Latest news with #FirstTeamAll-SWAC
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Projecting the roles for all 11 of the Ravens' 2025 NFL draft picks
With the rookie report date just 15 days away, we're projecting the Week 1 roles for all 11 picks. The Baltimore Ravens added 11 draft picks to their roster in this year's NFL draft, landing Malaki Starks near the end of Round 1 to cap things off. Overall, the consensus for Eric DeCosta centered on draft value and landing prospects who can develop into starters regardless of the round in which they were selected. Of course, we won't know the actual impact of this year's class until these players hit the field and have time to develop, but on paper, it does appear that DeCosta has maintained and created another Super Bowl window. With the rookie report date just 15 days away, we're projecting the Week 1 roles for all 11 picks. Round 1, No. 27 overall: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia Projected role: Starting safety Kyle Hamilton is a Swiss army knife, and Baltimore just drafted his positional twin. Starks was the only player in the FBS to play at least 1,500 snaps at safety and 500 snaps at slot cornerback over the last three seasons, according to ESPN Research. Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall Projected role: Rotational pass rusher Green's 22 tackles for loss ranked only behind Abdul Carter, who was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Giants. His 51 quarterback pressures were tied for the sixth-most in the FBS. Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones Jr., OL, LSU Projected role: Backup offensive guard Jones is recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected to be sidelined until at least training camp. A late start to the competition will give Andrew Vorhees the edge. Jones had a 67.4 PFF pass-blocking grade at right tackle, but could be even more productive playing in a less confined space. Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan, ILB, California Projected role: Backup linebacker, special-teams standout Buchanan was a first-team All-ACC performer who led Cal with 114 tackles and 12 tackles for loss. He is the third player from Cal to get drafted by the Ravens, joining quarterback Kyle Boller (first round in 2003) and cornerback Marc Anthony (seventh round in 2013). Round 5, No. 141: Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M Projected role: Backup offensive tackle A late-round pick, Vinson should make the 53-man roster, but a year on the practice squad isn't out of the question. Vinson was named First Team All-SWAC for his play in 2024 and a First-Team FCS All-American. He accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl and was the lone invite from an HBCU program at the 2025 NFL Combine. Vinson plays with a physical, aggressive mentality and loves to set the tone in the run game, something the Ravens excel at. Round 6, No. 178: Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan Projected role: Backup cornerback Kone primarily plays on the outside but has spent some time in the slot. Last season, Kone led Western Michigan with nine passes broken up. He added 70 tackles and one interception. According to PFF, Kone allowed a completion on just 45.7% of throws in coverage last season. He forced eight incompletions and one interception while allowing just one touchdown. Last season, Kane led Western Michigan with nine passes broken up. He added 70 tackles and one interception. Round 6, No. 186: Tyler Loop, K, Arizona Projected role: Starting kicker The Ravens drafted a kicker for the first time in their 30-year history, and he'll be in the spotlight after Baltimore released Justin Tucker. Loop has one of the strongest legs in this draft. He has converted 6 of 9 attempts from 50-plus yards, including making a 62-yarder last season. At the NFL combine, Loop hit 13 of 14 field goal attempts (93.3%) and finished by making a 60-yarder. Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado Projected role: Special teams standout Wester managed a 66.7% contested catch rate in 2024 while also earning an 81.5 receiving grade against man coverage. Wester averaged 12.2 yards on punts last season, including a 76-yard touchdown. Round 6, No. 210: Aeneas Peebles, DL, Virginia Tech Projected role: Backup defensive tackle. His 25 pressures were tied for the most among ACC defensive tackles. Peebles also recorded the FBS' fastest time to pressure among defensive tackles at 2.44 seconds. Round 6, No. 212: Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers Projected role: Special teams The 5 feet 11, 174-pound cornerback from Rutgers is projected to play slot cornerback, and Longerbeam is only the second player from Rutgers to get drafted by the Ravens, joining running back Ray Rice (second round in 2008). According to PFF, Longer beam forced 11 incompletions in 2024. When targeted in coverage, opposing passers posted just a 78.0 passer rating. Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger, G, LSU Projected role: Backup offensive guard Dellinger is the third offensive lineman drafted this year by the Ravens, who have selected the most offensive linemen by Baltimore since 2018. He is an experienced offensive guard with 30 career starts (including 24 at left guard). During his time at LSU, Dellinger was flagged just twice for penalties in 1,937 snaps. Despite playing just 268 pass-blocking snaps due to injury, he surrendered only three total pressures and did not allow a sack.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens select Alabama A&M OL Carson Vinson with pick No. 141 in the 2025 NFL draft
Ravens select Alabama A&M OL Carson Vinson with pick No. 141 in the 2025 NFL draft Baltimore hosted intriguing Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson for a top 30 visit 19 days ago and used pick 141 on the All-American The Ravens love to do their due diligence on talented small-school draft picks, and with one of his 11 selections, GM Eric DeCosta may have found a diamond in the rough in later rounds. Baltimore hosted Alabama A&M offensive tackle Carson Vinson at the Under Armour Performance Center on April 9, and during the fifth round, the Ravens drafted the intriguing prospect. Vinson was named First Team All-SWAC for his play in 2024 and a First-Team FCS All-American. He accepted an invitation to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl and was the lone invite from an HBCU program at the 2025 NFL Combine. Vinson plays with a physical, aggressive mentality and loves to set the tone in the run game, something the Ravens flourish at. The North Carolina native was a four-year starter at left tackle and projects as a developmental talent at the NFL level. Vinson measured 6-6 304 pounds in Mobile and started 48 games at offensive tackle during his career.
