Ravens player in danger of losing starting job to rookie after 2026 NFL Draft
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The Baltimore Ravens did a great job in the 2026 NFL Draft as they often do. Baltimore added some gifted prospects in the draft and some must be in a place to contribute straight away. The Ravens brought in Olaivavega Ioane in the first roundwho ought to instantly turn into the workforce’s new starter at left guard.
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But Ioane just isn’t the one Ravens rookie who may very well be starting in 2026. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter will be taking over play-calling duties on protection and can implement his scheme in Baltimore. That may lead to some surprises on the defensive aspect of the ball.
How many Ravens rookies could have massive roles later this fall? And do any rookies have the prospect to steal a starting job away from a longtime veteran?
One Ravens player stands out as being in probably the most danger of losing their starting job to a rookie in the course of the 2026 season.
Rookie Zion Young may compete for a starting job subsequent to Trey Hendrickson
Travis Register-Imagn Images
The addition of Zion Young was one of Baltimore’s finest strikes in the course of the draft. Baltimore snagged Young in the second spherical, including yet one more edge rusher to their rotation. The rookie has a transparent path to snaps in the course of the 2026 season.
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Baltimore’s largest coaching camp battle on protection can be on the sting. Hendrickson already has one spot locked down, which leaves just one remaining in base protection appears to be like. Young will compete with Tavius Robinson and Mike Green for these snaps. But there’s one side of Young’s sport that offers him a big benefit over each of these different gamers.
Minter defined that Young’s presence at the line of scrimmage made him enticing to Baltimore’s entrance workplace.
“He’s very powerful in the run game, meaning, when he strikes blocks, they go the other way,” Minter stated. “When people pull on him and he strikes them, it’s a train wreck. Also, I thought he made better improvements this year as a pass rusher.”
NFL scouts agree, praising Young’s ability to set an edge in the running game whereas additionally collapsing the pocket on passing downs.
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No different edge rusher on the Ravens seems to have the identical protection run expertise that Young has. As a outcome, he may earn a constant position for himself on early downs as a run defender nearly instantly throughout his rookie marketing campaign.
Depending on how he performs throughout coaching camp and the preseason, Young may even start his rookie season as a full-time starter.
Will Tavius Robinson blow his alternative to turn into a starter in 2026?
Robinson stands out as the obvious player who may very well be damage by Young’s doable rise to prominence.
If the 2026 season began right now, Robinson would seemingly begin on the alternative edge of Hendrickson. He has the expertise, spending the previous three years on Baltimore’s protection. Robinson has been a constant contributor, starting a complete of 17 video games since coming into the NFL in 2023.
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During that span, Baltimore has used Robinson each as a move rusher and run defender. If the workforce’s new teaching employees agrees with that utilization, it means that Robinson may very well be in for lots of snaps in 2026. But that does not imply he’ll truly be a starter.
The solely different player to take into account is second-year edge rusher Mike Green. The former second-round choose did play over 700 snaps in the course of the 2025 season, however solely began in one sport. He initiatives as primarily a move rush specialist in 2026. As such, Green might have some extra time to develop earlier than he can push Robinson or Young for starting snaps.
Ultimately, Robinson must be most apprehensive about by some means losing a coaching camp battle with Young. But if Robinson can maintain his personal, he should still be splitting snaps with Young all through the 2026 season.
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