Who does the Beatdown crew think are the favorites to get picked at No. 27 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft?
The Baltimore Ravens will make their selection in the first round in just a few days. They go into the draft needing very little and wanting a lot: an elite rusher to take down the quarterback, some more top-end defensive back talent, reinforcements along both trenches. But the top of the roster and starters are mostly penciled in. They truly could go in any direction; the pick at 27th overall is a luxury for them.
So, where does the Baltimore Beatdown staff think the Ravens will go with pick 27? If you had to place a large sum on one player for the Ravens to pick, who is it? No trades, no “if this, then that.” Who’s available at 27 and what do they do?
Zach Canter: DL Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Let me honest. My favorite choice for the Ravens at 27 is Shemar Stewart. I’ve been zeroing in on Donovan Ezeiruaku. But I think when it comes down to it, if Derrick Harmon is still there, I don’t think they’ll hesitate.
While there aren’t any desperate needs for this team, one thing the roster lacks is depth along the line. Justin Madubuike and Travis Jones are the obvious top two but the only other named signed is Broderick Washington. Eight different lineman played snaps for the Ravens last year, big boys tend to get banged up, you need bodies. Harmon would instantly compete for snaps amongst Madubuike and Jones. Harmon is an instant three-down lineman, who can play anywhere, from zero-technique over the center to out wider as a five-tech. This is important because in obvious passing situations, it allows defensive coordinator Zach Orr to put his best rushers on the field. If Odafe Oweh or Kyle Can Noy aren’t winning on the edge, the Ravens can play all three of their rushing lineman with Harmon out wider with Madubuike and Jones inside.
Harmon is a player who should go earlier than the Ravens but will be a classic falls-to-in-their-lap pick that leaves the rest of the NFL pissed off.
Kyle Phoenix: EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
All will look fine as the night reaches pick No. 20. A few quarterbacks and the usual top-tier prospects will go. Maybe a surprise or two. And from picks No. 21-26, the Ravens will watch repeatedly as their board gets chopped down. Fortunately, Ezeiruaku will still be on the board for them to scoop up after the Los Angeles Rams. He’s a quality prospect that is shy of being the upper-echelon for a top-tier pick and there’s just enough prospects teams can navigate toward with need and grade to leave him for the Ravens.
Dustin Cox: S Malaki Starks, Georgia
The Ravens stick to their BPA formula and take Georgia safety Malaki Starks. After a year in which poor safety play tanked Baltimore’s defensive output for half of the season, general manager Eric DeCosta makes sure it will not happen again as he adds another versatile playmaker to the group to go with Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington. This is not only a move for the future as Washington is slated to be a free agent next offseason, but it will also help the Ravens this season as adding another capable safety to the mix will allow defensive coordinator Zach Orr to get creative with Hamilton once again, using him closer to the line of scrimmage where he is one of the biggest difference makers on defense in the NFL. Orr will have the ability to dial up truly creative plays with Hamilton and Starks on the field together.
Frank Platko: S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
For the second year in a row, the Ravens draft a defensive back in the first round with Nick Emmanwori. The South Carolina product is a freak athlete who had a standout combine performance. Given his physical profile and potential fit next to Kyle Hamilton in the secondary, Emmanwori is a tantalizing prospect. Fellow safety prospect Malaki Starks is more likely to be off the board earlier. Other edge rusher and lineman prospects could be suitable options as well, but Emmanwori is swiss-army knife safety who can be an immediate impact player for the Ravens’ defense.