They own perhaps the most loaded roster in the NFL, bar one weakness exposed by hidden statistics the Baltimore Ravens can’t ignore but must improve during the 2025 season.
Numbers from Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus reveal a less than prolific group of edge-rushers as the biggest issue for the Ravens entering the new campaign. Wasserman detailed that “while the Ravens’ edge defender group is solid, no individual posted a pass-rush grade above 74.7 last season. As a unit, they ranked outside the top 20 in both pressure rate and pass-rush win rate.”
The root of the problem can be attributed to the lack of a “breakout star” and a “true game-changing presence on the edge.”
Things won’t change unless general manager Eric DeCosta makes a late splash in free agency. Fortunately, there are more than a few big names still on the market, but the question remains do the Ravens have enough faith in their incumbent options to enter the season with the same pass-rushers?
Numbers Don’t Lie About Flaws in Ravens Pass Rush
A Pro Bowl season from enduring 34-year-old edge warrior Kyle Van Noy couldn’t overshadow Baltimore’s flaws trying to put consistent heat on the pocket. Nor could Van Noy’s fellow outside linebacker Odafe Oweh posting double-digit sacks for the first time in his career.
Oweh is playing in a contract year and remains a viable candidate for trade. The question marks about Oweh, who has made a big change ahead of a pivotal season, have the Ravens backing young and unproven quarterback hunters.
Those fledgling edge defenders are headlined by a physical centerpiece, along with 2025 NFL draft second-round pick Mike Green. The latter led college football in sacks last season and has already merited praise from the Ravens for his dynamic playing style at training camp.
Upside is obvious within the Ravens’ pass-rush department, but it’s an area of the team measured in results. Those are unlikely to improve without a marquee reinforcement or two on the edges.
Ravens Can Still Sign Pass-Rush Help
Even a quick glance at the market shows pass-rushers who can still help the Ravens. Perhaps the most notable are a pair of former Ravens, Matthew Judon and Za’Darius Smith.
A prolific late-season stint with the Detroit Lions proved Smith’s aptitude as a situational pass-rusher who can still change games. Like when he got to Sam Darnold for this sack against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 18.
Both are versatile enough to rush from either end of the line, while Smith can also slide inside and create pressure. A one-year deal for Judon or Smith makes sense, but so does acquiring a former second-round pick who spent last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
DeCosta’s had a happy habit of adding experienced playmakers on defense, with Van Noy and Jadeveon Clowney notable recruits in recent seasons, but if none of today’s names appeal, the Ravens can double down on younger players.
That could mean a reprieve for oft-injured David Ojabo, who’s yet to live up to his billing as a second-round pick. Ojabo is still fighting for roster survival, but he has impressed during camp.
He was part of the group of burgeoning edge-rushers that “all had multiple pass rush wins” at practice on Tuesday, July 29, according to Russell St. Report’s Nikhil Mehta.
Ojabo and others taking major steps forward would fix the Ravens’ biggest weakness, but relying on a significant leap from so many is a risk DeCosta doesn’t need to take when multiple available free agents can help.
Ravens’ Biggest Weakness Exposed By Hidden Stats