Garrett Dellinger selected by the Baltimore Ravens with pick No. 243rd in the NFL Draft
In the late rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, as the sun began to sink behind the Las Vegas skyline, the Baltimore Ravens made a selection that would send quiet ripples through league circles. With the 243rd overall pick, they drafted Garrett Dellinger, the powerful offensive lineman out of LSU — a move that would soon be seen as one of the draft’s shrewdest.
Dellinger, standing 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at 320 pounds, had been a rock on the LSU offensive front. Known for his iron hands, relentless motor, and unteachable nastiness in the trenches, Dellinger was projected by some analysts as an early Day 3 pick. But an untimely ankle injury during his senior season, coupled with a deep class of interior linemen, caused him to slip far below his true value.
Inside the Ravens’ war room at their Owings Mills facility, there was a quiet confidence about Dellinger. General Manager Eric DeCosta, flanked by head coach John Harbaugh and director of player personnel Joe Hortiz, nodded with satisfaction as they made the call. Baltimore’s culture, built on grit, toughness, and underdog spirit, was the perfect match for a player like Dellinger.
When Dellinger picked up the phone, his voice cracked with emotion. “Coach, I’m ready to work. I’m ready to give you everything I’ve got.” Harbaugh chuckled warmly and replied, “That’s exactly what we’re counting on, Garrett. Welcome to the flock.”
Reporters and analysts initially skimmed over the pick. After all, seventh-rounders often struggle to make final rosters. But for those who knew Dellinger’s pedigree — a three-year starter at LSU, SEC All-Academic team member, and a two-time captain — there was no doubt he would fight for a roster spot like his career depended on it.
By the time rookie minicamp rolled around, whispers about Dellinger began to grow louder. He showed up looking like he had been forged from steel, moving with surprising agility for a man of his size. In 1-on-1 drills, he stonewalled top draft picks without blinking. His demeanor was pure Ravens: tough, quiet, relentless.
Veteran linemen quickly took notice. Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum was heard telling coaches, “That kid is built like a house and doesn’t give an inch.” During OTAs, Dellinger even got reps with the first team, filling in seamlessly at both guard spots when injuries thinned the depth chart.
While the national media focused on flashier first-round names, inside the Ravens’ locker room, Garrett Dellinger was quietly earning respect. His path to the 53-man roster wasn’t guaranteed — nothing in Baltimore ever is — but it was clear he would make it nearly impossible for the team to cut him.
By the time training camp arrived in July, there was no doubt: Garrett Dellinger was no ordinary seventh-round pick. He was a Raven through and through — a warrior ready to dig into the mud, battle in the trenches, and, if given the chance, help carry Baltimore’s offensive line into a bruising, brilliant new era.
In the end, Garrett Dellinger’s story wasn’t just about being picked 243rd. It was about what happened after the pick — when dreams turn to work, and work turns into legacy.
