Ravens’ Second Round Pick is Ready to Bring Super Bowl Back to Baltimore

With the 45th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected OLB Zion Young.

Ravens’ Second Round Pick is Ready to Bring Super Bowl Back to Baltimore

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Zion Young inside the circle (Image via imago/X)

In Short
  • Jesse Minter led the Ravens' NFL draft, selecting guard Olaivavega Ioane and linebacker Zion Young.
  • Zion Young aims to help the Ravens win a third Super Bowl, expressing his enthusiasm for the team.
  • Young's college career included a transfer from Michigan State to Missouri and a pending DWI charge.

Jesse Minter oversaw his first NFL draft as the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach this week. On day one, Minter and the general manager, Eric DeCosta, drafted Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. On day two, the Ravens addressed the pass rush by selecting linebacker Zion Young 45th overall.

The Ravens loved Young very much when he visited the facility during his Top 30 visit. Young became the first University of Missouri player this year to be drafted.

The 22-year-old is fired up to play for the two-time Super Bowl champions and plans to help them win a third very soon.

I am a fan of Baltimore, period. I love how they play, how fast they play. I am looking forward to bringing the Super Bowl back to Baltimore… I am looking forward to that, for sure.

Zion Young said via Nic Mason of the Ravens media

Young started his college career at Michigan State. Young was one of the seven Michigan State players suspended for the final four games of the 2022 season following a post-game altercation at Michigan.

After two years with the Spartans, he entered the transfer portal and landed in Missouri (Mizzou). He mostly played as an outside linebacker during his final year with the Tigers. In December, he was arrested and charged with suspicion of DWI in December 2025. The case remains pending. Despite that, Young racked up 41 combined tackles, 10 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.

It’s unclear why Young fell into the second round, but his unruly history in college could be one of the reasons. Otherwise, he’s one of the better LBs in the draft.

On a positive note, Young reunites with his childhood friend Nate Wiggins, who happens to be one of the Ravens’ best corners.

Draft analyst shares his thoughts on the Ravens drafting Zion Young in the second round

ESPN’s draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. projected Young as a first-round draft pick. Young was the 22nd-best player on Kiper’s Top-25 players list.

Ravens' Second Round Pick is Ready to Bring Super Bowl Back to Baltimore
Lamar Jackson (Image via IMAGO)

The Ravens’ selection of Young does not surprise Kiper at all. In fact, he views this as a power move by DeCosta. After the Maxx Crosby deal fell off, the Ravens signed Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson. And now the Ravens can pair Hendrickson with Young.

The move allows Hendrickson to stay on the field all three downs. Young is a fantastic run blocker, too. He seals the edge and crashes down the line, finishing 2025 with 16 run stops.

Kiper wrote in his report

And not just Kiper, the Baltimore Beatdown’s Nikhil Mehta gave this pick an A+++.

I did not think it was possible that [Zion] Young, a ferocious run defender with inside-outside versatility as a power rusher, would be available when the Ravens were on the clock in the second round. And yet, there he was, and after passing on Rueben Bain [Tampa Bay Buccaneers], Baltimore did not hesitate to add the best edge rusher remaining.

The Ravens’ 2026 NFL Draft picks

  1. 14th overall pick: Olaivavega Ioane, Guard, Penn State
  2. 45th overall pick: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
  3. 80th overall pick: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC
  4. 115th overall pick: Elijah Sarratt, WR, Indiana
  5. 133rd overall pick: Matthew Hibner, TE, SMU
  6. 166th overall pick: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
  7. 173rd overall pick: Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama
  8. 174th overall pick: Adam Randall, RB, Clemson
  9. 211th overall pick: Ryan Eckley, Punter, Michigan State
  10. 250th overall pick: Rayshaun Benny, DT, Michigan
  11. 253rd overall pick: Evan Beerntsen, Guard, Northwestern

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