Every NFL draft has a few: those players who slip further than expected. Sometimes, they land in the right situation, hopefully, and they eventually make teams wonder what they missed. For the Baltimore Ravens, this year, that player might be Rayshaun Benny. He was added on the final day in Round 7 at pick 250.
On paper, the value is obvious. Benny was ranked No. 94 overall on Pro Football Focus’ draft board, placing him firmly in the middle tiers of this class. Among interior defensive linemen, eight prospects graded higher. The names are very familiar to football enthusiasts. Kayden McDonald (28), Caleb Banks (32), Peter Woods (33), Christen Miller (37), Lee Hunter (39), Gracen Halton (70), Domonique Orange (72), and Darrell Jackson Jr. (79).
Benny isn't among this draft's crop of elite players at the position, but he's probably in that next tier. It's hard to pinpoint a reason why he still should have been around in Round 7, yet somehow, he remained available deep into Day 3, creating an opportunity Baltimore didn't hesitate to capitalize on.
That disconnect raises a fair question. What did teams see, or not see, that caused the slide? The answer likely lies in his profile.
Benny isn't a flashy pass rusher. He's not the type of interior defender who consistently collapses the pocket or racks up gaudy sack totals. His production reflects that, with modest numbers throughout his college career. Where he wins is in the trenches vs. the running game. He is a disciplined run defender who understands leverage, positioning, and how to engage blockers. He plays with good length, locates the ball effectively, and sheds blocks with purpose.
Those are traits that don't always show up in highlight reels, but they matter, especially in a system that values physicality up front. Still, the limitations are real. As noted by Lance Zierlein in his predraft profile, Benny isn't an explosive disruptor. He can struggle to anchor against double teams and lacks the suddenness teams often look for in three-technique defensive tackles.
His predraft grade reflected that (5.96). In other words, he is projected as more of a rotational contributor than a full-time presence, but fit matters more than flash, and that's where Baltimore enters the equation. The Ravens don't need Benny to be an every-down player right away. They need him to do his job: control gaps, stop the run, and contribute within a rotation. In that role, his skill set becomes far more valuable than his draft slot suggests.
That’s why this pick stands out. It’s not about what Benny isn’t. It’s about what he can be in the right system. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter sees major upside. He has mentioned such, and if he develops even a little beyond expectations, this won’t just be a solid late-round selection. It’ll be one of the steals of the draft.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Rayshaun Benny could be one of NFL draft’s better late-round values