The Baltimore Ravens face an uneasy early assessment of their latest investment in the pass rush. General manager Eric DeCosta selected edge rusher Zion Young in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, hoping the former Missouri standout could help revitalize a unit that managed just 30 sacks the previous season.
Yet analyst Jon Ledyard offered a measured but sobering take that challenges those expectations during a recent appearance on The Mina Kimes Show. In fact, he thinks moving from the edge to the interior may be the best move for Young.
“I don’t necessarily think that he’s going to give them that pass-rush juice,” Ledyard said. “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.”
The comment lands with particular weight given DeCosta’s recent track record of spending high draft capital on edge talent that has delivered only modest returns.
Ledyard’s suggestion that Young may ultimately prove more effective sliding inside rather than rushing pure from the outside is not an isolated view.
It aligns with earlier evaluations that question whether the 6-foot-5, 267-pound defender possesses the explosive traits needed to consistently disrupt quarterbacks off the edge. His college production never exceeded 6.5 sacks in a single season, a figure that underscores the developmental leap still required.
There is, however, a constructive path forward under new head coach Jesse Minter. Kimes pointed to the approach Minter employed as defensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers, where he generated pressure without heavy reliance on blitzes.
By deploying three primary pass rushers and occasionally moving Tuli Tuipulotu inside, the Chargers unlocked greater production. Tuipulotu, a 2023 second-round pick with a comparable frame, posted a career-high 13 sacks under that scheme.
Odafe Oweh, another former Ravens draft choice, similarly flourished after arriving in Los Angeles midseason, recording 10.5 sacks across 13 games including the playoffs.
Young’s size and power profile make him a natural candidate for a similar hybrid role. The Ravens already possess veteran presence in Trey Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler capable of commanding double teams and creating opportunities for others.
That attention could free Young and second-year edge Mike Green, another recent second-round selection whose transition from college sack leader to professional contributor remains a work in progress. David Ojabo’s injury-plagued tenure after being drafted in the same round further illustrates the risk of repeating past outcomes.
If Minter can replicate the interior flexibility that elevated Tuipulotu and Oweh, Young may still justify the investment in a more specialized capacity.
For DeCosta and the Ravens, the warning has been issued; the response will determine whether this latest high pick breaks an unwelcome pattern or extends it.
