The Baltimore Ravens surprised draft watchers by selecting edge rusher Mike Green at No. 59 despite off-field allegations. The pick followed an extensive predraft review and a 90-minute meeting with team officials, but critics argue that the NFL’s investigation of past behavior is only intensifying.
Baltimore used the 59th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft on Mike Green, a dynamic pass rusher who led the FBS in sacks last season. Green’s fall to the late second round surprised many analysts — he had been projected by some as a first-round talent — and his arrival in Baltimore immediately prompted intense public discussion.
Team officials have defended the decision, saying the organization conducted an extensive pre-draft review of Green’s background. General manager Eric DeCosta told reporters the front office “looked into the allegations very thoroughly” and met with Green during a 90-minute predraft visit before finalizing the pick. The franchise argues it weighed both the player’s on-field upside and the reputational risks involved.
Green has publicly acknowledged at the NFL Combine that he has faced two separate sexual-assault allegations — one dating to high school and another while he was at the University of Virginia — and he has said neither resulted in criminal prosecution. That admission, not the first time a draft prospect has faced public questions about their past, is what made his selection particularly controversial.
Voices in the sports world split quickly. Some analysts praised the Ravens for addressing a roster need with a high-upside defender who can produce immediate pressure off the edge. Supporters point to Green’s production and potential impact in Baltimore’s scheme. Critics, meanwhile, questioned whether the franchise had adequately weighed the message the pick sends about accountability, and whether the team and league had set an appropriate standard in the social-media era.
The Green pick's case is a recurring challenge for NFL teams: balancing competitive goals with reputational, ethical, and public relations concerns that can arise when prospects have problematic histories. With fans and media scrutiny heightened by social media platforms, teams feel the pressure to show due diligence while also striving to win games. The Ravens — a franchise known for its tough, no-nonsense identity — now face the practical challenge of integrating Green into rookie camp and the locker room.
All eyes will be on Baltimore as Green reports to rookie camp and begins the process of proving himself on the field. The team’s handling of any follow-up questions, its internal discipline decisions (if any), and how Green adjusts to the professional level will shape whether the pick is ultimately viewed as a savvy football decision or a public-relations misstep. In the meantime, the episode fuels an ongoing conversation across the league about where the line should be drawn between talent and character.
