Ryan Mink
The Ravens continued to get stronger in the trenches on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, just on the other side of the ball, with the selection of outside linebacker Zion Young.
The former Missouri standout is a complete defensive end versus the run and rushing the quarterback.
He's physically imposing at over 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds and has the production to back up his stature. Young posted 6.5 sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss last season, earning First Team All-SEC honors.
Young plays with physicality that will make him a strong edge setter but also has the quickness to penetrate gaps as an inside rusher. He was a monster at this year's Senior Bowl, solidifying his status as one of the top EDGE rushers.
Many pundits had Young as a borderline first-round prospect, yet the Ravens got him at pick No. 45. The reason may be, in part, because of off-field questions.
Young was arrested and charged with suspicion of a DWI in December of 2025. Before that, he was one of seven Michigan State players suspended for the final four games of the 2022 season, following a postgame altercation at Michigan.
However, the vocal leader was voted a team captain at Missouri last season.
The youngest of 11 children in his family (similar to first-round pick Vega Ioane), Young's father was in the military and introduced him to football and weight lifting at an early age.
Only two NFL teams had fewer sacks than the Ravens' 30 last season. Baltimore took an aggressive swing at fixing that by giving veteran Trey Hendrickson the biggest contract to an outside free agent in franchise history.
Now the Ravens have used major draft capital to further solidify the unit, which also includes Tavius Robinson and Mike Green, who the Ravens expect to have a breakout season. Young will add even more juice to the room.
