Three days ago, the NFL released its full list of Scouting Combine invites, so you know what that means? It’s officially NFL Draft Talking Season. With the event commencing on Feb. 24th, it’s time to look ahead to potential prospects that the Baltimore Ravens could nab with the 27th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft.
One of the more intriguing names on the combine list for the Ravens to consider is Michigan Wolverines DL Kenneth Grant. And, of course, whenever you analyze a prospect who’s a Michigan man, you must consider the Harbaugh factor first and foremost.
Given that Jim Harbaugh, brother of Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, led the Wolverines program from 2015-2023, you know that he could potentially give his opinion on whether or not Grant would be a culture fit in Baltimore.
Grant was one of the many blue (or “maize and blue”) chip NFL Draft prospects on the 2023 Michigan national title team roster. The pipeline from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the NFL is strong, and according to a report in RG, the program is hoping to move one of its road games next season to an NFL venue. We could see up to four Wolverines go in the first round of this April’s draft.
Grant is in the top five, sometimes even top three, defensive tackles on most draft boards. Mason Graham, who lined up right next to him at U-M, typically tops this grouping. Additionally, Michigan cornerback Will Johnson and tight end Colston Loveland will likely join Graham and Grant as first-round selections.
While the defensive line isn’t the Ravens’ top priority in this draft, sometimes you might want to do the best player available over team needs. Especially so when you’re picking in the late 20s.
So, this could be a tremendous value-based pick in the short term and a needs-based decision in the longer term, as the Ravens’ defensive line is aging a bit. Michael Pierce is 32, and Brent Urban is 33.
The biggest upside to Grant, who had 32 tackles and three sacks this past season, is his speed and quickness. It seems almost unreal for a human being pushing 340 pounds to have both the closing speed and first step that Grant does.
The main knock on him, though, is his consistency. Grant’s scouting profile on 24/7 Sports points out that there is a vast disparity in how he produces overall, from play to play.