Mink: General Manager Eric DeCosta was clear in identifying the gap in the Ravens' draft haul as being a big-bodied run-stopping defensive lineman. He also expressed his confidence that they'll be able to find a solution on the free-agent market.
There are a bunch of options available (see photo gallery below) and more will likely hit the market considering how many high-impact defensive linemen were drafted this year. Teams will look to shed salary and make room for the rookies, and the Ravens could pounce.
General Manager Eric DeCosta said that adding at defensive line is "something that we'll assess and address after the draft." Here are players that could help fill the void left by Michael Pierce's retirement or add to Baltimore's depth in the middle.
Linval Joseph
Joseph is a 15-year NFL veteran and played in all 17 games for the Cowboys last season. At 6-foot-4, 329 pounds, Joseph could help as a run-stuffer for Baltimore.
Jordan Phillips
Phillips had 9.5 sacks in 2019 with the Bills, and at 32-years-old he can be a strong depth option. While he is more of a pass rusher, his 6-foot-6 frame can help him plug the middle.
Raekwon Davis
Davis is a hulking 6-foot-7 and played in every game the past two seasons. He had 15 total tackles for the Colts in 2024 and will turn 28 years old in June.
Teair Tart
Tart had 29 total tackles and five tackles for loss in 2024 for the Los Angeles Chargers. At 6-foot-2 he is a bit undersized, but his production stopping the run is clear. The 28-year-old also added an interception and two passes defended last season.
Montravius Adams
Adams was reportedly released by the Steelers on Monday after three and a half years in the AFC North. Adams played in just 11 games last season and had 14 tackles, but he started 17 games from 2022-23 and would provide a veteran presence in the middle.
Armon Watts
Watts was limited to just five games last year with the Giants, but he played in nearly every game from 2020-23. He had five sacks for the Vikings in 2021 and would provide depth in the middle.
DeShawn Williams
Williams has 9.5 career sacks in six seasons and spent his past two years with the Panthers. As more of a pass-rusher in the middle, he could fill in behind Nnamdi Madubuike.
Taven Bryan
Bryan was a first round pick in 2018 and has played 113 games in his career. He had 20 tackles and three tackles for loss in Indianapolis last season.
Quinton Jefferson
Jefferson has 28.5 career sacks and turned 32 years old in March. He played in 12 games between the Browns and Bills last year and had three tackles for loss.
Khalil Davis
The 6-foot-2 Davis had four tackles for loss last season, splitting time between the Texans and 49ers. Davis had two sacks in 2023 and one last season.
Once players are cut, they don't count against the 2026 compensatory pick formula. So the Ravens could sign them immediately without "penalty." Anybody that was an unrestricted free agent at the start of the league year also now does not count against the formula, so we could see some activity this week.
Mink: I'll take this one since it stays on the defensive line. Travis Jones already stepped into a larger role last season, taking snaps off Michael Pierce's plate. Jones played 53% of the defensive snaps, up from 39% the year prior. Meanwhile, Pierce went from 55% in 2023 to 32% in 2024. So the transition had already begun as Jones continues to grow and prove he can be a premier defensive lineman.
Broderick Washington is a key and valuable part of the defensive line, but he's not a nose tackle. He had a strong 2024 campaign and will look to build on that this season. It also would not surprise me if the Ravens sign a veteran nose tackle, as outlined above.
Brown: I think that depends on Mike Green's ability to be a consistent run defender right away who can set the edge.
Green was a dynamic pass rusher at Marshall last year, showing both quickness and power. That ability is expected to be his bread and butter in the NFL, and I think he'll be at least a situational pass rusher as a rookie as part of the rotation with Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh.
However, the Ravens feel Green will eventually be a three-down player in the NFL because he has a relentless motor pursuing ball carriers from sideline to sideline. He should also get stronger as a young player hitting an NFL weight room.
If Green earns regular snaps, it will obviously make the outside linebacker rotation deeper and help all the Ravens' edge rushers remain fresher. The more Green can handle, the more he will play.
Brown: The Ravens would not have drafted Tyler Loop if they didn't think he could become Baltimore's placekicker in 2025. Special Teams Coach Randy Brown scouted kicking prospects across the country before the draft, and Loop displayed a strong leg on both field goals and kickoffs at Arizona.
Tucker is the most accurate kicker in league history, and he is still on the roster. With the allegations against Tucker being investigated by the NFL, there is obviously uncertainty regarding his situation.
General Manager Eric DeCosta was asked about the plan after the draft and responded that he was eager to see Loop kick in person.
"I think [Tyler Loop] is a really talented player, and I think that, right now, they're both on the roster, and there's a situation for us where we're just trying to find the best football players," DeCosta said. "So, we're excited to see what he can do.
"I've actually never met Tyler. I'm looking forward to that. He'll be here next week, and we will get a chance to see his leg, and that will help us address what our decision making is going to be moving forward."
