Ravens Insider: Ravens 7-round mock draft: Big trades shake up deep pool of picks

[ExtremeRavens]

When the 2025 NFL draft begins in late April in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the Ravens will be busy.

With 11 projected selections, including four compensatory picks, Baltimore has a treasure trove of assets to fill out a roster that has relatively few holes. It’s a big reason Lamar Jackson and company are among the early betting favorites to win next year’s Super Bowl.

But how will they spend those picks? Using Pro Football Focus’ mock draft simulator and taking into consideration Baltimore’s needs, here’s a look at how it could all shake out:

Note: The order of draft picks past the first round is unofficial until the league finalizes compensatory selections.

TRADE: Ravens trade pick Nos. 27 overall (first round) and 245 (seventh round) to New York Giants for pick Nos. 34 (second round), 155 (fifth round) and 2026 fourth-round selection

In this mock scenario, quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders went off the board with the first two picks, leaving the Giants to take two-way star Travis Hunter at No. 3 overall. Desperate to leave the first round with a new signal-caller (and the valuable fifth-year option that comes with it), New York finds a willing trade partner in Baltimore to move up seven spots and select Ole Miss star Jaxson Dart.

On the Fitzgerald-Spielberger trade value chart, which assigns each pick a number value based on the expected performance of that selection, this move is an overpay for the Giants but still plausible considering New York’s strong desire for a quarterback and the pressure on general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll to keep their jobs. For the Ravens, picking up a few extra picks and dropping into the second round of a draft lacking blue-chip talent at the top makes sense, too.

Also considered: Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr., Texas A&M EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas CB Jahdae Barron

Round 2, No. 34 overall: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

With Brandon Stephens entering free agency coming off a disappointing season, the Ravens are likely to be in the market for a new starting cornerback. They get a relative discount here in Revel, who was expected to become a first-round pick before he tore his ACL in September.

Assuming good health, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Revel has the size, speed and physicality to form an enviable young duo on the outside alongside 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins while veteran Marlon Humphrey continues to man the slot. The Ravens would be taking a risk considering the lingering questions about Revel’s knee, but it could pay off handsomely given what the 22-year-old has shown on tape when healthy.

Also considered: Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Notre Dame S Xavier Watts, Alabama LB/EDGE Jihaad Campbell

Ohio State offensive lineman Donovan Jackson could fill in at left tackle or left guard. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Round 2, No. 59: Donovan Jackson, OT/G, Ohio State

Ronnie Stanley’s bounce-back season probably pushed him out of Baltimore’s price range, opening the door for a new left tackle. With Patrick Mekari also entering free agency, the Ravens might need to find a new left guard, too.

The versatile Jackson could step in at either position after playing two seasons at left guard and filling in at left tackle for the national champion Buckeyes when potential first-round pick Josh Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury. The 6-4, 320-pound Jackson struggled in his first start against Penn State star Abdul Carter but quickly became one of the linchpins of Ohio State’s championship run with his stellar play down the stretch.

Also considered: Texas OT/G Cameron Williams, Toledo DT Darius Alexander, Utah State WR Jalen Royals

Round 3, No. 91: Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville

As the Philadelphia Eagles showed in their dominant Super Bowl victory over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, you can never have too many pass rushers. While Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are coming off career seasons, they are far from superstars, and the Ravens don’t have a lot of promising depth behind them.

The 6-3, 275-pound Gillotte recorded 25 1/2 sacks and 39 1/2 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Cardinals, following up an All-American junior season with perhaps an even stronger senior campaign. He posted a staggering 20.9% pass-rush win rate in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus, and recorded 60 pressures while lining up both inside and outside the tackles. The Ravens could use that kind of punch up front.

Also considered: Georgia G Tate Ratledge, Alabama EDGE Quandarrius Robinson, Maryland DT Jordan Phillips

Virginia Tech defensive lineman Aeneas Peebles is undersized but explosive. (Billy Schuerman/The Virginian-Pilot)

Round 4, No. 127: Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech

Listed at 6-1 and 290 pounds, Peebles doesn’t have the size you’d expect for a standout interior lineman. But his explosiveness and natural power make him an intriguing prospect.

Peebles recorded the sixth-most pressures in the country among interior defensive lineman last season (37) and backed that up with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. With Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones playing most of the snaps inside, Peebles could be a valuable addition as a situational pass rusher while he grows into an expanded role.

Also considered: UCLA EDGE/LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, UConn OT Chase Lundt, Oklahoma S Billy Bowman Jr.

TRADE: Ravens trade pick Nos. 135 (fourth round; compensatory) and 183 (sixth round; via Carolina) to Los Angeles Rams for wide receiver Cooper Kupp

For Jackson and the Ravens to finally break through and win the Super Bowl, it’s time to get aggressive. The salary-cap math is tricky, and the Ravens might believe that giving up two mid-round picks for a 31-year-old wide receiver is too expensive, but it’s fun to think about what Kupp would look like playing a secondary role in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense.

While Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Isaiah Likely are under contract, Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace are entering free agency and tight end Mark Andrews could be on his way out in a cost-cutting move. Kupp is no longer a triple-crown threat, but he’s still a productive receiver and relentless blocker who could thrive in the Ravens’ ecosystem. Baltimore reportedly wanted to take him in the 2017 draft before the Rams swooped in.

If Los Angeles is willing to pay a large portion of Kupp’s remaining contract — $29.7 million and $27.3 million due in 2025 and 2026, respectively — this trade would make sense for both sides.

Round 5, No. 155 (via NY Giants): Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

There’s a chance that pending free agents Malik Harrison and Chris Board both return to the Ravens after stepping into bigger roles next to All-Pro Roquan Smith. Trenton Simpson, a 2023 third-round pick, still has potential despite being benched. But the Ravens should be thinking long-term with Smith entering his age-28 season.

The 6-2, 235-pound Simon was one of the leaders of the nation’s top defense, recording a team-high 112 tackles along with seven sacks and 12 1/2 tackles for loss in his fifth season. His experience and athleticism should help him acclimate quickly to the next level.

Also considered: Ohio State CB Denzel Burke, Western Kentucky S Upton Stout, Penn State LB Kobe King

Texas Tech tight end Jalin Conyers could be a valuable insurance policy. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)

Round 5, No. 176 (compensatory): Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech

Andrews, Likely and Charlie Kolar are all under contract for just one more season. While it’s certainly possible that all three remain in Baltimore beyond 2025, the Ravens need to plan ahead at such a crucial position in their offense.

After stops at Oklahoma and Arizona State, the 6-4, 265-pound Conyers recorded 29 catches for 308 yards and five touchdowns for the Red Raiders in 2024. He also lined up in Wildcat packages, throwing a touchdown pass and rushing for 28 yards and a score, while his run-blocking grades ranked first in the Big 12 among all tight ends and wide receivers.

Also considered: LSU EDGE Bradyn Swinson, Georgia Tech DT Zeek Biggers, Oregon OT Ajani Cornelius

Round 6, No. 203: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon

With Tre’Davious White and Trayvon Mullen hitting free agency, Jalyn Armour-Davis struggling to stay healthy and T.J. Tampa coming off an injury-hampered rookie season, the Ravens probably need to bolster their depth at cornerback.

Given his pedigree, there’s a decent chance that Muhammad is off the board well before the Ravens make this selection. Although undersized at 5-10 and 183 pounds, the transfer from Oklahoma State and Washington is an aggressive playmaker with a nose for the ball. He could spell Humphrey in the slot on occasion and play a similar role that Arthur Maulet once thrived in with the Ravens.

Also considered: Maryland WR Tai Felton, Boston College DT Cam Horsley, Clemson S R.J. Mickens

Round 6, No. 209 (compensatory): Logan Brown, OT, Kansas

The Ravens have invested a lot of draft picks on interior offensive linemen in recent years, but 2024 second-round pick Roger Rosengarten was their first hit at tackle since taking Orlando Brown Jr. in 2018. This draft offers an opportunity to restock the cupboard.

The 6-6, 315-pound Brown is a former five-star recruit who put together his best season with the Jayhawks after four seasons at Wisconsin. With his size and movement skills, he’d be a worthwhile developmental prospect. It’s worth noting that while he’s a Type-1 diabetic — like Andrews — Brown said at the Senior Bowl that it’s under control because of his diet and routine.

Also considered: Syracuse EDGE Fadil Diggs, Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler, Eastern Washington WR Efton Chism III

Tennessee wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., a former Mount Saint Joseph star, would give the Ravens a vertical threat. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Round 6, No. 213 (compensatory): Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee

Excluding the proposed trade for Kupp, the only wide receivers under contract for next season are Flowers, Bateman, 2024 fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, veteran Anthony Miller and undrafted free agent Dayton Wade. That leaves room for some competition.

The 6-5, 214-pound Thornton is plenty familiar with Baltimore after a standout high school career at Mount Saint Joseph, where he became a four-star recruit and a top-100 player. In two seasons at Oregon and two with the Volunteers, the speedy Thornton was a big-play threat, averaging 21.9 yards per reception. He could challenge Walker to be that outside X receiver who takes the top off the defense.

Also considered: Florida DT Cam Jackson, Georgia LB Smael Mondon Jr., Florida State CB Fentrell Cypress II

Have a news tip? Contact sports editor C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon.

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