The Baltimore Ravens Will Reload On Defense For The 2020 NFL Draft

New York, NY—Baltimore broke the NFL’s all-time single-season rushing record (3,296 yards). The Ravens also became the first team in NFL history to average at least 200 rushing and 200 net passing yards per game last season, finishing with 206 rushing yards and 201.6 net passing yards per game.

The Ravens added Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe this offseason, one of Baltimore’s biggest needs heading into the draft will be to solidify their outside pass rush. Baltimore was the most blitz heavy team in the NFL in 2019, but despite sending extra rushers on 54.9% of their defensive snaps they still finished the season with the 12th fewest sacks in the league.

The Ravens has outside linebacker Matthew Judon returning in 2020 via the franchise tag, they need some help opposite him and eventually replacing him.

The two best edge-rushing prospects in the 2020 draft, Chase Young and K’Lavon Chaisson, will be long gone by the time Baltimore selects at 28. But there’s a good chance Gross-Matos will still be available if they are sold on him.

Baltimore could start their draft with linebacker at No.28. LSU’s Patrick Queen could be there because of a plethora of talent at other positions. But in the first round, the Ravens hope they can select Wisconsin’s, Zach Baun. He has immense upside as an edge rusher but he can handle anything you throw at him at the linebacker position. Baun can compliment Matt Judon on the other side for now and potentially take over as the top edge rusher on the team.

General manager Eric DeCosta is going into his second year on the job and has helped Baltimore become one of the league’s best. After the team’s performance in the 2019 season, Decosta likely will try to fill out Baltimore’s front seven on defense because of the offensive firepower behind Lamar Jackson.