The Baltimore Ravens have been making moves to revamp their pass rush, and the conversation around rookie Zion Young has been dominated by a single number: his sack total. On the surface, 6.5 sacks might not scream "elite pass rusher," but ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. is urging fans to dig deeper. As he puts it, "It's easy to look at the number. It's harder to understand the impact."

Kiper graded Baltimore's draft weekend a solid B+, and he's particularly high on the Young pick. "I like this pick for a lot of reasons. He was No. 22 on my board, and the Ravens got him at No. 45," Kiper explained. While the sack count may seem modest, Young's 46 pressures tell a different story. With his relentless motor, quickness, and power, Kiper believes those near-misses will soon turn into quarterback takedowns. "He should start converting some of those into QB takedowns," he added.

But Young's value doesn't stop at rushing the passer. Kiper also highlights his underrated prowess as a run defender. "His run-stuffing ability can't be overstated," Kiper noted. Last season, Young recorded 26 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and 16 run stops, showcasing his ability to shut down running backs on the edge.

This pick comes as no surprise given the Ravens' struggles in 2023. Baltimore ranked 28th in the league with just 30 sacks and posted a pass rush win rate of 29.9%. Defensive tackle Travis Jones led the team with a mere five sacks. General Manager Eric DeCosta's original plan was to pair a top-tier edge rusher with Trey Hendrickson, but after those talks fell through, the Ravens pivoted to Young. Part of the appeal? Young's three-down ability, including his run-blocking—a trait that makes him a versatile asset on the field.

In the end, this is a classic case of production versus disruption. With Young, the Ravens don't have to choose. Sacks only tell part of the story; pressures tell the rest. And as Kiper suggests, the best is yet to come for this promising pass rusher.