Mike Green was introduced to the media by the Baltimore Ravens for the first time on Sunday following the first day of rookie camp.
Green will wear No. 45 for the Ravens. Quarterback Cooper Rush wears No. 15, the number Green wore at Marshall.
Green immediately shared his excitement for joining the NFL ranks.
ƵIt means a lot. This team has a lot of great culture thatƵs been going around,Ƶ Green said. ƵYou have to think about the guys that have come through here Ƶ Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs. It means a lot more since IƵm a defensive player as well. Seeing those defensive players walk through here means a little bit more, for sure.Ƶ
Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that the first day of camp for the new signees was smooth and without major issues.
ƵI was pleased with the first practice,Ƶ Harbaugh said. ƵI told them that they came in as a football player. Once you make your first tackle or your first block Ƶ my dad always used to say when you do that, youƵre a football player and you always will be. These guys came in as football players.
ƵNow, after this practice, they can call home to their mom, dad, girlfriend, brother, buddy and whoever else to tell them that they are a pro football player. They were nervous with it being their first practice on a pro field. ItƵs rookies, and the next phase is in front of them.Ƶ
Ƶ the nationƵs leader in sacks last year at Marshall, with highlight plays that showed he can compete against high-level competition, Green was projected to be a mid-first round selection. Instead, he fell to the No. 59 pick in the second round.
ƵI really wanted to get picked up. I didnƵt care if that was with the first pick of the draft or as Mr. Irrelevant (the last pick in the draft),Ƶ Green said. ƵI just wanted to be picked up.
ƵWhen I met with (Ravens general manager) Eric DeCosta for my top-30 visit, he said that if I see a 410 number Ƶ itƵs him. We laughed it off Ƶ everything came full circle. I saw that 410 number, and I knew that it was him. It meant a lot, and everyone in my family got to celebrate. ItƵs great.Ƶ
What was the wait during the draft slide like?
ƵOf course itƵs tough,Ƶ Green said. ƵKnowing that you have first-round potential and knowing that regardless of what team you go to that you can have a chance to go in the first round Ƶ that was a goal I set for myself. I didnƵt really get to get that goal, but coming to the Ravens was a blessing in disguise. I live by that, and I mean that.
ƵHonestly, I donƵt think thereƵs a better franchise to be part of than the Ravens. IƵm blessed to be here. ItƵs an honor. IƵm ready to get to work.Ƶ
Every team passed on Green at least once. He said he will use that as motivation.
ƵI feel like all of my life IƵve been able to keep a chip on my shoulder. I feed off that. Going out there with that chip on your shoulder makes everything mean a little more,Ƶ Green said. ƵI feel like going through that process of knowing that I had potential to go to a certain pick and not is something that IƵm going to keep on the back of my head when I go against some of these teams Ƶ every single team.Ƶ
Green said he will be a good addition to a Ravens defense that finished in the top 10 of total yardage and total points allowed last season. The Ravens were the best team in the NFL in rushing yardage allowed, but they were the second-worst team in passing defense. Green adds to an already stacked pass rush that was second in sacks.
The Ravens were a bottom-six team in quarterback hurries per dropback. Green averaged more than a sack per game in 2024.
ƵThey talked about my role, and thereƵs no place that will fit me more,Ƶ Green said. ƵThe Ravens were first in run defense and second in sacks. You have to think about what more you can add to your defense. I feel like the Ravens did a good job of picking someone up that had previous success with getting to the quarterback.Ƶ
Green was asked to address sexual assault allegations that were widely considered as the reason for his slide in the draft. Green said he used mental resources in the pre-draft process.
ƵIƵm focused on moving forward with my life and my career, and thatƵs with the Ravens,Ƶ Green said. ƵEvery team asked me. I was completely open about everything. ItƵs something I had to go through, and I got through it. From this point forward, IƵm focused on moving forward with my career with the Ravens.Ƶ
