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Defensive Tackle is a top priority for the Baltimore Ravens in next month's NFL Draft. When Nose Tackle Michael Pierce announced his retirement earlier this month, another hole opened up in a position group already lacking depth and aging. They should consider taking a defensive tackle prospect in the first round, when they're on the clock at #27.
If not, they could look at selecting one at No. 59 overall in the second round or 91st in the third round. With the draft one month away, let's look at who might be a good fit for the Ravens.
After three seasons at Michigan State, this disruptive, high-motor prospect transferred within the conference, albeit to the other side of the country. In Eugene, the Detroit native reached heights that he never saw in East Lansing. Something happened when he switched from green and white to green and yellow, and now he's about to make some major green when he signs that first professional contract.
He's large and in charge at 6'5", 310 with an ambition as big as frame. That workaholic mentality, and ability to draw double teams, would fit in well in Baltimore.
Grant is probably the third or fourth defensive tackle on a given draft board. The man who lined up right next to him at Michigan, Mason Graham, tops the group, but he'll be long gone by the time the Ravens are on the clock. With Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's brother Jim having coached Michigan from 2015-2023, you know he could vouch for Grant.
That is, of course, provided he doesn't want to take Grant himself when the Los Angeles Chargers are on the clock at #22. The Wolverines have four prospects who could quickly go in the first round, and if that happens, it would surpass the current school record by one. Jim Harbaugh is very excited about this possibility, and he's been bringing some of his former players to L.A. for interviews.
“There could be four, could be five first rounders and being a Michigan historian myself a little bit, played there, grew up a Michigan fan, I think three is the most first rounders Michigan's ever had. That's cool,” Harbaugh said in an exclusive with RG. "This year it could be four, maybe even five! That's exciting. I have about half the players numbers already in my phone. The ones we interviewed on Monday night, I remember recruiting a lot of them.”
Grant, who is incredibly quick and fast (or, to use an NFL Draft cliche, "quicker than fast") for a 340-lb man, could potentially be both a needs-based and value-based pick.
Yes, we stay in the Big Ten here, but this time, we look at a player from the program that is Michigan's bitter arch-rival. Not many guys at 327 lbs had to drop weight to get there, but Williams takes massive pride in his weight loss, as he should.
He arrived in Columbus from Manassas, VA, as a 360-pound freshman, and he has since streamlined his body to the point where he achieved second-team All-American status. That shows dedication to his craft, and a mindset like that would fit well with the Ravens. He might be the best of the pure, true 3-technique prospects in this draft class.
Our final prospect comes from the SEC because, after all, as the Southeastern Conference likes to tell us, "it just means more." Nolen is already very well-traveled, even before his NFL career begins. He transferred to Ole Miss from Texas A&M, a different SEC school, where he made an instant impact as a five-star recruit.
Before College Station, he played at three different high schools, but he's been dominant at every stop of his career thus far. Another legit, bona fide 3-technique, Nolen is highly disruptive, with a very quick first step.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: Ravens should consider selecting these four prospects
Continue reading...
If not, they could look at selecting one at No. 59 overall in the second round or 91st in the third round. With the draft one month away, let's look at who might be a good fit for the Ravens.
Derrick Harmon, Oregon
After three seasons at Michigan State, this disruptive, high-motor prospect transferred within the conference, albeit to the other side of the country. In Eugene, the Detroit native reached heights that he never saw in East Lansing. Something happened when he switched from green and white to green and yellow, and now he's about to make some major green when he signs that first professional contract.
He's large and in charge at 6'5", 310 with an ambition as big as frame. That workaholic mentality, and ability to draw double teams, would fit in well in Baltimore.
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Grant is probably the third or fourth defensive tackle on a given draft board. The man who lined up right next to him at Michigan, Mason Graham, tops the group, but he'll be long gone by the time the Ravens are on the clock. With Ravens head coach John Harbaugh's brother Jim having coached Michigan from 2015-2023, you know he could vouch for Grant.
That is, of course, provided he doesn't want to take Grant himself when the Los Angeles Chargers are on the clock at #22. The Wolverines have four prospects who could quickly go in the first round, and if that happens, it would surpass the current school record by one. Jim Harbaugh is very excited about this possibility, and he's been bringing some of his former players to L.A. for interviews.
“There could be four, could be five first rounders and being a Michigan historian myself a little bit, played there, grew up a Michigan fan, I think three is the most first rounders Michigan's ever had. That's cool,” Harbaugh said in an exclusive with RG. "This year it could be four, maybe even five! That's exciting. I have about half the players numbers already in my phone. The ones we interviewed on Monday night, I remember recruiting a lot of them.”
Grant, who is incredibly quick and fast (or, to use an NFL Draft cliche, "quicker than fast") for a 340-lb man, could potentially be both a needs-based and value-based pick.
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Yes, we stay in the Big Ten here, but this time, we look at a player from the program that is Michigan's bitter arch-rival. Not many guys at 327 lbs had to drop weight to get there, but Williams takes massive pride in his weight loss, as he should.
He arrived in Columbus from Manassas, VA, as a 360-pound freshman, and he has since streamlined his body to the point where he achieved second-team All-American status. That shows dedication to his craft, and a mindset like that would fit well with the Ravens. He might be the best of the pure, true 3-technique prospects in this draft class.
Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Our final prospect comes from the SEC because, after all, as the Southeastern Conference likes to tell us, "it just means more." Nolen is already very well-traveled, even before his NFL career begins. He transferred to Ole Miss from Texas A&M, a different SEC school, where he made an instant impact as a five-star recruit.
Before College Station, he played at three different high schools, but he's been dominant at every stop of his career thus far. Another legit, bona fide 3-technique, Nolen is highly disruptive, with a very quick first step.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 2025 NFL Draft: Ravens should consider selecting these four prospects
Continue reading...
