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While Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh extols the potential of Isaiah Likely, the team is also focused on getting its defense on the same level as the offense. And part of that help could come from the Ravens rookie who stood out the most in the 2025 minicamp.
When NFL observers look back at the 2025 NFL Draft, they may talk about how the Ravens rode off like bandits. They grabbed Malaki Starks in Round 1 despite picking at No. 27 overall. But a bigger surprise came in Round 2 when the Ravens landed a guy who some considered to have top-10 overall talent.
Edge rusher Mike Green has already impacted the team with a strong minicamp.
Green didn’t go as high as he hoped, but said things worked out great, according to baltimoreravens.com.
“I’m just blessed to be here,” Green said. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get picked up in the first round like I wanted to. That was a goal I set for myself. But coming to the Ravens was a blessing in disguise. I can honestly say I don’t think there’s a better franchise I can be a part of.
“I’m just looking forward to moving on with my life and with my career. Every team asked me [about the allegations] and I’ve been completely open about everything. It’s something I had to go through, I got through it, and from this point forward I’m just focusing on moving on.”
Green endured a long wait, but said it thrilled him to hear Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta on the other end of the phone call.
“It means a lot,” Green said. “This team has a lot of great culture that’s been going around, and you have to think about the guys who have been through here: Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and so forth. It means a lot more since I’m a defensive player, as well. And just seeing all those great defensive players walk through here, it means a little bit more, for sure.”
The Ravens couldn’t believe their eyes when Green remained on the board for their Round 2 pick. DeCosta compared the feeling of watching highly-ranked players fall down the board to being like players not talking to a pitcher during a no-hitter bid. You don’t say anything for a while.
“If Mike Green is there,” DeCosta said at the time. “I mean, we’ve got to take him at 59 if he’s there. He won’t be there.”
One of the reasons Green fell in the draft came from allegations of sexual assault while in high school and college. The first came in Williamsport, Va. The second incident occurred at the University of Virginia, where he was dismissed from the program in September 2022. No formal charges were filed. Green denied any wrongdoing.
Still, the accusations prompted many NFL teams to look elsewhere. Green said he doesn’t have anything to hide, according...
