Eric DeCosta has fallen into a bad habit of using premium draft picks on edge-rushers with only modest or poor results to show for it, and the general manager for the Baltimore Ravens could be about to repeat his mistake, based on an uncomfortable warning about rookie Zion Young.
DeCosta used a second-round pick in the 2026 NFL draft to select Young to improve a pass rush that generated a mere 30 sacks last season. Unfortunately, “The Read Optional Pod” co-host Jon Ledyard explained on “The Mina Kimes Show” how “I don’t necessarily think that he’s going to give them that pass-rush juice. He might be a okay player as part of the group, but I think the only, yeah, good against the run. Maybe some like phone-booth stuff, maybe he can kick inside. Maybe (he) can be a situational, like, rotational piece, but I don’t think he has the upside to give you the type of pass rush you need.”
This isn’t the first time somebody’s suggested Young will be a better pro playing inside, rather than bringing heat off the edge. It’s a take that should make DeCosta uncomfortable about yet another of his high-profile draft picks expected to boost the Ravens’ pass rush.
Fortunately, there’s a silver lining for DeCosta and the Ravens about Young’s development. It’s the counterpoint Kimes offered to Ledyard about where the former Mizzou standout can fit in new head coach Jesse Minter’s defense.
Zion Young Can Become a Jesse Minter Favorite in Niche Role
Kimes explained how Minter had success creating pressure in a simple way as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers last season. Minter’s Chargers “didn’t blitz a lot, you know, had a lot of success when they would put the three pass rushers on the field and kick Tuli inside which I think they could do with maybe Tavius Robinson or Zion Young.”
The reference to how Minter used Tuli Tuipulotu is significant. Minter made smarter use of Tuipulotu’s 6-foot-3, 266-pound frame along the interior, helping the 2023 second-round pick log a career-high 13 sacks.
Including this takedown of veteran passer Geno Smith against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 13.
📺 | @nfloncbs
Minter’s schemes had a similar impact on Ravens’ 2021 first-rounder Odafe Oweh. He was erratic at best in Baltimore, but Oweh transformed his career after a trade to the Chargers midway through last season.
Oweh recorded 10.5 sacks in 13 games, including the playoffs. Both he and Tuipulotu are the blueprint for the Ravens getting the most out of Young.
The latter is a 6-foot-5, 267-pounder with the body type to replicate Minter’s Tuipulotu plan. It’s the best way for the Ravens to unleash a player who never registered more than 6.5 sacks during a single season in college.
Middling production is a concern for the Ravens across the depth chart at edge-rusher. Particularly given DeCosta’s recent track record trying to identify game-changers at the position.
Ravens Need to Snap Unwanted Streak at Edge-Rusher
The Ravens received mediocre production from DeCosta’s 2025 second-rounder, Mike Green. He’d led college football in sacks, but Green couldn’t translate his flair for getting after quarterbacks to the pros, not even with help from a legendary former Ravens edge.
GettyThe Ravens also need a leap from second-year edge-rusher Green.
Green’s struggles only compounded the problems faced by yet another DeCosta second-round edge. Former Michigan star David Ojabo simply couldn’t stay healthy after DeCosta made him a top-50 pick, even after the player tore his Achilles at Michigan’s pro day, barely a month before the 2022 draft.
Ojabo’s now a member of the Miami Dolphins, but he still rates as a notable miss by DeCosta. The Ravens won’t want Young and Green to go the same way, but they are counting a lot on Minter’s schemes to help justify those picks.
Minter will be helped by the presence of four-time Pro Bowler Trey Hendrickson. The 31-year-old remains one of the league’s best pass-rushers, and he’s already making a positive impression.
Hendrickson can still draw attention up front, the way Khalil Mack did for the Chargers. The Ravens need Young and Green to take advantage, the way Tuipulotu and Oweh did in Minter’s defense.
Ravens Get Uncomfortable Warning About Zion Young