The Baltimore Ravens seem to have a rookie who’s already turning heads, and it’s not hard to see why Zion Young has gotten people talking.
Young arrives with the kind of edge energy this building seems to be feeding on right now. He brought that juice in college, and the Ravens believe it can translate to the next level. That matters for a first-year outside linebacker, especially one drafted in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver didn’t sound like someone waiting around for Young to catch up. In Weaver’s eyes, the rookie is already moving faster than expected.
“He’s ahead of where I expected him to be,” Weaver said. “Obviously he has all the physical traits in the world, but he just works…I feel like his pass-rushing ability has already grown leaps and bounds.
I think his run defense is gonna be elite. The ceiling is very high for that kid.
I love where he’s at, and love where he’s headed.”
That kind of praise points to more than just potential. It suggests Baltimore may not have to wait long for Young to matter.
Pass rushers usually need time. The NFL asks them to do a lot more than just win with size and burst, and technique becomes a much bigger piece of the puzzle. That’s part of what made Mike Green’s significant slump last year such a reminder of how rough the transition can be.
Young, though, brings a different kind of profile. He has the size, strength and athleticism to battle tackles, and he also looks like the kind of player who can wreck plays in the run game. That gives him a stronger baseline than many rookies at his position.
The Ravens’ evaluation of him only adds to the intrigue. Baltimore had the Missouri product graded as a first-round talent, then landed him at No.
- That’s the kind of draft outcome that can pay off quickly if the player develops the way the team expects.
And with Baltimore needing more pass-rush help this offseason, Young’s rise matters even with Trey Hendrickson brought in as the headline addition. He may not be the loudest name on the roster, but if Weaver’s assessment holds, he could be in position to make a real impact sooner than anyone outside the building expected.
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What makes the shuffle worth watching is what it says about the interior line behind the starters. Starting right guard Vega Ioane has already taken snaps at center in practice as an emergency measure, which is not the sort of detour a team takes unless it is trying to protect itself against a potential shortage. The Ravens have plenty of time to sort through those contingencies, but the move underscores how thin the margin can be when one injury or one lineup decision starts forcing players into unfamiliar spots. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Just Sent A Clear Message About Their New Leadership Core
The Ravens have their 2026 leadership structure in place after a player vote, and the mix says plenty about where the team sees its voice coming from. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Roquan Smith, Calais Campbell and Kyle Hamilton were chosen as captains, a group that blends star power, experience and defensive edge at every level of the roster.
Baltimore also added a five-player leadership council to help with communication between the locker room and the coaching staff, a sign the organization wants more than just a handful of faces carrying the load. Among those selected were EDGE Trey Hendrickson and tight end Mark Andrews, giving the Ravens another layer of veteran presence as they lean into a broader leadership model heading into the season. [Read more 🡒]