Mock Draft Roundup 13.0: Pundits Give Final Predictions

Baltimore Ravens
24 Apr 2025, 20:30 GMT+10

Matt Ryan

The day has finally arrived and the mock drafts are in.

The Ravens are picking No. 27 in Round 1, and there is a wide range of prospects that could end up in purple.

Here is who pundits have the Ravens taking in their final mock drafts:

S Malaki Starks, Georgia

2024 stats: 14 games, 77 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defended

Jamison Hensley, ESPN

"Starks can immediately start at free safety and help a Baltimore pass defense that finished 31st last season and allowed 63 completions on throws of 15 or more yards downfield, tied for the second most in the NFL. The Ravens put a premium on versatility and can move Starks all over the field. He is the only player in the FBS to play at least 1,500 snaps at safety and 500 snaps at slot cornerback over the past three seasons."

Eric Edholm, NFL Network

"Every year, it seems, a top-20 talent just falls into Baltimore's lap in this range, and we all just shrug. Starks could fill an immediate role in a thin secondary as a proven, three-year SEC starter."

Chad Reuter, NFL Network(Proposed trade to No. 31 with Chiefs)

"Here, the Ravens acquire another chess piece in the secondary. Starks can switch between playing inside, in the box and deep, just like Kyle Hamilton did as a rookie."

Daniel Flick, Sports Illustrated

"Baltimore wants to add pass rushers, but giving star safety Kyle Hamilton a running mate would elevate the team's back end. Starks can play nickel corner and both split and single-high safety due to his quickness, range and instincts. Starks missed too many tackles and allowed too many big plays in 2024, but he should start early in his career."

Matt Miller, ESPN

"Starks is Baltimore's dream pick, according to conversations with multiple scouts around the league. His ability to play multiple positions at a high level would allow the Ravens to keep Kyle Hamilton in a deep safety role, which is something they want to do."

Field Yates, ESPN

"The Ravens have a strong track record of letting the board come to them, which would be the case with Starks. He has range, versatility and ball skills, and he would pair very well with Kyle Hamilton in trying to button up a Ravens pass defense that was far too vulnerable to explosive plays for much of last season."

Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated

"Starks is another alpha in this year's class of Georgia Bulldogs, and has the versatility to be moved around the secondary. I do think Ohio State OT Josh Simmons could be a consideration here, too, as a potential heir to 10th-year left tackle Ronnie Stanley."

Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team

"Baltimore does what Baltimore does in this scenario. The Ravens end up getting a high-floor (and high-ceiling) safety who could easily be argued as the best player available on the board. Baltimore's long-term stability at safety is in question outside of star Kyle Hamilton, and the position is a key one for helping the Mike Macdonald style of defense shine, which the Ravens are continuing under defensive coordinator Zach Orr."

Connor Rogers, Yahoo Sports

"Starks reliability as a true free safety in coverage fixes a lot of the Ravens problems on the defensive side of the ball from last year."

EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia

2024 stats: 12 games, 5 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, 21 tackles

Bucky Brooks, NFL Network

"GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh have a knack for finding quality players at the end of the first round. With his athleticism and pass-rushing potential, Williams could flourish in the Ravens' aggressive defense."

Chris Collinsworth, Pro Football Focus

"I just kept looking at Mykel Williams and thinking he'd fallen too far. I look at Williams and I feel like there aren't many better run defenders off the edge in this class. I also think that he's a guy you could kick inside on third down."

Trevor Sikkema, Pro Football Focus

"If the Ravens don't select an edge rusher in the first round, their odds of getting an impact player at that position decrease significantly. Even with Malaki Starks on the board, I think it's going to be an edge rusher Williams, Mike Green or James Pearce Jr. in this scenario."

EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

2024 stats: 12 games, 1.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss, 31 tackles

Ari Meirov, The 33rd Team

"Stewart is the type of prospect you'd create in a video game: 6'5", 275 pounds, a 4.59 40-yard dash, and a 40-inch vertical. The production didn't match the traits at A&M, but with some coaching, he could flourish in Baltimore's aggressive front."

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

"The Ravens have shown in the past they are comfortable betting on traits over college production, especially at edge rusher. Stewart could go as early as No. 9 to the Saints or fall to the end of the first round."

DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan

2024 stats: 12 games, 32 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 7 tackles for loss

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network

"This one is pretty simple: The Ravens are well connected at Michigan, and they have a need on the interior defensive line after Michael Pierce's retirement."

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

"Nnamdi Madubuike and Kenneth Grant give Baltimore a rock solid future at the position. When anyone thinks about the Ravens or the AFC North, in general, they think about a rugged, physical style of play, so it all starts in the trenches."

OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State

2024 stats: 6 games, 82.0 pass block grade (Pro Football Focus), 68.7 run block grade, .6% pressure rate allowed

Charles Davis, NFL Network

"Simmons has the potential to be a top-tier left tackle, but with Ronnie Stanley returning, the Ohio State/San Diego State product might begin his NFL career at guard, something Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden did in his rookie season with Baltimore."

Peter Schrager, ESPN

"Simmons could slip because of an injury he sustained a torn patellar tendon in October but he might be the best of the bunch in the offensive linemen class. The Ravens could add another potential star, and watch he'll be a difference-maker in no time."

OG Tyler Booker, Alabama

2024 stats: 13 games, 86.5 pass block grade, 63.9 run block grade, 2.5% pressure rate allowed

Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic

"If the Ravens are on the clock and Booker, safeties Nick Emmanwori and Malaki Starks, inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell and cornerback Jahdae Barron are all available, general manager Eric DeCosta will be looking to trade back four or five spots, knowing one of those guys will still fall to Baltimore. My phone, however, didn't ring. Booker is a plug-and-play guard with Pro Bowl potential. He's a mauler in the run game and fits the Ravens' style perfectly. It was tough to bypass one of the safeties, but this draft class features some very good Day 2 options. This draft is about solidifying the trenches for Baltimore."

OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

2024 stats: 14 games, 69.9 pass block grade, 70.2 run block grade, 4.5% pressure rate allowed

Nate Tice, Yahoo Sports

"The Ravens love their beef up front on their offensive line. Jackson played the second half of the season at left tackle because of Josh Simmons' knee injury, but his NFL home will be at guard. Jackson has size, length and athleticism, and got better every year in college. He is a nice mix of power and movement ability that the Ravens will love for their gap-heavy run scheme."

EDGE/LB Jalon Walker, Georgia

2024 stats: 14 games, 6.5 sacks, 60 tackles, 11 tackles for loss

Ian Valentino, The 33rd Team

"I'm lower on Jalon Walker than most media members, as he's a bit small to be a full-time edge rusher and isn't the most comfortable player in coverage as a middle linebacker. He'll need a creative defensive mind who moves him between the SAM linebacker role in base fronts and as a blitzer on third downs. Good thing Baltimore is happy to grab a versatile and physical contributor."