Ravens Insider: Ravens draft grades: Analysts again give high marks — with notable caveat

[ExtremeRavens]

The 2025 NFL draft is over, which means it’s time to hand out the report cards.

Draft grades have become a staple of the business, with experts weighing in on not only who picked the best players but who squeezed the most value out of their selections.

Of course, it’s a silly exercise. Nobody knows for sure how well these players will perform on an NFL field, no matter how impressive they were in college. But an attempt to analyze the process of how teams make selections and where they value players in relation to consensus rankings is worthwhile.

Not surprisingly, the Ravens have routinely earned high marks over the years for their draft picks. General manager Eric DeCosta has often been patient and let the top players fall to Baltimore, and there’s no better example than this year’s first two picks.

Georgia safety Malaki Starks was ranked No. 16 on Arif Hasan’s annual consensus big board, which takes into account evaluations from 112 analysts, and he was picked No. 27 overall. Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, ranked No. 17 by consensus, was picked 59th, but he dropped because of two sexual assault allegations that he’s since denied and has not been charged for.

Here’s a look at the Ravens’ 11-player full draft class and where the players rank on the consensus board:

• Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (No. 24)
• Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (No. 14)
• Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU (No. 98)
• Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan, LB, California (No. 177)
• Round 5, No. 141: Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M (No. 205)
• Round 6, No. 178: Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan (No. 188)
• Round 6, No. 186: Tyler Loop, K, Arizona (not ranked)
• Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado (No. 279)
• Round 6, No. 210: Aeneas Peebles, DL, Virginia Tech (No. 132)
• Round 6, No. 212: Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (No. 228)
• Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger, G, LSU (No. 231)

There are some notable “reaches” in that group but not enough to sway the experts. Here’s a look at what draft analysts are saying about this year’s Ravens class:

ESPN: B+

Baltimore native and Calvert Hall graduate Mel Kiper Jr. listed the Ravens’ top needs as edge rusher, cornerback, safety, guard and kicker entering the draft, and they checked those boxes without making any big moves.

“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,” Kiper writes.

Kiper said that Starks will help tighten up the coverage in the secondary and “has the closing speed to arrive as the ball does and either break up the pass or immediately wrap up the receiver.” He ranked Green 18th on his big board, noting that his “speed, power and a wide array of pass-rush moves allow him to consistently get pressure.” Loop was also his top-ranked kicker.

NFL.com: A

Chad Reuter explains that 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,” Reuter writes. “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, Peebles, Kone and Longerbeam are expected to make an impact on defense, Vinson and Dellinger “will compete for playing time early,” and Wester is highlighted as “a tough, quick slot receiver and punt returner.”

New York Post: B-

Although praising the pick of Starks to pair with Kyle Hamilton to form what “could quickly become the NFL’s best young safety tandem,” Ryan Dunleavy questions the decision to take a prospect falling because of off-the-field concerns.

“Green in the late second round was great football value, but his two separate sexual assault allegations (both denied) brought more focus to veteran kicker Justin Tucker’s ongoing sexual misconduct investigation,” he writes.

Pro Football Focus: A

The scouting and analytics website highlighted the Ravens as one of 10 teams to earn a true “A” grade or better. In breaking down each player, PFF was mostly impressed by the top two selections of Starks and Green.

“The Ravens let the board fall to them and take the best available player on the PFF Big Board,” PFF writes of Starks. “Starks brings high-level football intelligence and great anticipation to make plays on the ball in coverage.”

PFF notes that Green, while facing off-the-field concerns, “has the talent to be one of the biggest steals” of the draft. He posted a 20.2% pass-rush win rate and a 9.4% run-stop rate while earning 90.0-plus grades in each of the past two seasons.

Sports Illustrated: B

“Baltimore has a type, and it certainly stuck to it this year,” Matt Verderame writes.

The addition of Starks gives the Ravens “one of the league’s top safety pairings,” and Green is described as “a first-round talent.”

“Jones is a value pick on the offensive line, but whether he sticks at tackle or kicks inside remains to be seen,” Verderame writes.

USA Today: B

Acknowledging that the Ravens “got two standouts in the first two rounds” to address their needs, Nate Davis called the selection of Green a “pretty bad organizational look.”

“The Ravens have significant issues here currently with K Justin Tucker (who they are apparently in the process of replacing with sixth-rounder Tyler Loop) and in their past — yet chose a guy with multiple sexual assault allegations in his past (Green has denied both),” he writes. “Baltimore is a more talented football team today than it was a week ago, but at what cost?”

CBS Sports: B+

Chris Trapasso said that DeCosta “is one of the savviest decision-makers in football, routinely allowing the draft to come to him.”

He calls Green and Buchanan “two explosive defenders up front with modern-day, well-rounded games,” while Jones and Vinson “are two developmental types up front on offense, although Jones is much closer to being starter-ready.” Peebles is highlighted as “an explosive interior pass-rusher” and a “great Round 6 find.”

“Another prudent draft weekend for Baltimore,” he writes.

Associated Press: B+

Rob Maadi praises Starks as a “mature, talented and can thrive on a team that knows how to develop safeties” while calling the selection of Green “excellent value” as “a first-round projection who slipped due to off-field concerns.”

Jones and Buchanan are highlighted as “possible Day 3 steals.”

Washington Post: B-

“Put aside the propriety of whether the Ravens should have drafted pass rusher Mike Green despite his off-field issues — particularly given that their longtime kicker, Justin Tucker, is being investigated by the NFL under its personal conduct policy. Both players have denied wrongdoing,” Mark Maske writes. “Purely on football considerations, the Ravens fortified their defense meaningfully by getting safety Malaki Starks in the first round and Green in the second.”

Maske notes that Baltimore “did far less to help quarterback Lamar Jackson and the offense,” though the selection of Loop “gives the Ravens a potential alternative to Tucker.”

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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