Knee-Jerk Reactions: Ravens Draft LSU OL Emery Jones

With the 91st pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens selected Louisiana State offensive lineman Emery Jones.

RSR staff react to the pick here:

Kevin McNelis

Emery Jones was a guy I’d had at this spot in a few mocks, viewing him presumably the same way the Ravens do, as a guard. I’m a little surprised that they didn’t opt to select a lineman who was more of a pure guard, given that Jones played all of his snaps at RT, but an SEC pedigree and solid size make him a great option to compete for a starting role. Even if Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele end up winning the starting guard jobs in Jones’ rookie season, having another tackle to give you some depth along the O-line is still needed with Pat Mekari’s departure. If he develops well enough in house, he could even give you an option to start planning for the post-Ronnie Stanley era.

Nikhil Mehta

Emery Jones Jr. has been one of my personal-favorite prospects since the fall of 2023, when he jumped off the screen anytime I watched LSU’s offense. I was hoping he might fall to the Ravens at 129, but I don’t fault them for taking him slightly above consensus in the third round. He wasn’t as good in 2024, but enters the NFL having just turned 21 with three full years of starting experience as an SEC offensive tackle. His frame (6-foot-5, 315 pounds, 34.25-inch arms) is big enough to play tackle in the NFL, and I think he’s a better athlete than he gets credit for. Jones will need to speed up his processing and improve his balance/recovery to stay on the outside.

Jones will probably need a year of seasoning before taking over a starting guard role, likely at RG after Daniel Faalele leaves in free agency next offseason. That will also give him time to develop as a swing tackle and perhaps explore any blindside potential he may have. He may not have been the trendy Ravens’ OL pick on Day 2, but you can’t deny that they addressed the trenches with this selection.

Grade: B+ 

As much as I like Jones, I do think there were more talented players on the board here, particularly along the interior of the defensive line. That needs to be a priority on Day 3.

Rob Shields

The Ravens addressed the O-line with Emery Jones out of LSU.

He was a RT in college but projects as a guard. You can question why they didn’t just take a guard and trade up for Millum, who went a few picks in front of them, but perhaps they just didn’t have as high as grade on him. And they may have liked the versatility Jones had to eventually kick outside if they need him to.

Either way, the Ravens have a solid history at evaluating O-linemen, so I’m fine with the pick.

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