Ravens Add Auburn DT Jayson Jones as Undrafted Free Agent
The Baltimore Ravens are bolstering their interior defensive line with fresh talent, signing former Auburn defensive tackle Jayson Jones as an undrafted free agent, according to a report from Justin Melo of The Draft Network.
After losing veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce to retirement and with defensive end Brent Urban still an unrestricted free agent, the Ravens entered the 2025 NFL Draft looking to strengthen the middle of their defensive line. Despite prioritizing this need, they didn’t address it until the sixth round, selecting Virginia Tech’s Aeneas Peebles. While Peebles will provide a boost to their pass rush, his smaller frame (just over 6 feet tall and under 300 pounds) limits his impact against the run.
Jones, however, offers a different skill set. Standing at 6’5″ and nearly 330 pounds, he fits the mold of a space-eating nose tackle or one-technique, similar to Michael Pierce, who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Jones brings power to the point of attack, using violent hands to dominate against double-teams. His sheer size makes him tough to move, though maintaining proper pad level can sometimes be a challenge for taller players like him.
Jones began his collegiate career at Oregon before transferring to Auburn, where he played for three seasons and totaled 84 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, and a batted pass.
With 2022 third-round pick Travis Jones returning, the Ravens have a capable nose tackle, but he’s entering the final year of his contract and will need occasional rest for passing downs.
During his post-draft press conference, general manager Eric DeCosta acknowledged that while some of their targeted late-round prospects were taken before they could pick, they remain confident in addressing the need through other avenues, such as veteran free-agent signings.
Historically, the Ravens have been successful at bringing in veteran free agents to fill rotational run-stuffing roles, with recent examples including Justin Ellis (2019), Domata Peko (2019), and Josh Tupou (2024).
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