6 prospects who would be perfect fits for Jesse Minter's defense

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The NFL offseason is quickly moving along, and all eyes will turn toward the 2026 NFL draft. The first day will feature only the first round, the second day will feature the second and third rounds, and the draft will conclude with the final four rounds on the third day. This year, the NFL Draft Main Theater and Main Stage will be located just outside Acrisure Stadium on Pittsburgh's North Shore, placing the Draft at the heart of one of the country's most recognizable sports districts.

Baltimore has several needs (WR, OL, Edge, DL), but could feel comfortable with the "drafting the best player" approach that the organization has become synonymous with for years. The legendary Ozzie Newsome was always steadfast in his "BPA" approach, allowing Baltimore to annually stockpile a deep, talented roster of players with high ceilings who can blend in and offer versatility at key positions.

Baltimore has the No. 14 overall pick in April's draft, and the Ravens have only picked higher than 14th once in the past 20 years. Back in 2022, Baltimore landed Kyle Hamilton after the now All-Pro safety and Notre Dame All-American slid out of the top 20.

With the draft fast approaching, here are five prospects who'll fit perfectly with Anthony Weaver.

Jalen Stroman, S/Nickel, Notre Dame

A versatile and hybrid defensive back in the mold of Ar'Darius Washington, Stroman offers versatility and special teams ability, which should give him a chance to contribute immediately. Stroman is a hybrid defender, and even more beneficial, the Ravens' new defensive pass game coordinator/secondary coach, Mike Mickens, was with Stroman at Notre Dame last year.

Keldric Faulk, ED, Auburn

A dynamic and versatile pass rusher, Faulk ranked eighth in the SEC with 45 total pressures in 2024 according to Pro Football Focus. Overall, Faulk finishes his college career with 73 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks.

Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri 

Baltimore has Travis Jones, John Jenkins, and C.J. Okoye all returning; the Ravens have uncertainty with Nnamdi Madubuike. What they really need is an interior defensive tackle who has the explosiveness to penetrate and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. McClellan is an athletic specimen at 6-foot-3, 315 pounds, and had six sacks and eight tackles for loss last year, while being stout against the run.

DI Lee Hunter, Texas Tech

A huge interior defender and run game destroyer at Texas Tech, Hunter earned first-team All-American and first-team All-Big 12 in his redshirt senior season. The 6-4, 330-pound defensive tackle posted 8.5 tackles for loss in addition to 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble. He finished his career with 168 total tackles and 7.5 sacks.

DI Christen Miller, Georgia

In his final season at Georgia, Miller played and started in all 13 games. He made 20 tackles, 9 of which were solo, recorded 3.0 tackles for loss totaling 11 yards, achieved 1.5 sacks totaling nine yards, and had two quarterback hits.

EDGE Gabe Jacas, Illinois

Jacas is a versatile edge rusher whose combination of size (6'3", 270 pounds) and athleticism aligns well with the Ravens' style. He led the Big Ten with 11.0 sacks during the regular season, ranking sixth in the nation. He also tied for 13th nationally (and third in the Big Ten) with three forced fumbles, bringing his career total to seven, which ties him for sixth in Illinois' career record book. With 27.0 career sacks, he holds the record for the most among active Big Ten defenders and ranks fifth nationally in FBS. Jacas started all 12 regular-season games, recording 43 total tackles (23 solo), 13.5 tackles for loss, 11.0 sacks, six quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one pass breakup. In a rivalry win against Northwestern on November 29, 2025, he contributed four tackles (two solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and two QB hurries.

EDGE Zion Young, Missouri

Young, a transfer from Michigan State, started all 13 games at the JACK position last season. He recorded a total of 23 tackles, including 9 solo tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (TFL), and a team-high 9.0 sacks, along with one interception. His average of 0.69 sacks per game ranked him 19th nationally and fourth in the SEC. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the 34th-ranked pass rusher in the nation with a grade of 80.9, and He ranked 13th nationally among all edge players in Pass Rush Productivity (PRP) with a score of 10.5, which is calculated using a formula that combines sacks, hits, and hurries relative to the number of times he rushes the passer. PFF credited him with 37 quarterback hurries and nine quarterback hits. Young was also named to the Second Team All-SEC by league coaches.

CB D'Angelo Ponds, Indiana

During his final season, Ponds started 14 games and missed one due to injury (at Iowa). He was named the Defensive MVP of both the Rose Bowl and the Peach Bowl. He was a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award and received first-team All-America honors from The Sporting News. Additionally, he earned second-team All-America selections from the Associated Press, the American Football Coaches Association, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He also received All-America recognition from The Athletic (2nd team), CBS Sports (2nd team), On3 (2nd team), and Sports Illustrated (1st team). Furthermore, he was named first-team All-Big Ten by both the conference's media and coaches panels.

EDGE Romello Height, Texas Tech

A first-team All-Big 12 selection, Height has 32 tackles, including 8 1/2 sacks, last season.

EDGE LT Overton, Alabama

Overton is a versatile edge rusher standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 278 pounds, showcasing significant potential as a pass-rusher. In his final season, he played in 13 games, starting 12. He recorded a total of 42 tackles, including six tackles for loss (totaling 28 yards) and four sacks (for a loss of 23 yards). Additionally, he contributed four quarterback pressures and had one pass breakup. Overton received preseason All-America recognition from ESPN.com, earning first-team honors, and was named a third-team preseason All-American by Athlon. He was also selected for the Nagurski Trophy Watch List, which is awarded annually to the top defensive player in college football. Furthermore, he was included on the watch lists for the Wuerffel Trophy, the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, and the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL Draft: prospects who are perfect fits for Jesse Minterr's defense

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