Final Grades Are in for Ravens

The Ravens entered the 2025 NFL Draft with a handful of needs and double-digit draft picks. By its end, the Ravens selected 11 prospects – with many filling needs – and earned high grades across the NFL media landscape.

To review, here are the Ravens’ picks:

Round 1(No. 27) – S Malaki Starks, Georgia

Round 2 (No. 59) – EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

Round 3 (No. 91) – OL Emery Jones Jr., LSU

Round 4 (No. 129) – ILB Teddye Buchanan, Cal

Round 5 (No. 141) – OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M

Round 6 (No. 178) – CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan

Round 6 (No. 186) – K Tyler Loop, Arizona

Round 6 (No. 203) – WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado

Round 6 (No. 210) – DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech

Round 6 (No. 212) – CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers

Round 7 (No. 243) – OL Garrett Dellinger, LSU

Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: “Grade: A. The Ravens should be the prime example of’letting the draft come to them.’ They needed more safety playmaking and added a lot more production to the pass rush while getting two early first-round defensive talents in Starks and Green. Jones also filled a need for a backup tackle option. Don’t sleep on Buchanan being a dream tackler for them.”

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter: “Grade: A. The Ravens are perennial contenders because they let the draft board come to them. Starks will be a playmaker no matter where he lines up. Green was still available late in Round 2 because of off-field concerns, but he has a chance to provide a lot of value off the edge. Jones could be a solid starter at guard or tackle in time. Buchanan met a need for Baltimore and Peebles should immediately step into the D-line rotation. The Ravens took a massive tackle in Vinson and a tough guard in Dellinger, who will compete for playing time early. The fluid Kone and quick Longerbeam figure to make an impact in the secondary as rookies. Loop might be the replacement for Justin Tucker amid questions about his future with the team. Wester is a tough, quick slot receiver and punt returner.”

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: “B+. “Malaki Starks will help there. Next to Kyle Hamilton at safety, he has the closing speed to arrive as the ball does and either break up the pass or immediately wrap up the receiver. Starks also spent a lot of time at slot corner at Georgia, so Baltimore can use that versatility to its advantage. … Mike Green finished 18th on my Big Board, and he had 17 sacks last season to lead the nation. Speed, power and a wide array of pass-rush moves allow him to consistently get pressure. … The Ravens didn’t make any in-draft trades last year, they had made only eight over the prior five drafts, and they traded down twice this year. They let the board come to them and got some good prospects. Emery Jones Jr. should kick inside to guard and compete for work with Daniel Faalele. Robert Longerbeam is a good nickel corner and came at great value; I had him ranked 116th overall, and Baltimore took him late in Round 6. Aeneas Peebles will work into the defensive tackle rotation. And Bilhal Kone has some promising athletic traits. Finally, Tyler Loop was my No. 1 kicker this year. He has a massive leg, hitting a 62-yarder in college.”

Associated Press’ Rob Maaddi: “Grade: B+. S Malaki Starks (27) is mature, talented and can thrive on a team that knows how to develop safeties. Edge Mike Green Jr. (59) is excellent value. He was a first-round projection who slipped due to off-field concerns. OT Emery Jones Jr. (91) and LB Teddye Buchanan (129) are possible … steals.”

CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso: “Grade B+. General manager Eric DeCosta is one of the savviest decision-makers in football, routinely allowing the draft to come to him. Starks creates a crowded element in the safety room, but he can do it all as a defensive back. Green and Buchanan are two explosive defenders up front with modern-day, well-rounded games, and Jones and Vinson are two developmental types up front on offense, although Jones is much closer to being starter-ready. Kone has the ball skills to be a starting outside corner sooner than later, and there probably was a legitimate need to add a new kicker. Keep an eye on Peebles as an explosive interior pass-rusher. Great Round 6 find. Another prudent draft weekend for Baltimore.”

The Score’s Dan Wilkins: “Grade: B+. Starks is the quintessential Ravens pick; it shouldn’t be surprising they were the ones to scoop him up when he fell further than expected in the first round. His instincts, range, and ball skills will make him a great fit next to Kyle Hamilton in the secondary. Green fills a big need on the edge… Jones is a talented lineman who could have some starter upside with a transition inside to guard, and Buchanan’s coverage skills at linebacker made him one of my hidden gems of this class. Another strong year for Baltimore.”

USA Today’s Nate Davis: “Grade: B. From a football perspective, they got two standouts in the first two rounds with S Malaki Starks and OLB Mike Green, respectively – each addressing what are among the few needs for one of the league’s powerhouses, Starks likely to start from Day 1. Green led FBS with 17 sacks in 2024 and could make an immediate splash, too.”

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame: “Grade: B. Baltimore has a type, and it certainly stuck to it this year. The Ravens took Starks in the first round to pair with Kyle Hamilton, giving them one of the league’s top safety pairings if Starks reaches his full potential… Jones is a value pick on the offensive line, but whether he sticks at tackle or kicks inside remains to be seen.”

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske: “Grade: B-. Purely on football considerations, the Ravens fortified their defense meaningfully by getting safety Malaki Starks in the first round and Green in the second. They did far less to help quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense. The selection of kicker Tyler Loop in the sixth round gives the Ravens a potential alternative to Tucker.”

New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy: “Grade: B-. Starks-Kyle Hamilton could quickly become the NFL’s best young safety tandem. Jones has inside-outside versatility.”

The Ringer’s Danny Kelly: “Grade: C. The Ravens scooped up excellent value in Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a versatile playmaker in the secondary who should complement Kyle Hamilton perfectly and give defensive coordinator Zach Orr incredible flexibility. … The team addressed offensive line depth by grabbing LSU tackle Emory Jones Jr. and Alabama A&M’s Carson Vinson and added some defensive depth in Cal linebacker Teddye Buchanan and Western Michigan corner Bilhal Kone. Starks is the anchor of this class, but outside of that, I’m left with some concerns. Vinson, Kone, and Green all come from smaller schools, and Green’s background is troubling. … Overall this doesn’t feel like a typical Ravens home run draft.”