The Baltimore Ravens still need to upgrade their pass rush, and they do so in a big way with Clemson's T.J. Parker in the latest mock draft.
Back when the drama unfolded for the nixed Maxx Crosby trade, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta indicated that the team was hoping that Crosby would be paired with Trey Hendrickson to create a stalwart pass rush.
That will not come to pass, and now the Ravens will look to the draft to find a viable partner to terrorize quarterbacks with. In Field Yates' latest mock draft, he has Baltimore doing just that with Clemson's T.J. Parker.
Parker has the bruising ability to become a game-wrecker in the NFL, but he will need to upgrade his ability to figure out ways to continue his pass rush when jammed up by offensive linemen.
Regardless, Parker showcased his abilities in 2024 by securing 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. When given more chances in 2025, he did not respond as well, but still managed to bring in 4.5 sacks.
Yates has the Ravens landing Parker in the second round at No. 45 overall.
"General manager Eric DeCosta said the team was eyeing a duo of Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby, a testament to the need for more edge depth. Parker came into this past season with big expectations as a potential top-10 selection. He's not at that level, but he's a heavy-handed rusher with disruptive power. Parker set a Clemson record for the most forced fumbles in 2024 (six)," Yates wrote.
Parker has the ability to be very disruptive and could benefit greatly from being around one of the best pass rushers in the game. Hendrickson has been one of the most dominant defenders in the NFL, and taking Parker under his wing to teach him the finer details of winning on the edge would be a great way for the college prospect to take his game to the next level.
Parker has secured 21.5 sacks through just three seasons at Clemson, and that figure is not something that happens for every pass rush at the collegiate level. He clearly has something special, and that can grow under the tutelage of the Ravens.
With Jesse Minter taking over as head coach and bringing back Anthony Weaver, the defense is set to become the ultra-physical style that the Ravens have been known for throughout the organization's history.
Bringing in a game-wrecker like Parker would make sense. Once he can clean up his technique to continue chasing down quarterbacks, he and Hendrickson could become a lethal combo.