Ravens fans received some exceptionally good news this week. Star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is trending towards a return to the field after recent neck surgery, though we do not know when exactly that will be.
If Beeks is indeed coming back, Baltimore’s immediate need for interior defensive line help may not be as significant as previously thought. Still, with the uncertain timeline, the value of reliable DT play, and 11 picks, they should add at least one player at the position to fill out the room’s depth.
Pending Madubuike’s availabilty, Travis Jones, John Jenkins, and Broderick Washington are the current starters with C.J. Okoye and Aeneas Peebles providing depth. That group could definitely be better, and here are the prospects who could accomplish that:
1. Christen Miller, Georgia (No. 24 on Baltimore Beatdown’s Big Board)
Christen Miller is a powerful defensive tackle who profiles as an NFL-ready run defender with untapped pass rushing potential. His production (11.5 TFLs, 4.0 sacks in three years) is relatively uninspiring, but somewhat limited by his versatile role playing up and down Georgia’s defensive line. His 11.3% pass rush rate and 19 pressures in each of the last two seasons indicate that he could become a three-down player in Jesse Minter’s scheme. He has a quick first step and a long-arm that can put blockers on their heels, but his plan tends to peter out quickly. Miller has an instinctive feel of how to work through blocks, which shows up most often in 1-on-1 encounters in run defense, but he lacks the size and anchor of a true nose tackle in the middle of the defense.
Gracen Halton is an uber-athletic interior defensive lineman whose explosiveness consistently stresses offensive lines. With excellent get-off at the snap, Halton regularly wins early in the rep, using his quickness to split gaps and slip between blockers before plays can develop. He thrives on movement up front, executing stunts and twists effectively and using his speed to beat offensive tackles and guards around the edge of games. Against the run, he slashes aggressively through zone concepts, penetrating the backfield and disrupting plays before they fully materialize. Despite not having elite length, Halton compensates with powerful, active hands that generate consistent pop and knockback, allowing him to create leverage and reset the line of scrimmage. If Nnamdi Madubuike were to miss extended time this season still recovering from his injury, New HC Jesse Minter could use Halton in a similar way on stunt/twist concepts. Halton also would complement Travis Jones well, giving the Ravens versatility on the defensive line.
If Woods continued on his trajectory from 2024, he’d be a surefire first-rounder and an excellent choice at 14. He is quick for his size with the ability to get skinny and split offensive linemen. He has nice pop in his engagements with good spatial movement in the open field. However, he has steadily slipped over the past year with disappointing production last season and sub-part athletic testing at his Pro Day (7.59 RAS). His athleticism played in college, but it alone will not be enough to beat NFL blockers, and he lacks the power profile for condensed frame reps. Woods can be an interior disruptor in the pros, but that is a major projection that is not worth a top-20 pick.
A disruptive presence at the line of scrimmaged with quickness off the snap and polished hand usage in the pass rush. Displays a stout, hard anchor in the run game. Leverages upper-body strength to shed blocks quickly.
Productive, disciplined defender with solid technique and awareness. Maintains strong gap integrity and demonstrates impressive recovery ability when initially beaten
A hulking, versatile defensive lineman with impressive movement skills for a player of his size. Can deconstruct blocks quickly and generates significant pop with his initial punch. Would be DT1 without major injury concerns.
Caleb Banks is a 6-foot-6, 327-pound defensive lineman with 35-inch arms who offers notable versatility along the front, capable of aligning anywhere from 5-technique to 3-technique. He posted a 20% pass-rush win rate in 2024 and ran a 5.04 40 showing impressive movement ability for a player of his size. Banks possesses rare agility and can deconstruct blocks quickly using a swipe or arm-over, while his initial punch generates significant pop, often jolting offensive linemen backward before he follows with a powerful bull rush to collapse the pocket. A broken foot suffered before the Combine makes his 9.84 Relative Athletic Score all the more impressive, but also underscored his injury risk and dropped him out of the DT1 spot onour board. Injuries aside, he would be a matchup nightmare for other offensive lines. Who is the smallest and slow-footed lineman the other team has? Put Banks on him.
7. Darrell Jackson Jr., Florida State (No. 76 overall)
A tall, long, and powerful presence in the trenches. Deploys a nasty long-arm with his 35-inch reach, bringing violence at the point of attack in the run game.
A versatile, sudden defensive tackle who can slash against zone run plays by contorting his body. Strong at the point of attack with great deployment of his long arms and powerful arms. Demonstrates a long arm and a spin move in the pass rush.
Brings an exciting combination of size, athleticism, and ascending college production. Quickly and physically sheds and deconstructs blocks at the point of attack. Offers a strong bull rush complemented by flashes of finesse as a pass rusher.
Robinson is an impressive 3-tech with lightning initial burst/quickness to win against slower offensive linemen. After posting 14.5 sacks and 18.5 TFLs in the last three years, he blew scouts away at his Pro Day (9.45 RAS) with particularly exciting agility numbers. The former linebacker is undersized and may be viewed as a tweener, but his play style and technique overcomes that by leaning on his elite speed and strength. New Ravens safeties coach P.J. Volker got the most out of Robinson when he was Navy’s defensive coordinator, and he will likely make a strong argument for a reunion in Baltimore during Day 3 of the draft.
A two-gap run defender who consistently maintains gap integrity but struggles to anchor against double-teams. Wins as a pass rusher with a powerful bull rush complemented by good athleticism and leverage-based extension. Played under Ravens head coach Jesse Minter at Michigan.
12. Kaleb Proctor, Southeastern Louisiana (No. 106 overall)
13. Jordan Van Den Berg, Georgia Tech (No. 109 overall)
A powerful, long run-stuffer with a limited pass rush profile. Strong at the point of attack when engaging blockers 1-on-1. Good pop in his hands and maintains pad level.