This post reviews all of Ravens edge defender prospects who I think have varying degrees of attractiveness. Use the imbedded table of contents to jump to players of interest.
Previous position analyses can be found at these posts:
For offensive linemen look here.
For defensive secondary look here.
For the Round One analysis look here.
Edge Defender Prospects
The Ravens obviously have a glaring need for an edge rusher. Or maybe two. Fortunately, this is a deep class. I’ve reviewed everyone I considered relevant other than Aidan Hutchinson, as there is no way he will be available for the Ravens.
Jermaine Johnson
Jermain Johnson is 6’4, 254 lbs. from Florida State. Johnson is not a pure speed edge rusher. Nor is he the twitchy guy that will make an offensive lineman look silly though he is quick off the ball. What Johnson brings to the table is great bend to go with his size, very good lateral agility, and terrifically strong hands. As a result, he has a powerful swipe and rip and an excellent long-arm stab/punch. Johnson takes good angles. He uses his arms to great effect to get to the QB.
I watched Johnson closely in the N.C. State game where he played about 40% of his plays against Ikem Ekwonu, the dominant left tackle. Johnson had some very stellar moments against Ekwonu, including a beautiful spin move that got him around Ekwonu although Johnson was unable to flatten to the quarterback. And, Johnson won several one-on-one battles in the run game, demonstrating an ability to stall Ekwonu out. Very impressive.
Johnson combines his pass rush skills with a physical impact in the run game as he’s able to set a hard edge. He knows how to handle blocking schemes and is able to stack and shed blocks. Putting it all together, Johnson is a very good all-around edge defender. He also plays with a relentless motor and is respected by teammates as a guy with a great attitude.
Johnson has a very high football IQ and a quick processor. Now he could improve his hand usage and he can add to his pass rush repertoire. He is not yet an elite pass rusher – his pass rush win rate of 14.1% last year was just ok. But to me, Johnson is blessed with natural quickness. He’s a player that can bend and will master the craft with better coaching in the NFL – he’s got the talent. I think Johnson is on a very high arc and will get much better as a pass rusher. If I had to predict as to which player will wind up the best pass rusher in this draft, my money would be on Johnson.
In some ways he presents to me similar to Terrell Suggs (though not as big), but without – at this point – the dominating pass rush that Suggs brought. But it’s all about projection, and I think Johnson will get there. He had a great week at the Senior Bowl where he was completely dominant. I would not expect Johnson to be “the answer” to the Ravens pass rush needs in year one. But he will bring the entire package that the Ravens seek in their ideal edge rusher. He’s just too good to pass up. If he’s there at 14, the Ravens should take him. And I push hard for the notion that they should trade up to get him. Round 1.
Travon Walker
Travon Walker is 6’5, 272 lbs. from Georgia. Walker has rare athleticism for a man his size. At Georgia he was tasked as a run-first base defensive end and often played outside the offensive tackles. Here’s the interesting question regarding Walker: where does he fit positionally? At Georgia, on passing downs he was effective inside, where his speed was frequently too much for interior offensive lineman and he was able to use arm-over moves and long-arm moves to win. And his bull rush power is there and should develop further. But his up-field burst was not consistently present.
At the same time, at his size and with his athletic gifts one would think that Walker will wind up outside the tackle on passing downs. Could he be utilized there? Is that his best NFL fit as a rusher where he could bring his great power to the table? He hasn’t yet developed the necessary edge moves and nuances so there would be a lot of work to do to achieve that goal.
I’ll get to his run defense below, but with all of that said, I could see the Ravens using Walker as a five-technique on first and second down, and sliding him into a three-technique on third down as I believe he has the skillset to be a dominant interior pass rusher. At the same time, there is much to mold with Walker given his physical talents and he could be utilized farther outside on passing downs, with patience and learning. There is a lot of positional versatility potential. And, Walker actually dropped into coverage on 26 plays last year and he did not look awkward doing it. But I don’t think Walker necessarily brings top-end processing capabilities, so this goal of positional versatility may take longer to achieve. There would be a lot of coaching up here.
Walker’s performance at the Combine was legendary. He ran an astounding 4.51 (97th percentile) with a 36” vertical jump, and an amazing 6.89 time in the 3-cone (93rd percentile) along with a broad jump in the 84th percentile. This man is built like the ultimate rock and yet he brings great fluidity and initial burst. He will, and does, chase people down from behind. He has tremendously long arms (97th percentile) with matching hands (97th percentile) and can therefore extend into blockers and bring great shock. Walker should be a tremendous edge setter. He should be able to shed at an elite level. And he brings violence to his game. There is just so much to work with when you have a man with this size, speed, and athleticism. He plays special teams too.
As a run defender Walker brings well-placed and powerful hands with pop. He has the strength to disengage. He can both collapse the offensive line as he follows behind blocks; at the same time, he has been able to handle the point of attack when tasked and utilizes good leverage to disengage. Walker will chase down running backs and grab them from behind. And when he hits you, you go down. He is still learning to recognize blocking schemes, which will be a greater challenge in the NFL. Now mind you Walker didn’t play all that much until 2021 (he average 16 plays his first year, 22 his second year, and was up to almost 40 last year).
No doubt he is quite raw in his execution of pass rush moves. He will not be an elite day one rusher. He has not shown any real ability to counter as a pass rusher. And his recognition skills must improve. But he has a great combination of an explosive first step to fire through gaps and an ability to chase plays. This guy is so athletic that he was a full time special teamer on kickoff coverage.
A guaranteed first rounder. And recent rumors suggest he will go first to Jacksonville. We will see.
With that said, for the Ravens he would be an immediate impact in the run game and will lock down his edge. His pass rush impact might be less immediate, and he needs to put in the hard work to develop a full bag of moves. In this respect there is projection to his selection. He is not the immediate electric pass rusher the Ravens seek, and he will likely not be an instantaneous stud racking up sacks. He will be attractive to anyone. Round 1.
Kayvon Thibodeaux
Kayvon Thibodeaux is 6’4, 254 lbs. from Oregon. Thibodeaux is a much-ballyhooed prospect who is not as clean as some suggest. I do not think he is the best pass rusher in this draft. I did a bunch of tape study on Thibodeaux and his game is not as complete as one would think. For one, he lacks any true go-to move as a rusher on the edge. I would not call him an instinctive pass rusher. He has a very good first step. His cornering skills are good but not great. Thibodeaux has very agile feet. He can play equally well standing up or with his hand in the dirt. But he often lacks a plan.
His best move is a powerful jab step, and he regularly relies on arm extension into the chest of the offensive lineman to generate leverage which he then follows with leg drive. He is strong. But Thibodeaux doesn’t often string moves together. He doesn’t have the bend of elite pass rushers, nor is he as flexible as I would have thought. I don’t see him often getting a clear arc to the quarterback and then flattening across to close. These are the trademarks, to me, of an elite pass rusher and I don’t see that much with Thibodeaux.
There is technique work to do ahead of him. On the tape I watched I didn’t see a single example of his spinning or winning with pure speed around the edge against a tackle; I did see him win once with speed on a tight end. Overall, Thibodeaux is physically gifted and has excellent power and agility. He has some ability to counter when he loses on his initial move as he has good hip swivel, but this needs further development.
Thibodeaux is tough with heavy hands in the run game and does well holding the point of attack. He will hold the edge. Thibodeaux takes good pursuit angles on the back of running plays. He arrives at full speed. But he needs to improve his play recognition and awareness overall. He had little success the few times I saw him trying to play in space. He is not the player to cover a running back and he has a long way to go to be a threat dropping back.
Thibodeaux is inconsistent in his effort pursuing the passer. Sometimes he runs hot, and others he runs warm. I did not see many instances on tape where he ran across or down the field to chase runners. This is problematic, and that type of “effort” is anathema to me. Consistent with this view, his motor and effort have been questioned, with some unidentified people “affiliated” with his college program claim he gave up on plays too easily. I did see some evidence of this on the tapes I watched.
Questions were raised concerning his attitude and qualities as a teammate, as was his behavior at the Combine. Thibodeaux apparently disappointed people at the Combine because he promised to do all of the drills and take the linebacker plays, but changed his mind after running the forty. His coach calls him a hungry, driven guy. He’s seen by some as charismatic and a vocal leader.
On balance, where do we stand with Thibodeaux? I think he’s a very good prospect who is tough in the running game but not elite as a pass rusher. But does he bring an NFL-ready motor? I believe the hype surrounding him will cause him to be drafted higher than his talents warrant. I do not project him – at this point – as a multi-Pro Bowler type of player. If he somehow falls to the Ravens at 14, I don’t think he’s my guy. Round 1.
George Karlaftis
George Karlaftis is 6’4, 266 lbs. from Purdue. Karlaftis is barely 21 years old. The core asset in his game is his tremendous lower power combined with his motor. He utilizes power-packed hands to drive blockers backwards. He has a very good variety of bull rushing moves. Karlaftis is able to use his hands in almost any way.
Now he’s not as athletically gifted as some of the other top edge rushers; he’s not as reactive as the other top pass rushers this year. Karlaftis does not bring speed qualities as a rusher on the edge and is a little tight in cornering. In fact, on tape I saw little ability to either bend around the corner or flatten the arc. It’s just power-city with him. He does not have that one signature move. He’s able to dip his shoulder and offers a good inside swim. But his spin is rudimentary and not a threat at this point. Karlaftis generally has a good first step. His second and third steps allow him to deliver power almost immediately. He is able to generate some natural leverage. His rush counters exhibit good body control. But when his power doesn’t win, he can get enveloped.
In the Ohio State game, I regularly saw him get stalled out in his bull rush. He did not offer much to the outside. He was unable to work out of double teams. Most surprisingly I did not seem him pursue with the fire I expected. And his footwork was a bit slow down the line. Indeed, he was not much of a factor in the game.
Karlaftis has very high acumen in the pass rushing game. He has an outstanding attitude, his coach stating that he lives in the building and takes everything extremely seriously and puts in the effort well beyond what most guys do. His arms are shorter than one would like, yielding an edge to long-armed blockers. He surprisingly missed more tackles than one would have thought, perhaps due to his relatively small tackle radius. He must work on his run contain as he doesn’t always maintain his gap integrity, something the Ravens demand. One challenge for Karlaftis is whether he can play standing up, as he may be best suited for a more traditional 4-3 and I saw no example of his dropping into space. In all, I think Karlaftis is a bit over-rated as a first-rounder. I don’t see him that way. Round 2.
Arnold Ebiketie
Arnold Ebiketie is 6’2, 250 lbs, from Penn State. Ebiketie has been a consistent edge winner and played very well last year against top tier competition after jumping up from Temple and, to a degree, is a late bloomer. He brings good twitch and speed off the edge, though I would not yet call it elite. I see Ebiketie as having the potential of a solid edge player – setting a hard edge in run defense and bringing explosion and a good repertoire to his pass rush. But to get there, he will have to add strength to his frame, particularly his lower body, and this will likely be the key to his NFL success. Ebiketie has diversity to his game.
His acceleration and quickness to the pocket are very good, and he brings a good burst to close on a runner. Ebiketie’s greatest strength is his powerful hands, which he uses to great effect, along with his long arms (34” arms and an 82+” wingspan), to prevent tackles from getting into his body and to gain leverage. He uses those long arms to lock out at the point of attack and keep his chest clean. He has shown an ability to work down the line of scrimmage.
Now Ebiketie needs more refinement in his run defense, and he sometimes struggles to free himself to contain. This was clear across his game tape. I actually see him as a bit of a liability right now in the run game, as power run plays aimed at him challenge his greatest weakness, an inability to consistently anchor. He needs to get in an NFL weight room and add more power. But he’s a high motor guy. He will run down the line, and in fact anywhere on the field, to catch runners. I did not see any examples of Ebiketie dropping into coverage.
There’s no denying what Ebiketie brings in the pass rush game. He is a powerful rusher off the edge who is able to bring arc acceleration combined with the ability to bend and level off. Ebiketie is naturally quick though I wouldn’t call him explosive per se. He displays a very good ability on inside moves to cross the face of tackles. Ebiketie can not only win on the outside hip of a tackle, but he can also slash through creases and gaps. He brings a plan to his attack. There is more upside to his game with NFL coaching. He could stand to control his explosion at times. A little more mass in that lower body will allow him to generate more power in his rush game, as he can’t really win with bull rushes to this point.
At this point, Ebiketie is not a complete player who the Ravens would necessarily put on the field on early downs. The judgment to make is whether he can get there with additional work, because he has some exiting upside to his already high-grade pass rushing skills. If the Ravens are unable to land a pass rusher in round one, Ebiketie should be under consideration in round two. Round 2.
Boye Mafe
Boye Mafe is 6’4, 265 lbs. from Minnesota. Mafe is not yet an all-around package, though he has the talent to get there. He’s already 24 years hold so the clock is ticking. He brings excellent athleticism and generally moves effortlessly off the edge and in space. His development has been on an upward trajectory, but he clearly has further to go. He needs to improve in deconstructing blocks and needs greater consistency as a rusher on the edge.
Mafe is fast (he ran a 4.53 forty). He brings long arms and a good frame. Mafe has the ability to be explosive out of his stance, but his first step could be tighter, and I saw instances where his snap anticipation was poor. He has very good acceleration up the arc which he combines with good bend. Mafe’s footwork is fluid, and he has the power to swat away arms. He possesses shock in his hands, but hasn’t consistently knocked blockers on their heels. His best moves consist of cross chops.
Mafe’s hand usage is good but there are too many instances on tape where he has no counter and couldn’t disengage. He occasionally uses a spin, so we know he has the athletic ability to do it. But it needs works. Improvement could also come with coaching in stringing together combinations of moves, and I think he has the athletic prowess to do this. Mafe has not yet fully utilized his great wingspan, another advance that could come with NFL coaching.
Mafe is not totally clean. For one, he seems best in a wide angle two point stance off the edge where he uses his great speed to maximum effect. These wide angle sets are not generally utilized in Ravens fronts. Mafe’s play strength has been a bit suspect and he struggles to present any type of power move. There just aren’t instances where he converted speed to power. And I saw examples of Mafe taking a false step on his get off, which would be a serious problem for a speed rusher if not corrected.
In the run game, Mafe doesn’t set a hard enough edge. Too many times he was a non-factor. He clearly needs more coaching with his footwork and his hand placement. He must improve his ability to disengage blockers. Here he has problems with leverage and hand placement, technical refinement that can be improved. But he does show a decent anchor.
Mafe has the type of motor you like, and he will chase plays downfield. He could improve his recognition skills (causing his instincts to be a bit short) and his counters for when he gets stalled out must get better. His run play recognition is inconsistent with a bad example in the Ohio State game where he surrendered the edge for a touchdown. He occasionally drops his eyes and loses contact with the play.
Overall, I see Mafe as an athletically talented speed edge rusher who must continue to work to add to his speed rushing playbook, and with a way to go in the run game. In year one, he’s more of a situational player and I don’t see him as a three down edge setter yet. Note that Mafe had a great week at the Senior Bowl where it was reported that he displayed an array of pass-rush moves and counters, and an ability to anchor in the run game.
There is definitely risk with Mafe. He has some aspects of boom or bust to him. He has elite speed from a wide edge, but hasn’t developed a wide enough variety of rushing moves and is currently suspect holding the edge. There’s a lot of work to do to maximize his physical skills. This is not a guy I would take in the first round, no matter how well he showed at the Senior Bowl. There’s just too much tape showing work to be done. Round 2.
David Ojabo
David Ojabo is 6’4, 250 lbs. from Michigan. Ojabo has one full year of college football under his belt consisting of 534 total snaps. That’s not a lot of experience! For starters, Ojabo has a good way to go in the run game; as of now, he’s a liability (Michigan didn’t even have him on the field for a single running play down in the national semi-final Georgia game). He must gain functional strength and improve his body positioning. To no surprise, he spends a little too much time thinking on the field. But he has all of the traits of an elite edge rusher, with great bend, length, and explosiveness.
This guy is twitchy and athletic with great fluidity and explosion off the line of scrimmage. He has tremendous closing speed. I saw that to great effect in his game against Michigan State last year. Ojabo displayed a wonderful ability to dip his should and get under the tackle, and twice utilized a beautiful spin move to get sacks. These are God-given talents and he’s packed with them.
Ojabo has a natural feel and instincts for the game. He already brings great natural counters on the fly in his pass rush attacks. For now, he is a speed rusher only, and needs more work to be able to add a bull rush to his plan. Ojabo has an 81” wingspan which he uses to keep blockers away from his frame. This is a guy with a tremendous ceiling, but he has work to do to get there.
Ojabo needs to further develop his body (I think his play strength is only average) to become a complete player in the NFL, and there’s no reason he can’t get there with hard work. He needs a lot more experience. His coaches say he has excellent learning habits (and he was an Academic All American). Ojabo sometimes plays too hot and will miss too many tackles as a result.
I believe Ojabo will ultimately be able to play in multiple fronts and would be an excellent addition for a blitz heavy scheme like the Ravens. He brings good hip flexibility along with feet that stay balanced. His Achilles injury really sets him back – not only from the perspective of losing valuable experience (he needs to be on the field) but also because it creates doubt whether he will fully regain his explosion. An Achilles injury can be anathema to a player like Ojbao. Assuming he takes the field in 2022, I think we’ll only see him as a situational pass rusher, as he will miss all of the necessary practice and learning time that might otherwise allow him to play as a full-time edge run defender.
In all, Ojabo is a guy who hasn’t played all that much but lit it on fire as a pass rusher when he did, and yet he needs more work to become a complete player. He’s so gifted athletically that most teams would bet he will get there. On his pass rush ability alone, I would have rated Ojabo no less than the third best pass rusher on the board this year. He’s held back by his run defense at this point; and the injury.
How far Ojabo drops in the draft will be interesting. For the Ravens, he’s clearly not under consideration at 14. But if he falls out of the first round, I think they should have serious interest unless they are able to get Jermaine Johnson at 14. Remember, Mike Macdonald coached Ojabo so if he’s worth trading up for Macdonald will know. But 2022 could functionally be a red-shirt year for Ojabo, which is a major consideration for the team taking him. Round 1 talent, round 2 selection.
Kingsley Enagbare
Kingsley Enagbare is 6’4, 258 lbs, from South Carolina. Enagbare is an unusual athlete. He is broad-framed with a solid build and has very good length with an 84” wingspan. But he lacks elite explosiveness and ran very slow (a 4.87 at the Combine and an even slower 4.97 on his pro day); though I think the utility of straight-line 40 times for edge rushers is a bit over-rated. Yet, at South Carolina Pro Football Focus gave him one of the highest pass rushing grades for each of the last two years.
Enagbare had a great week at the Senior Bowl where he was very difficult to limit in his pass rush. He remains a work in progress, particularly with his counters and his bend (he’s just not a great bender athlete). He’s a little tight at the top of his pass rush and is not elite changing direction. He exposes his pads too often. Enagbare has powerful arms and uses his hands very well to shed blockers and convert speed to power. Indeed, his best strength might be his hands. Enagbare is able to string his pass rush moves together. He has a hot motor.
Enagbare played almost exclusively outside the tackle. He had some difficulty player over the tackles, clearly suggesting a 3-4 alignment is in his future. In the run game he must set the edge more consistently, especially if he’s going to play for the Ravens. He doesn’t process at an elite level in the run game, as he is slow to identify blocks and is late getting to his gaps. I don’t think Enagbare sets himself apart enough. He is not particularly bendy, so I worry about him being too stiff against elite tackles. And he’s just not the type of edge setter the Ravens generally look for. Round 3.
Nik Bonitto
Nik Bonnito is 6’3, 248 lbs. from Oklahoma. Bonitto is a bit small for an NFL edge defender and lacks great length. His size limits his ability to threaten NFL tackles with any type of bull rush. But he brings excellent twitchiness and good athleticism to his game. He wins in the pass game with his speed, bend, and quickness. He has good ankle bend takes sharp pass rush angles. His hand movement is good. Bonitto has a very classic spin move to the QB.
He has the speed (ran a 4.54) to chase down running backs and is able to drop into space, but he lacks experience dropping into man coverage. Bonitto uses a very solid arm over move among others, and has quickness to cross the face of a tackle and get to the inside angle to the quarterback. He does not offer any real bull rush capability. Bonitto is a true speed-rusher. But he doesn’t convert speed to power at a high level.
Bonitto’s play strength is at best average and he needs to better use his hands as attack forces. As a result, he doesn’t threaten enough as an edge setter in the run game. Frankly, on the tape I watched he was a non-factor in the run game and was regularly engulfed. His anchor is not stout, and blockers are able to move him too much. He has not been particularly good at transitioning his excellent speed to power.
Right now, I see Bonnito as more of a one-trick pony. He’s not capable of reliably holding the edge. He’s not a hand in the dirt player by any means. I don’t see him being ready to take the field on first down and whether he can bring the strength and power he needs to become a more complete player is problematic. I see him as a third down pass rusher, albeit one who brings a lot to the table in that regard. The Ravens typically don’t draft specialists and for Bonnito to be attractive they would have to conclude that they can enhance his physical traits. For these reasons I think Bonnito will be down their board. Round 3.
Cameron Thomas
Cameron Thomas is 6’4, 267 lbs. from San Diego State – From the Ravens’ perspective, Thomas is a bit of a tweener prospect – he offers a lot of upside, but his strength is not quite there to play edge in a 3-4. But if he added that strength, he might be best suited as a defensive end lining up outside the guard in a 3-4, not as a pure edge player.
Yet, he has prototypical size to be an edge defender. He has an excellent swim move and also has strong enough hands to bring a variety of swipe moves. He also utilizes his punch well to gain quick separation from blockers. Thomas does not just run up the arc, but will work back underneath blocks. He has rushed very effectively on the inside over guards, where he is simply too quick, and he could play that role on third down in the NFL, similar to what Za’Darius Smith and Pernell McPhee brought in the past.
But Thomas cannot play on the inside on early downs. Thomas brings the type of versatility to pass rush that is very appealing. He can clearly be moved around the front, which is usually music to the Ravens’ ears. Thomas generally brings a very good plan and sets up his rushes well. He has good lateral quickness to penetrate gaps.
Now Thomas is not a bend edge rusher and will not bring the speed needed to blow by blockers. He can be knocked off of his path. He has not yet consistently been able to string together multiple moves. But he’s shown an ability to slide through gaps, with good instincts. And his first step is usually excellent.
Thomas has also been effective in the run game, where he is quick to locate the ball. His anchoring ability needs to improve. But he is physical at the point of attack and has been able to disengage fairly well. He will chase across the field.
He should wind up, with more strength, as a pocket collapsing edge setter, but he’s not there yet. Thomas has an injury history, having fractured four vertebrae in 2018. He missed the Combine due to a hamstring injury. But he never missed a game in his three years. I think Thomas brings an interesting combination of skills to the table. He’s played a lot over the tackle and outside of the tackle. He brings a great motor. Round 3.
Logan Hall
Logan Hall is 6’6, 283 lbs. from Houston. In college Hall was seemingly used at every position except the one he is probably best suited for in the NFL –five-technique, where he played only 21 snaps last year. He does not have the body mass to work consistently playing three-technique, and yet he lacks the ability to turn tight corners on the wide edge as a pass rusher.
Hall has very good lateral quickness. He brings powerful hands. Hall’s very good athleticism showed at the combine, where he had a very good 3-cone, vertical jump and 20-yard shuttle. He plays with a very hot motor. Hall’s best pass-rushing move is his bull-rush, where he utilizes a very good stutter step that troubled many guards. He’s utilized good counters as he continues to improve his rush repertoire. Hall brings good lateral mobility and has a solid swim and arm over move that, combined with improved hand usage, allows him to exploit gaps. Hall utilizes a nice spin counter move to help himself separate from blockers.
But here are the issues with Hall, and especially from the Ravens’ perspective. His height is a liability as his pad level is regularly too high. His ability to bend laterally is suspect in my mind. And he will lose the lock on his anchor allowing himself to be driven back. Blockers will get underneath of him. I can’t see him playing the three technique on first and second down, where he played most often at Houston.
Moreover, I think he lacks the ability to turn the corner effectively as a pass rusher. I don’t see him as a guy who will be able to produce double digit sacks. He is more of a single gap penetrator on pass rushing downs, i.e., he’s best served sliding inside on those downs. So, he’s a guy who I can see setting a hard edge in a five technique on rush downs, and sliding inside on pass downs, but is not an overall “edge” solution. Hall will chase down runners. He plays very aggressive. In all, his production did not match his talent. Hall underwent elbow surgery last December. And he showed poorly at the Senior Bowl.
I thought I was going to like Hall a lot more than I actually do. Perhaps he has a higher ceiling than I expect. He’s best with his hand in the dirt in use as described above. I rate him lower than others. I just don’t think he brings the type of package that the Ravens most need in spending precious draft capital in round 2 and 3, which is where Hall will land. Round 3.
Josh Paschal
Josh Paschal is 6’3, 268 lbs. from Kentucky. Paschal is a very versatile player who can be used in a variety of ways. He has overcome great adversity in his life, as he was diagnosed with malignant myeloma in 2018 that required multiple surgeries and 12 months of immunotherapy treatments but was a starter since his return in 2019. Paschal is known to be a great character player. He is highly motivated and would no doubt be a great presence in the locker room.
Now, on to his skillset. Paschal is very tough at the point of attack. He has an excellent anchor. He plays very low (keeps his pads low) and brings a lot of power with it. This is a guy who will walk blockers back to the quarterback. Paschal has very good range and enough twitch to shed single blocks. He’s built to stop the run. But he is not a speed-rush attacker and will not bend around the corner or win much at the top of his rush.
Paschal is not particularly effective converting speed to power. He is not the most flexible of athletes. In fact, his lack of flexibility is probably his greatest drawback. But he could be very tough rushing the QB from the inside, where he brings very heavy hands, is very physical right to your face, and will probably do most of his pass rushing damage on third down. And though he has good hands and deploys good quickness to beat pass blockers he could utilize more explosion in his punch. Paschal is a classic bull-rusher. He is very technically sound.
For the Ravens, the question with Paschal is where do you play him? Some will see him as a tweener, and perhaps he is to. But the better answer is that he provides good positional flexibility. He could play the five-technique and could slide inside to the three technique on passing downs.
Paschal has shown an ability to anchor well against double teams, and there’s no doubt that he’s very strong at the point of attack. He will also run down the line. Paschal is not going to offer speed rush on the outside; he’s not David Ojabo. But has the skillset to turn into what Jaylon Ferguson failed to achieve, providing he develops the counters that Ferguson could not. And because he can play over the tackle, outside the tackle, and slide to the inside on passing downs, he should be more scheme diverse than Ferguson. He’s a solid fit for the Ravens. Round 3-4.
Sam Williams
Sam Williams is 6’3.5, 261 lbs. from Mississippi – At this point, Williams is primarily a pass rush specialist who could be on the field in subpackages. But he brings a lot to the table in this regard. He has some character baggage, having been arrested in 2020 for sexual assault though the charges were later dropped. He has a one year old son, but did graduate.
Williams’ get-off is excellent; he’s explosive, particularly on passing downs. He has very good bend around the edge that he combines with very solid hand work. Williams is very fast (ran a 4.46) with good length. He has top-end rush acceleration. Williams has violent and explosive hands which he uses to great effect in rushing the QB. He brings strong inside rushing moves alongside very good lateral quickness. And, he is capable of converting speed to power, but he can be stalemated because his bend to the outside is not great. As well, because he is not top-end flexible, his ability to redirect in the NFL is an open-question. He also has very good inside burst with his cuts. He is able to move off blocks while remaining focused on his target.
Williams still needs to improve his pass rush plan, particularly when his speed to the edge is matched by better tackles. He brings a very hot motor and will fight viciously to free himself from blockers. Williams relentlessly pursues all over the field and is never out of a play. He improved mightily in 2021.
Williams has a good way to go as a run defender. Most of his flaws are technique oriented. He just plays too high and allows blockers to get into his pads. He doesn’t play with the necessary level of physicality and is not effective in dropping an anchor to hold the edge. Williams plays too tall when he’s in space and fails to bring good leverage to holding the edge. He must improve his lower body strength. Williams committed way too many penalties, indicating a lack of discipline. I wonder a bit regarding his football IQ. Indeed, bringing more discipline to his game is a prerequisite for him staying on the field on earlier downs.
The character issue must be addressed satisfactorily for him to be on the Ravens’ board. From the perspective of his on-field play, Williams brings a combination of skills that should make him impactful. In year one he projects as a rotational piece. He probably fits best in the five technique. Talent-wise, he makes sense beginning in the third round. Round 3-4.
Drake Jackson
Drake Jackson is 6’3, 273 lbs. from USC. Jackson is just now turning 21. He needs to add strength all across his frame as he is particularly weak against the run (only ten stops in 11 games) and with run plays on his side of the field. His run defense is far more effective when he is in pursuit. Though Jackson is twitchy as a speed rusher with excellent flexibility and arc acceleration, good punches tend to stop him cold. He just doesn’t have good counters to this point, and needs much better hand usage. His physical weakness is also apparent when he tries to convert his speed to power. And power is also lacking in his hands; he lacks the ability to punch and get away. In all, it just doesn’t work together right now.
Jackson brings good angle flexibility to his speed rush game, and he has sudden steps where he can switch to rush inside after getting a tackle to widen outside. He uses his long arms to good purpose. He has the type of elite bend for an edge rusher that teams look for; hence, his appeal. His play range is very good, and he will chase runners down. Yet, his rushing skills are still unrefined. In fairness, he just switched to outside linebacker this year so clearly there is more development work ahead. He drops into coverage with ease. To this point he is best seen as a finesse player rather than a violent destroyer.
I see Jackson as a player who, in theory, could play the complete role as an edge linebacker if he is able to develop the functional strength described above. But at this point, he is not a year one full-time starter by any means. Since for me players drafted in the first three rounds need to be immediate year-one starters, I can’t draft Jackson before the fourth round. He likely grades out as a third rounder, but not for me from the Ravens’ perspective. Round 4.
Dominique Robinson
Dominique Robinson is 6’5, 253 lbs. from Miami (Ohio). Robinson is an excellent athlete who converted to defense and a pass rusher in the 2020 season, so he is still very much learning. Robinson is blessed with long arms (he has a tremendous 82” wingspan), and a frame which could (and should) add more weight. His vertical jump at the Combine was the best by a defensive lineman since 2003 and his bench press was the second-highest in the class. He is naturally bendy (though not quite elite) and quick off the snap with the burst and acceleration to pressure tackles to the corner.
Robinson has the skills to redirect in order to win on twist moves and stunts as well, but there is more development to be done here. And his attack to the inside is somewhat rudimentary at this point. He utilizes his club well, and his hand usage on the rush is good and powerful. He brings good lateral quickness so when he gets control on the outside, he is able to turn the tackle and attack to the QB with explosion.
He’s not quite ready to beat the top NFL tackles as he needs work on his counters to get to that point. But he’s athletic enough to get there. He has a natural sudden change of direction. Robinson flashed all of his pass rushing gifts at the Senior Bowl, where he demonstrated, among other things, an ability to convert speed to power. Robinson has not shown a top-level ability to recognize and process to this point, particularly in the run game, which is unsurprising given his relative inexperience but a consideration given his need to grasp nuances.
We don’t really have much to go on regarding coverage, but Robinson certainly has the athleticism to peel off and cover running backs. His run defense so far lags his pass rushing skills, and to this point he’s not ready to be a three-down defender. Robinson has not yet mastered the art of using his hands well enough to leverage through the gaps. And, there are too many instances where guards are able to turn him.
Robinson’s play strength (lower-body) and anchoring ability must improve for him to become a more dominant edge setter. As well, he needs this strength to bring a good bull rush into his repertoire, where it is currently lacking. With his frame, Robinson has the upside to become a complete pass-rushing threat, combining inside clubs and swims with explosiveness to the outside. For the Ravens, Robinson is a year-one pass rushing specialist who needs work on his body and experience to assume a more assertive role in the future. He would be a reach in round three if a three-down role is expected this year. But he has a high ceiling if he can put it all together. Round 4.
DeAngelo Malone
DeAngelo Malone is 6’3, 243 lbs, from Western Kentucky. Malone was a productive player throughout his five college years. He was Conference-USA defensive player of the year in 2021. To this point, Malone is all about rushing the QB. As a run defender, he lacks the strength (at 243 pounds) to anchor and set the edge, and is much better when he is chasing on the opposite side or when tasked with defending the backside of zone running plays. He plays tougher than his body would suggest, but without more power as an edge setter he will get pushed around by NFL tackles. He got stonewalled too frequently on tape, having a difficult time shedding offensive tackles. And converting speed to power in the pass rush game was generally lacking.
We shouldn’t assume that Malone will be able to add that power to his game, as he had trouble maintaining high end weight in college. Malone’s hand power was also lacking; he doesn’t have the type of pop in his hands (though his usage is very good) that one wants, and without a solid punch he may have a difficult time keeping tackles away from his body. His hand techniques must improve.
As a pass rusher Malone is an explosive athlete who has excellent ability to run the corner at a high level. He rushes with a plan. His lateral agility is very good, and his feet are nimble and efficient. At the same time, he has the ability to work through small creases and then blow through. Malone bends well; he has excellent ankle and hip flexion. Having run a 4.54 forty, he has excellent pursuit speed and can not only chase down QBs, but is another reason why performs well in the run game on plays on the far side. Malone plays with a hot motor.
In all, Malone is another player in this class who, at this point, is a pass rushing specialist who will have a difficult time setting a hard edge. And there is still more upside to his rushing attack. But unlike some of the others, it’s not as clear that he will be able to add necessary strength in the run game. He has the athletic gifts to play in space. For the Ravens, he is intriguing as a pass rusher but is not a three-down prospect to this point and I think there’s a bit more risk that he won’t get there. As a result, I can’t rate him higher than the fourth round, though I believe he will go higher because some teams will fall in love with his pass rushing capability. He had a good week at the Senior Bowl. Round 4.
Jesse Luketa
Jesse Luketa is 6’3, 253 lbs, from Penn State. Luketa lacks the speed that other edge players bring (4.89 forty). But he brings other things to the table. He is tough at the point of attack and should be able to create a hard edge on the outside. Luketa has good lateral quickness and plays with good leverage. He meets force with force. When tackling he will run through the ball carrier. His motor burns red hot and he will chase all over the field. Luketa was a two year captain at Penn State and is a seasoned special teamer. Although he has powerful hands he doesn’t consistently separate from blockers.
Luketa does not currently offer much in the pass rush game. I see him as an early down hard edge setter against the run. He uses his powerful hands to great effect. I don’t think Luketa has the ability to defend in space or to ride routes through zones. In all, Luketa is limited in what he offers and does not have a diverse enough talent set to fit the Ravens. Pass. Round 5.
Alex Wright
Alex Wright is 6’5, 271 lbs, from UAB – Wright is a young player who has solid upside promise, and a team drafting him will be making that upside bet. He is still growing as an athlete. He presents a long frame and a large wingspan. With improved technique, Wright has the ability to win. He has good movement capability for a man with his size. Although he shows some bend in his pass rushing game, he plays too high to be consistently effective against NFL tackles. And although Wright lacks an explosive first step, he has good foot quickness and lateral agility to go with long strides to be effective on the edge. His second and third steps ae very good.
Wright is still developing in numerous ways. He must improve his secondary moves and become more efficient (quick) in unleashing his power. He gets knocked off balance too often. His techniques in taking on blocks needs work. Wright needs to work in the weight room to add the strength that his size should be able to incorporate. Round 5-6.
Myjai Sanders
Myjai Sanders is 6’5, 228 lbs. from Cincinnati. Let’s start with the less desirable stuff. Sanders is very thin framed. He missed over 25% of his tackles the past two years – that’s not a miss-print. That’s enough, right there, for me to have no interest in the player. To boot, he drew 20 penalties over the last two seasons (mostly, offsides; so we know his snap anticipation is poor). So why do I have him on the list? Because his straight-line explosion is outstanding (he has great first-step burst), and he brings the length and first strike power to be a third-down edge rushing specialist.
Is Sanders the best prospect in this class with that characterization? No – he moves somewhat mechanically and he won’t win battles with his hands or his power. But the fact that he is not the best arguable specialist is not a knock against him. I just think that other prospects generally offer more upside to their weaknesses.
Sanders graded out poorly as a run defender. He simply doesn’t bring enough to the table in my view for the Ravens to take him, and I’d be surprised and disappointed if they did. Round 5-6.
Amare Barno
Alex Barno is 6’4, 246 lbs. from Virginia Tech. Barno ran an incredible 4.36 forty at the Combine. At age 23, however, he is still a traits player. He played better in 2020 than he did in 2021. Barno lacks functional strength to anchor on the edge and to be able to squeeze in the gaps. NFL tackles who get their arms on him will be able to push him around and stand him up, at this point. I have my doubts that his body frame will allow him to add needed mass. He just doesn’t have a powerful base.
Barno’s game is as a pass rusher. He’s long but raw yet in his ability to position his hands, though he has a decent punch. He is twitchy and flexible, with quickness out of the blocks and is slippery around tight corners. He needs to better use that first step to set up his rush. I would call him quick out of the blocks more than explosive. He has the physical traits to bring more twist and spin to his game as a rusher. But he generally lacks a rushing plan, with predictable secondary moves. Converting speed to power must improve.
I don’t see Barno as likely being an effective edge setter in a 3-4 scheme. That lack of power is just a killer, and I think it’s suspect that he can be effective with his hand in the dirt in the run game; he is better in space and just doesn’t know how to shed blockers yet. Barno is just too raw for me with too limited of an upside on the edge. I would pass. Round 6.
Christopher Allen
Christopher Allen is 6’3, 241 Lbs. from Alabama. Allen is a forgotten prospect at soon-to-be aged 24. He was forced to redshirt in 2018 after a knee injury, played the entire season in 2018, had a strong year in 2020 when he made second team All-SEC, and played one game in 2021 after suffering a broken foot. Obviously, medicals are a big red flag.
But Allen brings an interesting blend of talent. He brings a sculpted body with good strength and physicality to anchor at the point of attack, and he has balanced feet with good twitch and technique. He should hold up reasonably well against NFL tackles. His comparative lack of experience shows up in some slow play recognition. Although he is not a natural bender, he has decent flexibility and quickness out of the blocks, and brings sufficient burst to attack the edge. But his acceleration to the arc is just ok. Allen is a hard edge-setter with powerful hands and a shock punch. He is a solid run defender, but his lateral burst at this point is not consistent enough to allow him to pursue runs to the outside.
Allen has shown reasonable ability to drop off of the line. His pass rush repertoire requires further development. Round 5-6.
Tyreke Smith
Tyreke Smith is 6’3, 254 lbs. from Ohio State. Smith is a player with a lot of tools who was Ohio State’s best pass rusher over the last two years yet that didn’t show up in sack numbers (high pressures; few sacks). He has missed a bunch of games in his career due to injuries, a red flag. Smith is athletically gifted, with very good explosion up the field (though he sometimes gets too upright too quickly) combined with quickness at the top of the arc and a good ability to corner. He has enough bend to dip under tackles. His hands are active in fighting off blockers. His feet off the snap are inefficient. Smith is a player who attacks.
Yet, Smith can play with a lack of control and his pass rush plan needs coaching. He needs a good deal of technique improvement. Smith is more of a power rusher at this point. His change of direction is compromised when he plays high – and playing high seems to be his single biggest flaw. His balance after contact can get thrown off. Smith struggles when punched. In the run game Smith has not been as effective as he needs to be. He tends to catch blocks as opposed to attacking blockers. But he has the quickness to crash the backside of plays and to slash through gaps. Smith would do well to increase his lower body strength to enhance his edge-setting capability.
Smith has been injured every season in his career, stunting his progress. Because of his injury history I would shy away from him, given the depth of the edge class. But he has enough skill and traits to work with and he could be a player who gets better in the NFL. Round 5-6.
Zachary Carter
Zachary Carter is 6’4, 282 lbs. from Florida. I see Carter as offering, at best, rotational value playing the three-technique to take advantage of his ability to shoot gaps. He is a fairly linear athlete who lacks the flexibility to play further outside at the five-technique. Carter brings just average explosion to the table and he relies much more on his power. He relies on his hand power. Carter does not run with the hottest of motors. He is a solid run defender with good reading abilities. Round 6-7.
Daniel Hardy
Daniel Hardy is 6’2, 235 lbs. from Montana State. Hardy is generally an off-the-screen small school prospect who has been overshadowed by teammate . He is fast (ran a 4.64 forty) with a long wingspan. Hardy started his career as an inside linebacker and was moved to edge this year. Hardy had the third-most sacks (17) in the FCS in 2022. He also generated 46 hurries and 14 quarterback hits for a total of 77 total pressures. Hardy played well at the Collegiate Bowl. Hardy is explosive off the corner with very good closing ability. He does a good job converting speed to power. He needs work on his tackling technique but has been effective against the run. His lack of bulk is obviously an issue on the edge, but he could fit as a situational pass rusher and special teams performer. Round 7, priority free agent.
James Houston
James Houston is 6’ 244 lbs. from Jackson State. Houston served as a backup for three years at Florida before transferring to play for Deion Sanders last year. As a redshirted freshman at Florida, he was suspended while he was investigated for credit card fraud. Houston had an outstanding year last year at Jackson State, generating 24.5 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks along with seven forced fumbles. Houston is very athletic and ran a 4.70 forty. At the Collegiate Bowl and the Shrine Bowl he was primarily tasked with playing off-ball linebacker and demonstrated at ability to drop into coverage.
No doubt Houston is a tweener as at just 6’ and 244 pounds he’s small to play edge, and I think he will have a hard time anchoring. He can be explosive, but inconsistently so. Houston does not have great ankle flexion and I don’t see him being successful as an edge bender. His hand usage is very good, but he clearly needs to develop more variety in his pass rush repertoire to be successful in the NFL. I see him as an off-ball linebacker prospect in the NFL. Priority free agent.
Michael Clemons
Michael Clemons is 6’5, 270 lbs, from Texas A&M. Clemons has too many red flags to be a viable prospect for the Ravens, including several arrests and several injuries. No Rating.
