The winds of change are blowing through Baltimore, and they’re bringing a whole new energy with them. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Ravens are entering an offseason without John Harbaugh at the helm. In steps Jesse Minter, a defensive-minded coach with a clear vision-and he’s wasting no time putting his stamp on this team.
Minter is building a staff that blends experience with innovation. He’s brought in respected names like Dwayne Ledford to anchor the group, while also adding rising minds like Declan Doyle to inject fresh ideas into both sides of the ball. But the headline move came Monday, when Baltimore announced Anthony Weaver as the new defensive coordinator-a hire that speaks volumes about where this team is headed.
Weaver, a former defensive lineman and seasoned coach, brings a tone-setting presence. He’s fiery, physical, and demands intensity-exactly the kind of edge Minter wants to emphasize.
Together, this duo is crafting a defense-first identity that feels very Ravens-esque, but with a modern twist. And with that identity taking shape, it’s becoming easier to connect the dots to what Baltimore might be eyeing in April’s NFL Draft.
One name that’s starting to make a lot of sense at No. 14: Auburn’s Keldric Faulk.
Faulk checks a lot of boxes for Baltimore. He’s a versatile, high-motor pass rusher who can line up across the defensive front.
That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s NFL, and it’s especially valuable in a Ravens system that thrives on disguise and adaptability. Faulk doesn’t just get after the quarterback-he’s a tone-setter against the run, too.
Physical, relentless, and unafraid to do the dirty work. That’s the kind of player who earns respect in Baltimore’s locker room fast.
And let’s be honest-the Ravens have needs. Plenty of them.
They’re not a finished product, and the defensive line is one area that could use immediate reinforcements. With uncertainty looming around the future of defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and a clear need to pair someone with rookie outside linebacker Mike Green, Faulk could be a two-for-one solution: a guy who can both pressure the quarterback and hold his ground in the trenches.
No, Faulk might not be the top edge rusher in this draft class. But he fits the Ravens’ mold-tough, versatile, and coachable.
And perhaps just as important, he fits their draft philosophy. General Manager Eric DeCosta has rarely been one to aggressively trade up.
He lets the board come to him. If Faulk is sitting there at 14, it’s hard to imagine he won’t be a serious consideration.
With Minter and Weaver steering this new era of Ravens football, the message is clear: they want a defense that hits hard, plays fast, and imposes its will. Keldric Faulk? He looks like a perfect puzzle piece for that vision.