Baltimore Ravens
30 Apr 2025, 01:40 GMT+10
Ryan Mink
The Ravens' 2025 draft class earned high grades on the instant analyst reports cards, and a deeper dive into the film shows why each player was such a good fit in Baltimore.
Ravens Director of College Scouting Andrew Raphael and Assistant Director of College Scouting Joey Cleary sat down with reporters Tuesday afternoon to discuss why Baltimore chose its 11 prospects, how they'll fit in, and answer lingering questions.
Here are the top takeaways from the film session:
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Starks' versatility is his calling card, as he played deep safety, box safety, nickel, and DIME in college. However, Georgia coaches ideally wanted him more at free safety because that's his skillset.
Starks' unreal ball skills have been on the Ravens' radar for a long time. He made an incredible leaping interception in his first college game and when he had another highlight-reel pick in Georgia's 2024 opener against Clemson, texts started flying between Ravens scouts. It was a rare play from a rare player.
Even a moment at Starks' Pro Day when he hurdled a rope on the sideline just after making an impressive catch showed his skills and athleticism.
Starks' playmaking skills mean he's best suited for free safety duty, which is a perfect complement to Kyle Hamilton.
"[His best spot] is free [safety], utilizing the speed and range over the top and making it tough on quarterbacks to complete passes," Raphael said.
"I don't know if there's one thing that he truly can't do, but it's just how challenging it is to find a safety that has a legitimate ball-hawk skillset," Cleary added. "Putting him at the thing that he does best will kind of change, but I think his rarest and most elite skillset is that."
There have been some questions about Starks' tackling, but watching the film shows a player that was not only willing, but also very consistent.
How did Mike Green jump from 4.5 sacks in 2023 to 17 to lead the nation in 2024?
The Ravens believe his production matches his playing time and see a player working hard on perfecting his craft.
Green has the physical tools. He's explosive off the line with a rare ability to bend and flatten to turn the corner and get to the quarterback. He put his power on display at the Senior Bowl when he ran through first-round offensive tackle Josh Connerly Jr. (Washington Commanders).
What also stands out about that Senior Bowl rep is how Green hustled back to get in line. He clearly has the skills, but the passion and motor never turn off. Green wants to be good and works hard on his craft.
Green shows an impressive pass rush arsenal, especially coming out of Marshal. He has a spin move, dip and rip, chop move, and more. Green has the tools to be an impactful pass rusher from Day 1.
The question is whether Green can grow as a run stopper. The Ravens have seen the tools on film with the power in his hands, strong base, and willingness. He was a matchup problem for tight ends. Baltimore believes Green can become a three-down outside linebacker.
Emery Jones Jr. was a full-time starter at right tackle since the third game of his freshman season. However, his best position in the NFL might be at guard.
Jones has the power in his base, quick hands and processing speeds, and physical temperament to make the transition inside, where he would have a clearer path to a starting role in Baltimore.
Kicking is sort of like golfing. The more consistent the mechanics are swing after swing, the more consistent the results will be.
Loop didn't have the highest field-goal percentage in this year's class and his field-goal percentage dropped each season (83.8 for his college career). But the Ravens and Senior Special Teams Coach Randy Brown see Loops as the most consistent kicker with his mechanics.
When the Ravens went into the 2025 offseason, General Manager Eric DeCosta and Head Coach John Harbaugh had a discussion about the type of mindset they wanted in players they added to the team.
They wanted players that were smart, tough, and love everything about football.
One thing that Raphael and Cleary pointed out consistently was the passion from players they drafted. Whether it was in wins, blowout losses, or in Senior Bowl practices, players in the 2025 class showed they cared a lot about the game.
One clip was of fifth-round offensive tackle Carson Vinson playing hard even when his Alabama A&M was losing 73-3 to Auburn. He showed that same passing when he won a 1-on-1 block with eventual Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart during Senior Bowl practices.
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