ANNOUNCEMENTS! The Baltimore Ravens have signed former Bulldog Kaimon Rucker to a free agent contract! The Athletic is the source.

In the relentless pursuit of defensive excellence, the Baltimore Ravens have turned once again to the SEC, signing former Georgia Bulldogs standout Kaimon Rucker to a free agent deal. The news, first reported by The Athletic, signals Baltimore’s continued interest in bolstering its defensive line depth with gritty, high-motor prospects who can compete from day one.

Rucker, a name familiar to SEC faithful, didn’t hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft. But his story is far from over. With the Ravens providing an opportunity on football’s grandest stage, Rucker now has a chance to prove that production, toughness, and work ethic can still outweigh the flash of a high draft pick.

Kaimon Rucker may have flown under the radar during the draft process, but his college career tells a very different story. A powerful and relentless edge defender, Rucker played a crucial role in Georgia’s dominant defensive identity over the past several seasons. Though slightly undersized by traditional NFL standards for an edge rusher, what he lacks in length, he more than makes up for with explosion, tenacity, and versatility.

A North Carolina native, Rucker originally came to Athens as a 3-star recruit with little fanfare. But over the course of his time under Kirby Smart’s tutelage, he blossomed into a cornerstone of one of the most feared defensive fronts in college football. His relentless motor and knack for disrupting backfields became a calling card, earning him respect from teammates, coaches, and opponents alike.

At Georgia, Rucker appeared in 46 games over four seasons, registering 15.5 sacks and more than 30 tackles for loss. His ability to line up both on the edge and as a situational pass rusher from the interior gave Smart and the Bulldogs staff valuable flexibility in their game planning.

Despite his production and SEC pedigree, Rucker went undrafted, a development that caught many analysts off guard. But Baltimore, never shy about giving overlooked players a shot, wasted little time in extending a contract.

If there’s one NFL franchise that understands how to maximize the talents of overlooked defenders, it’s the Ravens. From undrafted legends like Bart Scott to developmental projects like Matt Judon and Za’Darius Smith, Baltimore has long excelled at turning humble beginnings into Pro Bowl careers. It’s a culture built on grit, film study, and a deep appreciation for players who play with edge and toughness.

Kaimon Rucker fits that mold to perfection.

Baltimore’s defense is coming off yet another top-tier season in 2024, finishing among the league leaders in sacks, takeaways, and third-down stops. But with departures via free agency and the natural attrition that comes with salary cap constraints, the Ravens have been on the hunt for affordable talent to replenish the front seven.

In Rucker, they see a player with scheme versatility, immediate special teams value, and the raw skillset to grow into a rotational edge defender. Though he may face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, history has shown that players with Rucker’s drive and background have every chance to succeed in Baltimore.

Under defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, the Ravens have adopted a multiple-front scheme that values hybrid defenders—players who can drop in coverage, set the edge, and rush the passer depending on the down and distance. That’s where Rucker’s value becomes even clearer.

He’s not a traditional outside linebacker in the mold of a Terrell Suggs, but his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and ability to crash the pocket fits nicely with Baltimore’s sub-package groupings. At Georgia, Rucker thrived when asked to stunt inside or shoot gaps, using his lower-body power and quick hands to disengage from larger blockers.

In Baltimore, he’ll likely begin as a rotational edge in the preseason, battling veterans and other young prospects for reps. If he can show reliability on special teams and flash some disruptive plays during training camp, don’t be surprised if he earns a spot on the practice squad—or even the active roster.

While the Ravens have yet to make a formal announcement, sources close to the team told The Athletic that Baltimore was “extremely high” on Rucker following his post-draft workouts. According to one scout, “Kaimon has the type of character and fight we value. He’s coachable, productive, and used to competing at the highest level.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart also offered praise for his former player during the pre-draft process, noting that “Rucker’s one of those guys who shows up when the lights are brightest. He’s not going to blow people away with measurables, but if you put on the tape, he’s always around the football.”

Rucker’s teammates echoed that sentiment throughout his career, routinely praising his intensity and consistency. In a program stacked with five-star talent, Rucker became a quiet leader—a blue-collar player who led by example and left everything on the field.

For every first-rounder, there are dozens of players like Kaimon Rucker—talented athletes who don’t fit the ideal measurements or who slip through the cracks due to injuries, depth charts, or lack of media buzz. But that doesn’t make the dream any less real.

Rucker’s journey to this point has been marked by persistence. At Georgia, he battled through stacked depth charts and fierce position battles to carve out a meaningful role. He earned every snap and became a dependable presence in one of the most scrutinized programs in the country.

Now, he’s embracing another challenge: proving he belongs at the next level.

“I’ve always bet on myself,” Rucker said in a recent interview. “I know what I can do, and I’m grateful for the opportunity the Ravens are giving me. That’s all I’ve ever asked for—just a shot.”

Baltimore has long been a haven for undrafted free agents. Hall of Famer Kurt Warner famously began his NFL path with a tryout for the Ravens. More relevantly, linebacker Bart Scott went from undrafted free agent to cornerstone of the team’s 2000s-era defense. More recently, players like Patrick Ricard and Justin Tucker—yes, the best kicker in NFL history—arrived in Baltimore without hearing their names called on draft weekend.

The Ravens pride themselves on letting competition decide who plays. It’s not about where you were drafted—it’s about what you do when you show up to Owings Mills.

Rucker now enters that tradition. If he can impress early, even as a scout team contributor, he may find himself playing meaningful snaps before long. At worst, a strong preseason showing could lead to opportunities elsewhere if Baltimore’s depth chart proves too stacked.

Baltimore’s defense will continue to be one of the NFL’s toughest units to crack. The 2025 roster features Pro Bowl talent at all three levels, and competition will be fierce at edge and linebacker positions. But that’s nothing new for Rucker, who earned his keep in one of college football’s most intense environments.

His next chapter begins in rookie minicamp, where he’ll be tested both mentally and physically. The Ravens will ask a lot—film study, positional flexibility, and immediate special teams contributions. If Rucker can deliver, the sky’s the limit.

For now, he’s just thankful for the shot.

“It means everything,” Rucker said. “I’ve worked my whole life for this. I don’t care about the draft—I care about what happens next. Let’s get to work.”

The signing of Kaimon Rucker may not make national headlines, but it fits perfectly into the Ravens’ ethos: find tough, smart, dependable players who love football and aren’t afraid to compete. In Rucker, Baltimore gains a player with a chip on his shoulder, a wealth of SEC experience, and the physical tools to stick in the league.

The road ahead is long, and the odds are steep. But if his career at Georgia taught us anything, it’s that Kaimon Rucker doesn’t back down from a fight. And now, he’s got a chance to fight for a spot in one of the NFL’s proudest defensive traditions.