Ravens potential plug-and-play prospects: Edge defenders

Possible targets for the Ravens in the 2024 NFL Draft who could come in and contribute to the pass rush right away as rookies.

Aside from first-round wide receiver Zay Flowers who quickly established himself as a starter and broke multiple franchise records during a standout rookie campaign, the Baltimore Ravens 2023 rookie class mostly consisted of developmental prospects who are now primed to be in line or compete for starting positions.

With all the notable losses they’ve suffered through free agency as several key cogs from last year’s team have signed elsewhere, their 2024 draft class won’t be afforded the same luxury. This year’s incoming crop of first-year players will be expected to contribute as a starter or in a vital role as a heavy rotational piece.

With the sizable contracts they are currently paying, the most notable being two-time MVP-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson and most All-Pro defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, the Ravens need to target prospects who they can plug in and play right away at positions of need because they will be more reliant on younger talent than ever before.

The first position group to be broken down in this short article series is edge defender. The Ravens re-signed 10-year veteran Kyle Van Noy to a two-year deal but he just turned 33 years old and they are otherwise poised to be very young at the position. Here are potential plug-and-play prospects the General Manager Eric DeCosta could target and get immediate contributions from.