There’s no way to sugarcoat it: the Ravens’ pass rush was miserable last year.
The loss of Nnamdi Madubuike (and the Odafe Oweh trade) put Baltimore at a significant advantage, and their d stable of edge rushers could not rise to the occasion. 2025 second-rounder Mike Green did not live up to the hype, 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac barely played for a second year in a row, and 2023 fourth-rounder Tavius Robinson.
There’s a reason I listed all of the players’ draft slot/years. Eric DeCosta has been
more than willing to invest in edge rushers in the draft, but they have rarely worked out as planned (see: 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo). That should not stop him from continuing to target the position, especially with a class that is loaded in the first two rounds.
Here are Baltimore Beatdown’s EDGE rankings for the 2026 draft (with selected scouting notes):
1. Rueben Bain Jr., Miami (No. 1 on Baltimore Beatdown’s Big Board)
Powerful edge that compensates arm length deficiency with moves that get him inside tackles chest quickly. Has the versatility to play anywhere among the defensive line. Pocket collapser with good movement skills.
2. Arvell Reese, Ohio State (No. 4 overall)
Multifaceted edge that has great coverage instincts to go along with traits that translate at the next level
3. David Bailey, Texas Tech (No. 5 overall)
Wins with several pass rush moves including a two hand swipe, spin and ghost rush. Also shows excellent bend and ability to use his upper body to create leverage. Willingly takes on blockers in the run game with a unique ability to get skinny and shoot gaps
4. Akheem Mesidor, Miami (No. 14 overall)
Akheem Mesidor will turn 25 years old before the draft, which will be a turn-off to some evaluators (as will his injury history). But with that age comes a strong history of production. Mesidor collected 35.5 sacks and 52.5 tackles for loss across 65 college games, including 12.5 sacks and 17.5 TFLs in 2025, both top-five marks in the nation. He is physical and energetic with a burgeoning bag of pass rush moves that produced a 20.8% win rate last year. Mesidor also sets a hard edge against the run, though, like fellow Hurricane EDGE Rueben Bain, he lacks ideal height and length for the NFL. However, he is a pro-ready, three-down edge defender who will make an impact on his rookie contract. If the Ravens are looking for a player to significantly boost their pass rush right away, Mesidor is arguably the second-best EDGE in the class (behind David Bailey).
5. T.J. Parker, Clemson (No. 15 overall)
Wins with his upper body in the pass rush with cross chops and long arms. Also sets a nasty edge and sticks his nose in as a run defender
6. Zion Young, Missouri (No. 16 overall)
Zion Young is one of the most violent and physical defenders in the 2026 draft class, consistently bringing a relentless edge to every snap. At 6-foot-6 with 33-inch arms, he uses his length effectively to control blockers, playing with power and intensity at the point of attack as a run defender while stacking and peeking to locate the ball. His motor runs hot throughout games, and he pairs that effort with a powerful bull rush that ranks among the best in the class, regularly walking tackles back into the pocket. Young also flashes an effective swipe move to disengage and finish as a pass rusher. His production backs up the tape, posting a 9.3% run stop rate and an impressive 25% pass rush win rate, highlighting both his disruptive ability against the run and his consistent pressure generation. He is a solid athlete for his size, but will need to diversify and expand his pass rush repertoire to consistently produce in the NFL. Young’s pocket-pushing abilities would complement the Ravens’ current stable of edge rushers very well. On Day 1, he would enter the edge rotation as a three-down player that can line up at the 7 tech and set the edge or line up inside on pass rush situations and overpower guards.
7. Keldric Faulk, Auburn (No. 17 overall)
Strong at the point of attack, stacks and peaks efficiently. Wins with length extension/ long arm and swim move. Versatility and age (20 years old) offer high upside.
8. Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State (No. 31 overall)
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a prototype edge defender with elite athletic traits, highlighted by a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score at the NFL Combine that shows up clearly on tape. At 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds with 33-inch arms, he combines size, explosiveness, and flexibility to threaten tackles in multiple ways, frequently dipping under lunging blockers before ripping through the edge. He pairs that move with a well-timed spin that complements his outside rush, giving him a developing but effective pass-rush toolkit. His 17.4% pass rush win rate places him in the same statistical range as elite former college edge rushers like Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, and Aidan Hutchinson. Dennis-Sutton also brings alignment versatility, capable of sliding inside against guards and winning with superior athleticism. Against the run, he maintains strong gap integrity and uses his length to set a firm edge and anchor at the point of attack. While yes, the Ravens have historically loved Penn State edges under DeCosta, DDS is different from the ones prior. He brings a good blend of pass rush ability and run defense to the room, leaving potential for him to fit in on NASCAR packages on third down.
9. Cashius Howell, Texas A&M (No. 36 overall)
Great pass rush plan pairing inside counters with ankle flexion and bend around the arc. Shows flashes of knockback pop as a power rusher.
10. Joshua Josephs, Tennessee (No. 40 overall)
Joshua Josephs is a twitchy edge rusher with a prototypical frame (6-foot-3, 240 pounds, 34-inch arms) who forced six fumbles and produced a 21.3% pass-rush win rate in 2025. He primarily wins as a pass rusher with first-step explosiveness and speed, utilizing a cross-chop move while leveraging his arm length to disengage from offensive tackles and create pressure. He also shows natural leverage and solid pad level as a run defender, allowing him to engage blockers effectively at the point of attack. With a frame capable of adding 15–20 pounds, Josephs has clear developmental upside to improve his play strength and become a more complete defender against the run while maintaining his pass-rush impact.
11. Gabe Jacas, Illinois (No. 41 overall)
Gabe Jacas has earned comparisons to new Raven Trey Hendrickson after two very productive seasons at Illinois. His physicality and relentless motor yielded 6.5 tackles for loss and 19.0 sacks over the last two seasons, though sheer determination will not go quite as far in the NFL. Refining Jacas’ violent hands into a coordinated pass rushing plan will help his 15.2% pass rush win rate translate to the pros, and his power against the run should show up right away.
12. Malachi Lawrence, UCF (No. 47 overall)
Malachi Lawrence is a highly athletic edge rusher who consistently stresses offensive tackles with his speed and burst off the line. His 9.9 Relative Athletic Score reflects the explosiveness and movement skills that show up on tape, highlighted by impressive initial acceleration and the bend and ankle flexion needed to corner effectively at the top of the rush. Lawrence wins primarily with speed but complements it with a polished set of pass-rush moves, including a cross-chop, swim, and two-hand swipe that help him disengage from blockers and maintain momentum toward the quarterback. His 17.54% pass rush win rate underscores his ability to generate consistent pressure and disrupt the pocket.
13. R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma (No. 49 overall)
Shows consistent disruption and playmaking ability. Flashes explosive initial burst and quick inside counter. Can diagnose and penetrate vs. zone schemes in run game.
14. Derrick Moore, Michigan (No. 55 overall)
15. Jaishawn Barham, Michigan (No. 70 overall)
Former off-ball LB with high-end athleticism but underdeveloped pass rush moves. Violent at the point of attack and meets pullers with low pad level. Slants effectively against zone runs and converts speed to power to consistently disrupt the backfield.
16. LT Overton, Alabama (No. 93 overall)
A power-based defender fueled by raw strength and motor while still fashing bend and ankly flexion. Consistently wins fueas a pass rusher with a relentless bull rush. Anchors gaps, plays with leverage, and deconstructs blocks against the run at a high level.
17. Romello Height, Texas Tech (No. 110 overall)
Wins as a pass rusher with a lanky frame, high motor, and cross chop/spin moves. Mirrors the ball carrier well against zone run schemes. Would be much higher on this list if the Ravens did not have Trey Hendrickson or Mike Green
18. Keyron Crawford, Auburn (No. 111 overall)
An athetic edge rusher with excellent initial get off and an explosive first step. Powerful initial strike with advanced hand usage, including swipe and knockdown moves. Converts speed to power and closes on ballcarriers quickly.
19. Anthony Lucas, Southern California (No. 115 overall)
A raw, versatile lineman with an impressive frame. Uses length and power to disrupt in the pass rush. Can set a hard edge and drop his anchor against the run. Works well as a zone run defender and converts speed to power.
20. Max Llewellyn, Iowa (No. 123 overall)
Produced 12 sacks and 80 pressures across last two seasons with impressive toolkit of pass rush moves – spin, cross chop, speed-to-power. Functional run defender with room to fill out his frame and add play strength.
21. Michael Heldman, Central Michigan (No. 133 overall)
22. Mason Reiger, Wisconsin (No. 141 overall)
An explosive athlete with a high motor. Combines efficient hand usage and good get-off in pass rush. Shows requisite bend and ankle flexion.
23. Tyreak Sapp, Florida (No. 144 overall)
24. Caden Curry, Ohio State (No. 151 overall)
25. Nadame Tucker, Western Michigan (No. 174 overall)
