Prolific pass rushers among Reese’s Senior Bowl standouts who fit Ravens defensive needs

The annual premier all-star games featured some impressive performances from prospects at positions that will be addressed this offseason.

The Ravens front office has long believed in drafting and developing their core talent rather than relying on veteran acquisitions. General manager Eric DeCosta has repeatedly said the draft is the “lifeblood” of the organization, and a quick glance at the roster explains why. Outside of Roquan Smith, all of the Ravens’ key long-term players were acquired via the draft.

College football’s annual all-star games are key scouting opportunities for the Ravens. The Reese’s Senior Bowl is one of the premier events of the circuit and provides a pool of the top collegiate talent from which the Ravens regularly find future players.

Four of the Ravens’ nine selections in the 2024 NFL Draft attended last year’s Senior Bowl: right tackle Roger Rosengarten, outside linebacker Adisa Isaac, wide receiver Devontez Walker and running back Rasheen Ali.

Here are some promising prospects who fit the Ravens’ positions of need on defense and could hear their names called by the organization during the 2025 NFL Draft.

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EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

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The scouting report on Green coming into the week was that he was a speed- and finesse-based pass rusher. He was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the FBS with career highs in sacks (17) and tackles for loss (23) in 2024. He has the college production and athletic profile the Ravens covet in a pass rusher. While he showed off his explosive first step and impressive bend around the edge, he also exhibited surprising power and edge-setting ability despite below-average arm length. On the second day of practice, his strength was on display when he bulldozed Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. (who has been mocked as a Ronnie Stanley replacement for the Ravens).

Green was so dominant during the week of practice that he opted to forgo the game after solidifying his status as a first-round pick. Coming into the week, it looked like Green would be available to the Ravens at the 27th overall pick, but his performance could force them to trade up to land him. With Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh—both of whom recorded double-digit sacks in 2024—entering the final year of their contracts, the Ravens could look to be proactive in adding another potent pass rush threat off the edge.

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

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Ezeiruaku is another athletic and bendy pass rusher with an explosive first step but is even more polished of a pass rusher than most other edge prospects coming into the league. He has a nice pass rush plan that includes inside counter moves aside from just spinning. The former ACC standout also had some impressive reps against Conerly Jr. on the second day of practice and has one of the highest floors in a deep edge defender class this year.

Ezeiruaku finished just behind Green for second in the FBS with career-highs in both sacks (16.5) and tackles for loss (21). His bounce-back 2024 season after recording just two sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2023 earned him All-American and ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors. If he is still on the board when the Ravens are on the clock on Day 1 of the draft, there’s a strong chance that he becomes the second player out of Boston College DeCosta takes in the first round in the last three years with Flowers being the other in 2023.

DB Dan Jackson, Georgia

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The former walk-on showed the same grit and intangibles that earned him a spot and eventually a prominent role at Georgia during the week of practice as well as the game. He made a big hit on Bech to break up a pass in from Ole Miss quarterback Jackson Dart in the end zone during red zone drills on the third and final day of practice. On Saturday, Jackson made a similar jarring hit over the middle on a pass to a wide receiver to prevent a completion on third down to force a punt.

What he lacks in overall athleticism, Jackson makes for with his range, physicality and high football IQ. All three attributes showed themselves with the well timing of his big hits as they were not early nor to the head or neck area and ensured that the pass wasn’t completed.

Even though the Ravens drafted a safety on Day 3 last year and had another make the team as an undrafted free agent, the position remains a need. They could use another presence in the backend with a nose for the ball to free up two-time Pro Bowler Kyle Hamilton to spend more time down near the line of scrimmage. Jackson will most likely hear his name called on Day 3 and could immediately come in and be a special teams contributor with the potential to eventually carve out a role on defense in time.

EDGE/DL Saivion Jones, LSU

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The Ravens seem to have a knack for finding hybrid pass rushers who can play inside and on the edge at these senior all-star events. The former Tiger could be the next after what he showed in the game alone. Jones was a consistently disruptive force, making two tackles for loss on the first two drives. On the first, Jones lined up at defensive tackle and beat Zabel and then got the best of a tight end around the edge for the second. Later, he brought heat off the edge to force an errant pass on third down that almost led to an interception and resulted in a punt on the next play. Jones also generated the initial pressure that led to a sack for another player when he was lined up inside over a guard in the third quarter. He finished the game with five total tackles and half a sack.

A player of Jones’ pedigree with positional versatility could be a weapon as a situational pass rusher. He could play on the edge on early downs and kicks inside in obvious passing situations. Jones might have played himself into late Day 2 consideration but would be a steal if he lasted until early Day 3.

OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA

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The former Bruin is still just scratching the surface of what he can be as a pass rusher having just played on the edge one year in college. He played inside linebacker his first three years with two different programs. Oladejo received National Team MVP honors after recording two sacks in Saturday’s game. The first coming after he beat a tight end coming across the formation and the second was on Milroe after taking care of his primary responsibilities of reading the run and then closing in for the takedown by the ankles.

Oladejo stepped up for his team as a senior following the departure of their top three pass rushers to last year’s draft. He led the Bruins with career-highs in sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (14) in 2024. Under the tutelage of Ravens outside linebacker coach Chuck Smith, he could blossom into a potent pass rusher while offering the schematic flexibility of playing the SAM spot with his background and comfortability playing off the ball.