Below is a review of potential defensive linemen prospects for the Ravens in the 2023 draft. The following positions have previously been reviewed:
Cornerbacks, which can be found here and which was updated today as noted at the top of the post.
Wide receivers, which can be found here.
The Ravens Current Defensive Linemen Situation, and the Need
The Ravens clearly need an influx of talent here. Calais Campbell is gone. Michael Pierce couldn’t stay healthy last year. Justin Madubuike improved but could be a free agent next year. Broderick Washington arguably improved more. Travis Jones had a solid rookie year and we are hoping for more this year. Brent Urban is a rotational piece. Rayshad Nichols has a little talent and could also be a rotational piece. But the Ravens need more.
The Defensive Linemen Prospects
Jalen Carter
At 6’3 and 314 lbs. from Georgia, Carter is the hands down top interior defensive lineman this year, arguably one of the top five players in the class, and there’s no way he’ll be available to the Ravens. Next.
Calijah Kancey
Kancey is 6’ 280 lbs. from Pittsburgh. This is a small man for the interior. It’s hard to see him being able to anchor against double teams, which he would have to do in the Ravens scheme over the nose. He’s a gap penetrator who can pressure the quarterback. Kancey has a tremendous first step and knows how to use leverage to get under offensive linemen. He is a classic three-technique defensive tackle (over the outside shoulder of a guard). That’s great on passing downs. The Ravens run defense, however, is frequently predicated on using two five-technique lineman who align on the offensive tackle, with a nose tackle over the center.
He had one of the fastest defensive tackle forty’s ever run at the Combine (he ran a 4.67 forty). Kancey also has just about the shortest arms of any defensive lineman I’ve seen. This will cause him problems in the NFL in the run game. I think there is too much risk for the Ravens in taking Kancey because of the uncertainty as to how effective he will be on running downs. Where to play him?
But make mistake, Kancey is an explosive and willing defensive tackle who uses his quickness to shoot gaps and win. He has a very hot motor. He’s a round one talent for some team, but doesn’t fit the Ravens. On my board, he’s a round 2 player. Round 2.
Bryan Bresee
Bresee is 6’5 and 305 lbs. from Clemson. Bresee has a lot of physical gifts. He has excellent burst and flexibility with the versatility to play anywhere along the defensive front (especially the five technique). He’s explosive and tested that way. But he’s shown scant ability to redirect, and his pass rush moves are sorely lacking. Bresee can also play too high and come in too hot. He moves very well and will certainly be a force against the run. His hands are powerful and he has shown a good ability to stack and shed linemen.
The problem is that Bresee has a notable injury history. He tore an ACL in 2021 and missed four games in 2022 due to an infection. And his snap count was quite low when he played in 2022. Bresee is an intriguing talent with some inside, and he may well be on the board if the Ravens draft at 22. But he’s not a clean prospect and I don’t think the Ravens should go there in Round 1, where he likely will be drafted, given the uncertainty associated with him. Round 1-2.
Mazi Smith
Smith is 6’3 and 337 lbs. from Michigan. Let’s be clear about Smith. He’s one dimensional, having recorded a total of two sacks in over 600 pass rush snaps. But he is massively powerful on the inside, with hands that destroy. This man is strong and physical. He’s very tough in short areas. He likely won’t chase down many plays for you. Smith’s role in the NFL is obvious – he’s made to play the zero technique on the nose. He’ll be your anchor against double teams, and you won’t be able to move him.
This is the type of player who should not see the field on passing downs. He can be lethargic, and just offers nothing as a rusher at this point, lacking consistent explosiveness. Could he improve as a pass rusher? Yes, he has some underlying talent. But I wouldn’t project too much here. For the Ravens, I just don’t see them drafting another nose tackle after Travis Jones last year and with Pierce coming back. At least not in the early rounds of the draft. I believe a basically one-dimensional run stuffer like Smith is not worthy of being drafted before the third round. That’s how I value those types of players. He may well go before then by someone who projects more pass rush ability out of him. Round 3.
Siaki Ika
Ika is a giant of a man at 6’4 and 347 lbs. from Baylor. Frankly, he’s too big. But he’s another one of those very powerful nose tackles who can take on double teams and is very difficult to move. Ika is also quicker than one would expect. He is made to play run defense, but at this point is limited in the passing game, though his skillset suggests there is area for improvement here. He has a hard time playing volume snaps (his weight can’t help) and is a guy who can wear down if tasked with too much. But he will swim past centers and is very difficult to get off balance. He has quick feet for a man his size and is very effective in short areas.
Ika has upside to be more than just a run stuffer supreme. But, as with the other nose tackles in this draft, will the Ravens really draft a pure nose given that they have Travis Jones and Michael Pierce? The answer would only be yes if they intend to move Pierce to the five technique, which I am doubting. Round 2-3.
Keeanu Benton
Benton is 6’4 and 309 lbs. from Wisconsin. Benton had a tremendous 3-cone time at the Combine, reinforcing the notion that he has great change of direction for a man this big. He also has a very large wingspan. Benton is an interesting prospect, as he’s a very good athlete and I can see him playing the five technique in the NFL. He has excellent quickness and powerful hands. His pass rushing skills are improving. Benton is tough to move and a stout run defender when he stays low. He will bring it on every play. He sometimes plays too upright, allowing blockers to get under his pads. But when his technique is good, he can destroy run plays.
Benton was a team captain last year. He’s a guy who can shove his way into the backfield and brings powerful hands, yet has enough quickness to put together a pass rush attack. Benton had a strong performance at the Senior Bowl practices, particularly in pass rushing, as he showed better than expected (and excellent) foot quickness along with the ability to shed blocks. I like Benton quite a bit but unless the Ravens somehow come up with a second round pick, it’s hard to see Benton being available come round 3. Round 2.
Adetomiwa Adebawore
Adebawore is 6’2 and 282 lbs. from Northwestern. He ran an astounding 4.49 forty (the only man his size to ever run that fast), which is amazing. He also tested in the 100th percentile in the vertical and broad jumps. This guy is a great athlete. He is absolutely explosive and has as good of a first step as you’ll ever see.
Now his game is not yet complete. He plays very low to the ground to stay under blocks. He uses his long arms quite well with a variety of moves. Adebawore’s hands are very active, and he is able to rip through blocks. He’s a highly motivated player who was a team captain. But when his hands aren’t effective he often has no counter.
Adebawore had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl practices. He handled much larger offensive linemen with consistency, often dominating in one on ones. His agility and speed were evident. From the Ravens’ perspective, Adebawore has not been consistent so far in setting the edge. Most observers see him as a 3-technique lineman, which would play well on passing downs. I don’t see him as a nose tackle. Therefore, can he play the 5-technique on early downs? Is he another (better?) version of Justin Madubuike? Round 2.
Grevon Dexter Sr.
Dexter is 6’6 310 lbs. from Florida. So far in his career Dexter has been a much better athlete than his production implies. He tested very well at the Combine, running a 4.88 forty with very good jump and 3-cone numbers. He is a very agile player for a man of that size who has underachieved, though he’s only 21 years old. When he’s on, he’s able to move blockers easily with good leverage. Dexter provides a very good base in run defense and has been able to hold up very well against double teams. But he’s very slow to get out of his stance, which is a death knell in the NFL. He should be better.
Dexter needs to further develop his counters and play more consistently with a lower pad level. This is where he has gotten in trouble in the past. He also needs to improve his tackling. Dexter has not always played at full speed, a sign of immaturity. He has good upside as a pass rusher if he can put it all together. In total, Dexter at this point brings excellent traits, but needs to put in the hard work to develop the techniques that could make him an outstanding defender. He must develop a plan as a rusher, as it’s not there yet. I can see him playing both the 3-technique and the 5-technique. But he’s a projection at this point, and not my favorite. The Ravens met with Dexter. Round 3.
Zaach Pickens
Pickens is 6’4 and 291 lbs. from South Carolina. Pickens brings a massive wingspan along with excellent all-around athletic testing numbers. He has been one inconsistent player. First round talent sometimes, sixth round talent at others. Pickens has a good initial burst and is a one-gap type of player, probably not best suited for the Ravens. I don’t see him as offering a great anchor in a two-gap scheme. His hand technique as a pass rusher is in need of a major upgrade, as illustrated by his Senior Bowl practices where he had a hard time disengaging.
Pickens is a natural bender. For him, it’s a lot about pad level. He’s nothing special when he plays too high. He just hasn’t put it together as a pass rusher. I’m not sure is upside is all that high. I rate him lower than some. Round 4.
Karl Brooks
Brooks is 6’3 296 lbs. out of Bowling Green. Brooks brings a very good first step and has very active hands. He uses them to rip and swipe. Brooks is slow down the line and doesn’t offer too much by way of chase. He has good bend and has an ability to free himself against the run. He isn’t best suited to play a 5-technique because he can’t extend far enough. He’s very much a mixed bag. Though he logged a lot of sacks at Bowling Green, I didn’t see enough on tape to think that can translate well in the NFL. With that said, he was fairly effective in the Senior Bowl practices. Round 5-6.
Kobie Turner
Turner is 6’2 and 293 lbs. from Wake Forest. At almost 24 years old, Turner is not a special athlete at his position. A bit on the small side, Turner plays tough and has a strong core. He stays on his toes and has powerful hands. Turner brings a great motor, playing with very good balance. He’s tougher at the point of attack than you might think. Turner will chase down the line and down the field. But his short frame makes it harder to disengage once blockers get into his chest. He is not great at taking on double teams. You have to love his effort. But where he fits for the Ravens is a challenged. He can’t play the nose and take on double teams. He’s not Kelly Gregg. Nor is a three-down player. Round 4-5.
Colby Wooden
Wooden is 6’4 and 273 lbs. from Auburn. Wooden’s athletic testing was very good and he ran an outstanding 4.79 forty. The initial question for Wooden is: where do you play him. He was an interior defensive lineman in college, but he’s simply too small to play there in the NFL. To me, he’s natural to man the outside as a 5-technique, which would fit the Ravens well. But can he transition there full-time? Wooden brings good lateral agility and has solid usage of his hands. He’s a hard worker, but hasn’t really developed a pass rush plan. Nor is he the greatest of tacklers, and hasn’t shown a consistent ability to blow up blocks. Wooden is a lot of projection at this point. Round 4.
Jaquelin Roy
Roy is 6’3 and 305 lbs. from LSU. Roy brings great power but not much movement. He played almost exclusively over the nose at LSU and presents a very good anchor against the run. He can shed blocks. Roy gives great effort but he can play too upright and he has some challenges being able to anchor against double teams. This is why I’m not convinced how Roy would be used in the Ravens’ scheme. I don’t see him stacking at the nose, and I don’t think he’s quick enough to play the 5-technique. Roy is not the type of guy to change direction at a top level. And it’s hard to see him developing much in the way of a consistent pass rush attack. I would pass. Round 5-6.
Moro Ojomo
Ojomo is only 6’2 and 292 lbs. from Texas. He brings very long arms, big hands, and tested very well athletically (much better than expected). Ojomo has the physical dimensions you like to see in a defensive tackle. Long arms and a stout build. And he has learned how to use those arms, being able to stand up blockers. He is not the most fluid of linemen (a bit stiff), though he is fairly quick out of his stance. But he will power through blocks. Ojomo won’t quit and he will chase. If he were better at disengaging, you’d be more convinced of his impact. Still, there’s upside to his game given his strength, including potentially as a pass rusher. He is probably best suited to play a 5-technique. Round 4-5.
Byron Young
Young is 6’3, 294 lbs. from Alabama. Young has enormous hands and a very long wingspan. But his testing was poor. He’s a guy who doesn’t bend all that particularly well and has below average explosiveness. But he is strong and uses his hands well. He is reasonably well suited for a two-gap defensive scheme in stopping the run, though he could stand to put on more bulk to reach maximum effectiveness. Yet, his lack of agility and second move quickness limit what he can bring, especially away from the nose.
Young is fairly stiff and is certainly not a twitchy player. He certainly looked that way at the Senior Bowl practices, where I thought he was unimpressive. I see him as fairly one-dimensional and not likely to offer much as a pass rusher. Young is not a great finisher. Although he brings a very good motor, it’s hard to see him as a desirable player from the Ravens’ perspective. Pass. Round 4-5.
Keondre Coburn
Coburn is 6’1 and 332 pounds from Texas. Coburn brings exceedingly short arms to the table. He’s been a very inconsistent player over his career. Coburn is strong, with decent explosiveness and reasonably good bend. His hand usage needs work. He is able to consistently get under offensive lineman’s pads. He is also the type of player to wear down fairly easily. Coburn will strictly be a one-trick pony in the NFL as an early down run defender. I don’t like to draft those types of players, and the Ravens under Eric DeCosta have tended to stay away from them. To me Coburn is just another power defender against the run who doesn’t offer much else. Round 6.
Cameron Young
Young is 6’3 and 304 lbs. from Mississippi State. He offers you absolutely nothing as a pass rusher (two career sacks). Young would have a lot of work to do to become effective as a rusher. He lacks the footwork to be a stunter. So far, he’s strictly a bull rusher who can’t escape. Young brings long arms and when he locks on he’s tough in the run game. He could certainly bring two-gap skills to the table. He uses his hands well when attacking blockers, and is able to shed effectively. In this respect he has been well schooled. Young lacks lower body agility and flexibility and plays too upright for my taste. At this point I think he’s a run stuffer almost exclusively. His one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl practices were not that impressive. Pass.
