The Baltimore Ravens have always played chess while others play checkers. As the 2025 NFL Draft looms like a late-summer thunderstorm over Lambeau Field, John Harbaugh and Eric DeCosta are sharpening their pencils—and their instincts. Picture a diner at 3 a.m., where the coffee’s stale but the strategy’s fresh. The Ravens aren’t just drafting players; they’re assembling a puzzle where every piece screams Play Like a Raven. And this year, the blueprint has a twist.
Securing the future while defending the present. Think of it like a NASCAR pit crew swapping tires mid-race. The engine’s still roaring, but the clock’s ticking. With 11 picks and a locker room hungry for Lombardi glory, this Ravens mock draft isn’t about flash—it’s about grit, vision, and the art of staying dangerously relevant.
Round 1, Pick 27: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
We kick off the 2025 Ravens mock draft by snagging James Pearce Jr. at No. 27. Tennessee’s edge rusher isn’t just a highlight reel—he’s a symphony of chaos. His senior year saw him add 38 tackles and 7.5 sacks, proving he’s a consistent wrecking ball in the backfield. Pearce brings the kind of heat that’d make a Green Bay winter blush.
Over three seasons, he racked up 19.5 TFL and 17.5 sacks, peaking in 2023 with a standout 10-sack campaign and an interception return for a touchdown—because why let the DBs have all the fun?
James Pearce Jr. is MOVING!
He runs the first sub-4.5 40 with a 4.47u
via @nfl | @Vol_Footballpic.twitter.com/7J01tMbbvC
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) February 27, 2025
Pearce’s arrival couldn’t be timelier. Baltimore’s pass rush, while dominant, leans on veterans like Kyle Van Noy. At 22, Pearce offers a bridge to the future—and a sledgehammer for the present. His 40-yard dash? A blistering 4.47. His motor? Never idles. This pick isn’t just smart; it’s Ravens football in a nutshell.
2024 Stats (Tennessee):
Tackles: 38 (23 solo)
TFL: 13
Sacks: 7.5
Forced Fumbles: 1
Round 2, Pick 59: Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
Imagine a bulldozer in shoulder pads. That’s Tate Ratledge. The 6’6”, 320-pound guard mauled SEC defenses for four years, earning All-SEC honors twice. After two years of learning the ropes (and collecting two career appearances). He exploded in 2022, starting all 13 games and becoming an SEC offensive line staple. In 2023, he repeated the feat, locking down the trenches and paving the way for Bulldog dominance.
Ratledge isn’t just a road grader; he’s insurance. With Ronnie Stanley aging and Patrick Mekari gone, the Ravens need youth. A senior season with 10 starts capped his rise as a reliable, road-grading force. Tall, tough, and consistent—Ratledge’s resume screams “franchise foundation.”
2024 Stats (Georgia):
Games Played: 10
PFF Offensive Grade: 77.3
Round 3, Pick 91: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Versatility is Andrew Mukuba’s middle name. The Texas safety made the leap from ACC to SEC and dominated. After three seasons at Clemson (143 tackles, 1 interception), he erupted at Texas in 2024 with 69 tackles, 5 interceptions, and 12 defended passes. With Marcus Williams’s contract expiring in 2026, Mukuba is a Swiss Army knife for a secondary that thrives on disguise.
His instincts? Sharper than a Baltimore crab cake. Mukuba’s 5 interceptions last season tied for third nationally. A versatile defender with lockdown potential and a nose for the ball, Mukuba’s rise from ACC journeyman to SEC star proves he’s a rising force in the secondary. Pair him with Kyle Hamilton, and the Ravens’ backfield becomes a nightmare.
2024 Stats (Texas):
Tackles: 69 (41 solo)
INTs: 5
Pass Breakups: 7
Round 4, Pick 129: Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame
Rylie Mills is a 6’5”, 273-pound anchor who eats double teams like they’re deep-dish pizza. Over five seasons, he piled up 131 tackles, 26 TFL, and 17.0 sacks, peaking in 2024 with 9 TFL and 7.5 sacks at Notre Dame scream scheme-proof. With Michael Pierce retired, Mills slots in as Travis Jones’ tag-team partner.
His 2024 tape shows a rare blend of power and hustle. Tall, tenacious, and relentless, he anchored Notre Dame’s defense like a brick wall with a motor that never stops. For a Ravens defense that prides itself on relentless pursuit, Mills fits like a glove.
2024 Stats (Notre Dame):
Tackles: 37 (19 solo)
TFL: 9
Sacks: 7.5
Round 4, Pick 136: Sai’vion Jones, EDGE, LSU
Double-dipping on pass rushers? Classic Ravens. Sai’vion Jones, a 6’6” LSU product, racked up 4.5 sacks and 8 TFL in the SEC. His length and bend remind scouts of a young Za’Darius Smith—raw but explosive. Over four seasons, he piled up 99 tackles and 11.5 sacks, peaking in 2024 with 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks—proof he’s a force on the edge.
Jones won’t start Day 1, but he’s a developmental gem. He is equal parts technician and wrecking ball. In Baltimore’s rotation-heavy system, that’s gold.
2024 Stats (LSU):
Tackles: 40 (19 solo)
TFL: 8
Sacks: 4.5
Rebuilding the castle: Defense meets destiny
Round 5, Pick 176: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
Derrick Henry’s successor? Meet Jaydon Blue. The Texas speedster rushed for 730 yards and 8 TDs in 2024, adding 368 receiving yards. At 6’0”, 200 lbs, he’s a satellite back with home-run juice. Blue evolved from a freshman scrappy backup to a senior superstar. In 2024, he exploded for 730 rushing yards and 8 TDs, while catching 42 passes for 368 yards and 6 TDs—proving he’s deadly in the backfield or out wide.
Blue’s 4.38 speed complements Henry’s bruising style. Blue’s rise in the SEC showcases his versatility and nonstop motor. When he’s not outrunning defenders, he’s catching TDs or returning kicks. In Greg Roman’s offense, that’s lethal.
2024 Stats (Texas):
Rush Yards: 730
YPC: 5.4
Total TDs: 14
Round 6, Pick 183: Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Cobee Bryant’s 4 INTs and 7 PBUs at Kansas flew under the radar. But at 6’0” with a 38-inch vertical, he’s a ballhawk in a league craving corners. He piled up 13 interceptions, 22 pass breakups, and 11 tackles for loss—highlighted by a clutch 2023 campaign with 4 picks and 5 pass breakups.
With Marlon Humphrey nearing 30, Bryant adds depth—and swagger. Bryan’s rise from freshman flash to senior star proves he’s got eyes in the back of his head. His 2024 tape? A highlight reel of contested catches denied.
2024 Stats (Kansas):
Tackles: 37 (26 solo)
INTs: 4
PBUs: 7
Round 6, Pick 203: RJ Mickens, Safety, Clemson
RJ Mickens is a heat-seeking missile. A towering 6’0”, 200-pound safety who’s the ACC’s backfield cleanup crew. Over five seasons, Mickens racked up 196 tackles, 7 interceptions, and 12 pass breakups, peaking in 2024 with 75 tackles and 2 picks.
Special teams will be his gateway, but Mickens’ IQ fits Baltimore’s complex schemes. A ball-hawking enforcer with a nose for the ball, he’s equally at home stopping runners or intercepting passes. Think Anthony Levine 2.0.
2024 Stats (Clemson):
Tackles: 75 (44 solo)
INTs: 2
TFL: 6
Round 6, Pick 210: Joshua Gray, IOL, Oregon State
Joshua Gray’s 6’4” frame and 289-pound brick wall on the offensive line, Gray anchored Oregon State’s front with unshakable consistency. Over five seasons, he became a Pac-12 staple, logging 56 games and even surprising defenses with a rare 2023 rushing TD. A reliable anchor with a dash of unpredictability, Gray proves OL isn’t just about blocking—it’s about owning the trenches.
2024 Stats (Oregon State):
Games Played: 12
Unusual Feat: 1 solo tackle
Round 6, Pick 212: Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina
Raheim Sanders, a 6’2”, 225-pound bruiser, bulldozed defenses with 3,882 scrimmage yards and 33 touchdowns across four seasons. After starring at Arkansas (2,230 yards, 20 TDs), he erupted in 2024 at South Carolina with 881 rushing yards and 11 TDs—a true “last stop, first impact” story. Pair him with Blue, and the Ravens’ backfield is set for life after Derrick.
2024 Stats (South Carolina):
Rush Yards: 881
YPC: 4.8
TDs: 11
Round 7, Pick 243: Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State
Jalen Travis is a 6’7”, 314-pound lottery ticket. His 12 starts at Iowa State showcased raw power, though his footwork needs polish. As a senior OL for the Cyclones, Travis anchored the line with brute strength and precision, turning opponents into pretzels. A rock-solid protector with a motor that never quits, he’s the kind of roadblock defenses dread and quarterbacks dream about. In Baltimore’s system? He’ll redshirt—and maybe blossom.
2024 Stats (Iowa State):
Games Played: 12
PFF Pass Block Win Rate: 96.50%
Ending Notes
This Ravens mock draft isn’t about headlines—it’s about hardware. Pearce and Jones turbocharge the pass rush. Mukuba and Mickens lock down the secondary. Blue and Sanders ensure the ground game remains a nightmare.
As John Harbaugh often says, “Championships aren’t won in April, but they’re built there.” For a team that’s come agonizingly close, this draft feels like the final puzzle piece. In the words of The Shawshank Redemption’s Andy Dufresne, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things.” But in Baltimore, hope has a name (for now): the Ravens mock draft. Now, will Green Bay be where their destiny begins?
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