there’s an NFL slot receiver in there despite the size issues. He’ll have plenty of time to develop with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman still here for another three and two years minimum. Wester is one of the most exciting weapons the Ravens have drafted in a long time. Once Ravens fans find his highlight package, he’s going to quickly become a fan favorite who fans ask why he’s not getting opportunities. But with trust and time, he’ll get his chances. For now, the returner will dazzle us”