The Baltimore Ravens went heavy on defense during the 2025 NFL Draft. In total, six of the Ravens’ 12 draft picks were to improve the defense. Here’s a list of the prospects:
Round 1, Pick 27: Safety Malaki Starks from Georgia.
Round 2, Pick 59: EDGE Mike Green from Marshall.
Round 4, Pick 129: Linebacker Teddye Buchanan from California.
Round 6, Pick 178: Cornerback Bilhal Kone from Western Michigan.
Round 6, Pick 210: Defensive Lineman Aeneas Peebles from Virginia Tech.
Round 6, Pick 212: Cornerback Robert Longerbeam from Rutgers.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is excited about the additions. He spoke about them after getting a first in person look at the new players during the rookie minicamp last week.
“I mean all those guys are really good players – they’re draft picks – and you start with Malaki [Starks] and down through,” Harbaugh said. “And we drafted all those guys for a reason, and they’re guys who made plays at a high level in college, disruptive-type players, every one of them. So yes, we’ll see. I think they can … They all have a shot. We’ll see how they do.”
Harbaugh said he liked the size and explosiveness he saw from Green, a projected first-round pick that fell to the Ravens on Day 2. Green had some off-the-field issues that caused him to transfer from Virginia to Marshall. But he posted 17 sacks to lead all FBS players. The Ravens have the culture in place to help Green stay on the right track.
“This team has a lot of great culture that’s been going around,” Green said. “You think about the guys that [have been] through here, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, it means a lot since I’m a defensive player as well. Coming to the Ravens is a blessing in disguise. I don’t think there’s a better franchise I can be a part of than the Ravens.”
Green didn’t mention Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed when he touched on the defensive greatness the Ravens had in the past. But that’s OK. Starks, a safety selected in the first round, could be the next great defensive back with versatility like Reed’s.
“I hope [Malaki Starks] learns how to be like an All-Pro. That’s kind of what you hope [for]. You hope for the best, and plan for the best, too. I expect him to do really well. He’s our first-round pick. To whom much is given, much is required, and nobody understands it better than him as a young guy. I’m really impressed with his maturity. He broke the huddle today. That’s not an easy thing to do your first time. So far, so good,” stated Harbaugh.
Starks will get to do so alongside All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Starks has already spoken to Hamilton and looks forward to working with the veteran safety group that also includes Ar’Darius Washington.
“They know so much football, and watching tape, you see it. They just move so fluidly,” Starks said. “They’re on a different level of [having] knowledge of football, and I want to get there. So, just being able to be a sponge and listen and really just dive into it with those guys, and everybody in the room, too, as well. I’m excited.”
Peebles, a sixth-round pick, felt he should have gone higher. He’s using his draft drop as motivation that will continue to fuel the chip he already had on his shoulder. Like the other rookies, he’s excited to play alongside some of the top-level defensive players already on the Ravens.
“Just being able to be so close to, I guess I could say, ‘legends’ and guys I looked up to. Just being able to reach out and call guys like [DL Nnamdi] Madubuike, and being able to reach out and know that hopefully one day I can turn around and see [ILB] Roquan Smith behind me. Those things like that. That’s probably the biggest shock to me,” Peebles said.
It won’t be long before these rookies will meet and be on the same field as the veterans. That’ll give them the opportunity to learn on the job and help carry on the tradition of defensive excellence.