Despite having long-term and immediate needs for depth at defensive tackle and being equipped with a league-high 11 picks in a 2025 NFL Draft that was incredibly deep at the position, the Baltimore Ravens only selected one prospect to fortify their trenches on defense.
While sixth-round pick Aeneas Peebles is being lauded as and could very well end up being one the biggest steals of the draft with his ability as an interior pass rusher, they still have a glaring need at nose tackle following the retirement of veteran Michael Pierce. Even though they have fourth-year pro Travis Jones who can be a dominant interior run-stuffing presence, he is heading into the final year of his rookie deal and needs depth behind him to rotate on early downs so he can be more effective and readily available in obvious passing situations.
Thankfully, there is never much of a shortage of veteran defensive line options who specialize in stuffing the run during this time of year and leading up to training camp. The league doesn’t prioritize their skill set until they desperately need it after finding out their defense struggles to slow down opposing ground games once the regular season gets underway.
The Ravens have a pair of undrafted rookie free agents Nebraska’s Nash Hutmacher and Auburn’s Jayson Jones who could follow in Pierce’s footsteps and both make the team and fill the vital depth role in 2025. However, they could also benefit from some veteran experience and competition at the position. Here are a handful of options that could address their biggest remaining need:
Linval Joseph
The former two-time Pro Bowler has been the go-to veteran nose tackle mercenary signing for contending teams late in the season or teams who get steamrolled on the ground early on for the past three years. He helped the Philadelphia Eagles address their run defense on the fly during their run to the Super Bowl in 2022 and joined the Buffalo Bills around the same time the following year. Joseph most recently played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2024, appearing in all 17 games in a rotational role in which he didn’t make a start and finished with 19 total tackles including two for a loss, three quarterback hits, two sacks and a forced fumble.
Raekwon Davis
The sixth-year veteran has spent his entire career in the AFC and could continue that streak in Baltimore where’d he fit right in with the Ravens helping them uphold their dominance in defending the run. Not only does he do a good job occupying multiple blockers but he plays with a high motor and relentless motor and will chase a ball carrier down laterally before they can turn the corner and get upfield.
