Mike Green

Ravens’ Kyle Van Noy “Bracing” To Miss Multiple Games

SEPTEMBER 16: Harbaugh did not provide specifics on Van Noy’s recovery timeline during his Monday press conference, but Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Ravens are “preparing” for a multi-week absence in this case. A move to injured reserve would ensure at least a four-game spell on the sidelines, so it will be interesting to see if Baltimore considers taking that route.

SEPTEMBER 15: It sounds like the Ravens will be without a key defender for at least the next few games. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that edge rusher Kyle Van Noy suffered a hamstring injury yesterday and is “bracing” to miss multiple games.

Van Noy suffered his injury during the second quarter of Sunday’s win over the Browns. Fowler notes that the veteran is hoping it’s only a short-term absence, and coach John Harbaugh clarified that the injury definitely wasn’t a “season-ender.” The team will likely use the next few days to determine the best path forward, which could perhaps include a minimum stay on injured reserve.

A former second-round pick by the Lions, Van Noy established himself as a solid edge rusher during his time in New England, but he’s taken his play to another level since joining Baltimore. After initially joining the Ravens practice squad during the 2023 season, Van Noy proceeded to compile a career-high nine sacks during that campaign.

That performance earned him a two-year, $10MM extension from the organization, and he rewarded the team’s faith by finishing the 2024 season with a team-high 12.5 sacks. That showing earned him his first career Pro Bowl nod.

As ESPN’s Jamison Hensley noted, second-round rookie Mike Green saw an uptick in playing time once Van Noy exited yesterday’s game. The 2024 FBS sacks leader finished Week 2 with a pair of tackles and a QB hit.

“Hopefully he’s fine and he’s good and comes back fast,” Green said of his teammate (via Hensley). “I feel like I’m prepared enough. Of course, there are some things I have to get better at, but I think I’m ready. I can compete at this level.”

Buccaneers Make Roster Cuts

Here is how the Buccaneers trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit Tuesday:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Waived/Non-Football Illness:

Sanders, the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, signed with Tampa Bay in May after he went undrafted. Shilo, who had been competing for a spot at the back of the Bucs’ safety depth chart, was ejected from the club’s preseason finale on Saturday for throwing a punch following heavy pushing and shoving with Bills TE Zach Davidson. He was also flagged for pass interference in the game.

Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Sanders was headed to the waiver wire, and they hope their client will get claimed on waivers. A fresh start would likely be welcomed by all parties, although it will be interesting to see if any outside suitors put in a claim given the manner in which his Tampa tenure came to an end.

Jarrett, who joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has recorded 13 catches for 184 yards in his brief time with the team. He will now hit the waiver wire. Provided no claim is made, a spot on the practice squad could be in store given Jarrett’s familiarity with the organization. The Bucs will hold P-squad spots for Jackson and Bazelak, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine and Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. Bazelak staying on would provide finality for Kyle Trask, whom the Bucs released earlier this week. Teddy Bridgewater will be Tampa Bay’s backup, and it looks like Bazelak — a rookie UDFA from Bowling Green — will be the third-stringer.

Weight issues stalled Watson’s practice work, and the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he ballooned to 470 pounds entering the offseason program. Weight trouble hindered Watson, who did not see any preseason action due to the issue. The Bucs opted to cut Watson, who would have been the heaviest player in NFL history had he played in a regular-season game, rather than stash him on the reserve/Non-Football Illness list. They will not hold a practice squad spot for him, Stroud adds.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Ravens Sign Second-Round OLB Mike Green, Complete Rookie Deals

The Ravens are among the teams to complete the signings of the rookie classes in time for training camp. Second-round edge rusher Mike Green is now on the books.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported earlier today an agreement was expected. The Ravens have since announced that a deal has indeed been signed. Green was selected 59th overall, a slot which saw 53.7% and then 54% of the four-year pact guaranteed over the past two years (h/t Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap).

Details on Green’s deal have yet to emerge, but recent contracts worked out by rookies drafted around his slot strongly suggest it will not include guaranteed compensation through the final year. Nevertheless, the Marshall product is in position to occupy an important rotational role early on in Baltimore.

A depth spot at a minimum should await Baltimore’s latest draft investment along the edge. Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy are still expected to garner the majority of the snaps at the position. However, both of those veterans are impending free agents, meaning Green’s backup role may only be temporary.

The pass rusher had a breakout campaign in 2024. Green finished the season with 84 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, and 17 sacks, leading to him earning a first-team All-American nod. That performance also helped make him a second-round pick, as the Ravens scooped him up with the 59th-overall selection in this year’s draft.

Green may have been selected higher if not for his off-the-field issues. The player has twice been accused of sexual assault, including an incident during his time at the University of Virginia. That latter accusation was followed by Green’s transfer to Marshall, although the player has continually stated that the allegations didn’t play into his decision.

As mentioned, the Ravens have now officially signed their entire draft class:

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

33 Unsigned 2025 Draft Picks Remain

The NFL has hit a logjam and is collectively lagging far behind where it normally is at this point in the offseason. Two years ago, the league hit its last 30 unsigned players before July. Last year, teams were signing rookies as quickly as they were drafting them, and only 10 players remained unsigned by June 17. A couple intriguing situations have caused pens to go quiet in 2025, and as a result, here are the 33 remaining unsigned rookies of the 2025 NFL Draft:

Round 1:

Round 2:

Round 4:

  • No. 107 (Jaguars): Jack Kiser (LB, Notre Dame)

In recent years, a trend has seen second-rounders lasting the longest, but what we’re seeing this year is unheard of. As rookies have been getting a bit of flexibility in negotiating structures of guarantees, getting deals done has become a waiting game of seeing what surrounding picks are getting for comparison. Last year, teams breezed through the issue, but 2025 has seen significantly increased troubles.

Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins set the tone by signing a fully guaranteed rookie contract, the first ever for a second-round selection. The next day, the Browns were essentially forced to do the same for Carson Schwesinger, picked one slot before Higgins. Shough, the Saints rookie quarterback, is seeking the same deal, hoping that his elevated status as a passer will help convince New Orleans to continue making history. Shough’s efforts have caused every pick between him and Higgins to stand pat, waiting to see if they get to ask for full guarantees from their teams, as well. This would be a drastic development, as last year’s 40th overall pick, Cooper DeJean, received only two fully guaranteed years with only partial guarantees in Year 3.

The biggest story outside of the second round is that of the standoff between Stewart and the Bengals. Stewart has issues with what he perceives as a lack of protection in Cincinnati’s offer that causes a contract default in any year to void any guarantees in all the following years. It’s a new precedent the team is trying to set, and Stewart seems intent on preventing them from doing so.

It will be interesting to see which standoff gets settled first: Stewart’s or Shough’s. The latter standoff ending would likely set off a domino reaction of second-round deals that would help a large number of teams close out their rookie classes. To this point, only four NFL teams have done so.

Ravens Notes: Green, Pierce, Bowser, Jones

One of the main talking points from the Ravens’ draft was the team’s decision to select Mike Green in the second round. The Marshall edge rusher was widely regarded as a first-round talent, but he lasted until pick No. 59.

A key reason why that was the case was the view taken by a number of potential suitors of Green’s sexual assault allegations. Green faces accusations from an incident while he was in high school as well as another during his time at Virginia. The 21-year-old left the Cavaliers in 2022 following a suspension, paving the way for his highly productive tenure at Marshall.

A standout performance at the Senior Bowl helped establish Green as one of the top edge rushers in the 2025 class, but his off-the-field situation hurt his stock. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports multiple teams took him off their draft boards, an indication of their discomfort with his allegations and response to them. Baltimore – a team which has parted ways with kicker Justin Tucker against the backdrop of an investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct – was obviously comfortable selecting Green and thus making him a key factor along the edge for 2025 and beyond.

Here are some more Ravens notes:

  • Michael Pierce‘s second stint with the team came to an end in March when the 32-year-old nose tackle announced his retirement. In the wake of that move, team and player have agreed to a procedural restructure of the remainder of his contract. Brian McFarland of Russell Street Report notes Pierce’s retirement will be processed as a post-June 1 transaction, with a $2MM roster bonus as well as his workout bonus being removed. $745K in immediate cap space was created by the move, and the Ravens will see an additional $1.26MM in space after June 1.
  • In other cap-related news, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports edge rusher Tyus Bowser has withdrawn his grievance against the team. The $4.5MM grievance had been filed in response to the team’s handling of a knee injury which kept him sidelined for the entire 2023 season. Bowser spent his first seven years in Baltimore, but he split his time between the Seahawks and Dolphins in 2024. With the grievance being withdrawn, the Ravens will receive a $1.8MM cap credit.
  • Three of the Ravens’ 11 picks in this year’s draft were used on offensive linemen. The first of those was Emery Jones, selected in the third round. The LSU product could carve out a role as the Ravens’ swing tackle or compete for playing time at guard, but in either case he will not be on the field over the coming weeks. Head coach John Harbaugh said (via Fowler’s colleague Jamison Hensley) Jones is currently dealing with a shoulder injury. He may be sidelined until training camp as a result.
  • Sam Koch spent his entire 16-year career with the Ravens as their punter, and upon retiring in 2022 he joined the team’s coaching staff. After working closely with current punter Jordan Stoutthough, Zrebiec reports Koch is no longer with the team (subscription required). Meanwhile, Baltimore has retained Anthony Levine as an assistant special teams coach. The 38-year-old played 152 combined regular and postseason games in his career, all with Baltimore. Levine’s post-playing days included a brief spell on the Titans’ staff, but he returned to Baltimore last offseason.

Ravens Sign 9 Of 11 2025 Draft Picks

The Ravens have officially signed nine of their league-high 11 selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, per a team announcement.

Today’s signings include third-rounder Emery Jones, fourth-rounder Teddye Buchanan, fifth-rounder Carson Vinson, and seventh-rounder Garrett Dellinger. The team also signed all five of their sixth-round picks: Bilhal Kone, Tyler Loop, LaJohntay Wester, Aeneas Peebles, and Robert Longerbeam.

As prescribed by the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, all nine players have four years on their first contracts. With escalating cap hits for key players in the next few years, the Ravens are hoping that several members of their rookie class can play significant roles in the team’s future.

Jones and Dellinger both started for LSU’s stellar offensive line across the last three years at right tackle and left guard, respectively. Jones’ best fit might be at guard, where he could compete for a starting job as a rookie. He’ll also provide valuable depth behind Roger Rosengarten at right tackle, though he’ll have to make significant strides to have a chance at replacing Ronnie Stanley on the blindside at the end of his rookie deal. Dellinger will be fighting for a roster spot before he gets a shot at a starting job, but he brings a high-floor as a backup guard, the likes of which the Ravens have consistently turned into starters in recent years.

The Ravens prized Buchanan’s athleticism and intangibles enough to prioritize him on Day 3, but predictions of him supplanting Trenton Simpson in the starting lineup may be premature. After just one year at the FBS level, Buchanan face another, more significant jump to the speed of the NFL, which is especially significant at the linebacker position. He’ll likely be a core special teams contributor as a rookie, but his passing down abilities in coverage and as a blitzer will give him a strong chance at long-term playing time.

Baltimore double-dipped on Day 3 cornerbacks when they had 11 picks in 2022, taking a boundary corner in Jalyn Armour-Davis and a prospective nickel in Damarion Williams. They did so again this year with the long, speedy Kone and a likely slot-convert in Longerbeam. The Ravens have plenty of defensive back depth after signing Chidobie Awuzie and drafting Starks, so their Day 3 DBs will likely begin on special teams as they acclimate to their new defense and train to battle for starting roles in the future.

General manager Eric DeCosta values all of his draft picks, so using one on Loop is a clear sign that the team is seriously considering replacing Justin Tucker this year. Loop was widely considered the most powerful kicker in the draft, but he made less than 80% of his field goal attempts in his last two years at Arizona. He’ll need to quickly take to the tutelage of special teams coach Randy Brown to win a roster spot.

Head coach John Harbaugh said before the draft that the team wanted to add a punt returner, and they found one in Wester. He returned 66 punts for 740 yards (11.2 yards per return) in college and could take over a similar role right away in Baltimore. The Colorado product will be blocked on the offensive depth chart at first, but he was very productive in college and could develop into a rotational contributor out of the slot.

The Ravens surprised many by waiting until the end of Day 3 to address the interior of their defensive line after the retirement of Michael Pierce this offseason. Peebles is too undersized to fill Pierce’s role as a behemoth, space-eating nose tackle, but his pass-rushing chops could help him carve out a situational role as a rookie. While he may never be big enough to anchor the defensive line against the run, his athleticism and active hands give him three-down potential in the long-term.

The Ravens still have to sign their first two picks – first-round safety Malaki Starks and second-round edge rusher Mike Green. Starks’ fully-guaranteed contract should be a formality, but Green may wait for players drafted ahead of him to sign to ensure he gets a commensurate guarantee structure.

Here is a full list of Baltimore’s 2025 draft class:

  • Round 1, No. 27: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
  • Round 2, No. 59: Mike Green (OLB, Marshall)
  • Round 3, No. 91: Emery Jones (T, LSU) (signed)
  • Round 4, No. 129: Teddye Buchanan (LB, Cal) (signed)
  • Round 5, No. 141* (from Titans): Carson Vinson (T, Alabama A&M) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 178 (from Titans): Bilhal Kone (CB, Western Michigan) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 186 (from Jets): Tyler Loop (K, Arizona) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 203: LaJohntay Wester (WR, Colorado) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 210*: Aeneas Peebles (DT, Virginia Tech) (signed)
  • Round 6, No. 212*: Robert Longerbeam (CB, Rutgers) (signed)
  • Round 7, No. 243: Garrett Dellinger (G, LSU) (signed)

Ravens Select Mike Green With 59th Pick

The Ravens have selected Marshall edge rusher Mike Green with the 59th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, ending the 21-year-old’s slide after an initial first-round projection.

Accusations of sexual assault have raised significant character concerns about Green, who racked up 17.0 sacks in 2024 and posted elite agility numbers at his pro day. He was linked to multiple teams in the first round, including the Falcons, but concerns about his past knocked him off of multiple teams’ boards, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Green’s selection by the Ravens will shine a spotlight on the allegations against him with the team already waiting for the results of a league investigation into Justin Tucker. Baltimore’s front office has historically prioritized high-character prospects in the draft, such as Malaki Starks, last night’s first-round selection. The team has largely avoided questions about Tucker this offseason, but drafting Green will put more attention on their approach to players with allegations of sexual misconduct off the field.

As a player, though, Green profiles as a complete edge rusher with the athleticism, bend, and violence to be a consistent sack-getter in the NFL. Against the run, he compensates for his lack of size with power and effort to set a hard edge. He played against lesser competition in the Sun Belt in college and will face a significant jump in the NFL, but his tape clearly shows the potential to be an elite pass-rusher in the pros.

Falcons Expected To Take Edge Rusher In 1st Round

TODAY, 5:33pm: While the Falcons have interest in adding some pass-rush help, they may end up pivoting if the right trade comes around. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, the Falcons are willing to move down from No. 15 if they receive the “right offer.” The Falcons haven’t made a first-round trade since 2019, when they acquired No. 31 from the Rams in a move that landed them Kaleb McGary.

TODAY, 1:15pm: The Falcons are widely expected to target an edge rusher in the first round of tonight’s draft, with Tennessee’s James Pearce and Marshall’s Mike Green frequently listed as potential fits.

Atlanta swapped out veteran edge defenders this offseason, signing Leonard Floyd after letting Matt Judon hit free agency. Floyd is entering his age-33 season, so the team is likely looking for a long-term option to pair with 2022 second-rounder Arnold Ebiketie.

Pearce and Green – two of the class’ most athletic, productive edge rushers – have both been linked to the Falcons, per Diana Russini of The Athletic. Pearce had 17.5 sacks across his last two seasons at Tennessee and led all edge rushers with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. Green had 22.5 sacks in 2024 alone and posted elite agility numbers at his pro day.

However, both players have character flags that the team will need to evaluate, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Green’s flags stem from multiple accusations of sexual assault in his past, which might take him off some teams’ boards altogether. More nebulous concerns about Pearce are connected to his maturity, so a team with confidence in their coaching staff and locker room culture may believe they can get the most out of him.

Both Pearce and Green were listed as primary options for the Falcons by ESPN’s Matt Miller, as well as Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart. Stewart has an even more appealing athletic profile than Pearce and Green, but lacked the same production in college. He has an NFL-ready frame with excellent explosiveness, but recorded only 1.5 sacks in each of his last three seasons at College Station.

The Falcons’ consistent links to Pearce and Green suggest they will prioritize the college production of Pearce and Green over Stewart’s upside. If none of the three are available, Atlanta may pivot to Georgia’s Mykel Williams, who is widely thought to be the next-best edge rusher in the class.

Ravens Draft Rumors: Edge, Kicker, DL, CB, S

The Ravens are well-known for their draft approach of taking the best players available regardless of position, though they’re not above taking a player at a position of need if they believe it’s at a good value. That being said, Tony Pauline of sportskeeda claimed today that Baltimore is “believed to be in the market for an edge rusher in the first round.”

The Ravens aren’t likely to reach for a player at a position at which they’ve already spent a 2024 third-round pick, 2023 fourth-round pick, 2022 second-round pick, and 2021 first-round pick. Because of this, I would think that this would only be true if a top-ranked pass rusher falls to them in the back half of the first round.

Obviously, a player like Abdul Carter isn’t expected to be around by the 27th overall pick. After that, anything can happen, and while it might not be likely, it wouldn’t be a surprise if players like Shemar Stewart, Mike Green, or Mykel Williams were around that late. Options like Donovan Ezeiruaku and James Pearce are expected to be around in that range, and Baltimore could certainly pursue them, but only if they perceive them to be one of the top players available.

Here are notes on a few other positions of focus for Baltimore when next week’s draft occurs:

  • Ongoing legal issues with future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker have the Ravens in an uncertain position on special teams for the first time since Tucker signed as an undrafted free agent out of Texas in 2012. As a result, Baltimore has been doing its research on kickers in this year’s draft class and could draft a kicker for the first time in their franchise’s history, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. The Ravens are the only team not to have drafted a kicker in the common draft era, and general manager Eric DeCosta admits “there’s no blueprint for finding a kicker.” If they find the right kicker at the right time, though, we could see the selection made. Two options on the table could be in-state rivals Andres Borregales out of Miami (FL) and Ryan Fitzgerald out of Florida State.
  • Following the retirement of Michael Pierce and the coming contract year for Travis Jones, defensive tackle is a position of need for Baltimore in this year’s draft. DeCosta confirmed as much, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, calling the position a priority. DeCosta called this year’s class fairly deep at defensive line and claimed “there’s an opportunity for (them) to get better” at the position.
  • Another position that DeCosta singled out was cornerback. After losing Brandon Stephens and Tre’Davious White to free agency, the team added Chidobe Awuzie. They also roster recent draft picks Jalyn Armour-Davis and T.J. Tampa as depth pieces. While DeCosta didn’t guarantee anything, he told the media that “it’s a pretty safe bet that the Ravens will be drafting at least one cornerback next week,” per Zrebiec. The team is likely to start Nate Wiggins and Awuzie on the outside with Marlon Humphrey manning the nickelback role, so they could look for an upgrade over Awuzie, but at the very least, adding depth is a necessity.
  • DeCosta didn’t mince words about the safety position either, per Zrebiec. Despite being “fairly confident” that Ar’Darius Washington will return after presumably signing his exclusive rights free agent tender, DeCosta said that it was “more than likely” that Baltimore would still add a safety in the draft, as well. Washington and Kyle Hamilton would return as starters from last year, but the only depth behind them currently are two rookies from last year, Sanoussi Kane (seventh round) and Beau Brade (undrafted).

Patriots Pursued Maxx Crosby, Myles Garrett; Could Select Edge Rusher At No. 4

The Patriots have been active reworking their pass-rush depth this offseason, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the front office pursued two of the biggest names on the market. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, the Patriots “had desires” to trade for Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett.

New England’s pursuit of the two extension/trade candidates surely preceded their free agent spending spree. The Raiders and Browns were rightfully correct in waiting out the trade winds, as both teams eventually inked their star pass rushers to lucrative extensions. That forced the Patriots to pivot.

Considering the Patriots’ free agency commitments, we can only assume the Eliot Wolf-led front office would have been just as willing to hand out an extension to either player. The Patriots landed interior disruptor Milton Williams on a four-year, $104MM, and they added edge rusher Harold Landry III on a three-year, $43.5MM pact. With other additions like Robert Spillane and K’Lavon Chaisson, plus holdovers like Christian Barmore and Keion White, there’s hope Mike Vrabel will guide an improved front-seven in 2025.

Despite the team’s many defensive acquisitions, the Patriots may not be done adding. There’s been an assumption that the team would select an offensive tackle with the fourth-overall pick. However, Pauline says the team’s one alternative option could be an edge rusher, and that’s with the assumption that Abdul Carter will already be off the board.

Shemar Stewart, Mykel Williams, and Mike Green are regarded as consensus top-20 picks, but all three edge-rush prospects would be considered a reach at No. 4. Considering the uncertainty behind the top-three picks, Jalon Walker could be an option for New England, although the Georgia product seems better positioned to slide in as an inside LB.

Our own Ely Allen projects the Patriots to select LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell with the No. 4 pick, a popular sentiment across the industry. However, the Patriots could pull off the first wrinkle of the draft if they add to an already-remade defense.