SEC ties provide Josh Cuevas with a unique perspective on Zion Young

Sometimes, the best scouting report doesn't come from film. It comes from someone who had to block you. It happens in the NFL from time to time. A familiar opponent becomes a division rival. Sometimes, now and again, they become teammates. Two of the newer Baltimore Ravens can testify. Josh Cuevas didn't need much time to answer when asked about the toughest matchups of his college career. The name came quickly during a recent chat with the media. That name belonged to fellow rookie Raven Zion Young.

They now share the same locker room, but not long ago, they were lining up across from each other in the SEC. There, they traded reps and learned lessons the hard way in one of college football's toughest conferences.

"He has so much potential. His ceiling is just tremendously high. He does everything right, and he has a deep bag: spin move, push-pull, bull rush – everything. So yes, we've gone up against each other a few times. One of the other guys actually went up against him one-on-one, and he kind of did a little chop move, and I did that to him in Mizzou, and he's like, 'You taught him that?' And I was like, 'Shoot, I don't know. That's a 'vet' move right there.' But yes, we kind of go back and forth with each other. He's a good guy."

Cuevas remembers exactly what made Young different and what a lot of guys who were tasked with blocking him learned firsthand. That's not generic praise. That's on-the-job training and experience. That matters more than most think. It’s one thing for coaches or analysts to talk about upside. It’s another when it comes from someone who had to deal with it in real time.

Zion Young is a seamless fit in Baltimore

Cuevas didn't just watch Young. He felt him. The power. The hand usage. The ability to win in different ways. Those aren't traits you casually throw around when describing an edge rusher. They're earned. That's exactly why Young's transition to the Ravens feels natural. Baltimore has always prioritized physicality, versatility, and effort: traits that define what it means to “play like a Raven.” Young checks those boxes early, and according to Cuevas, there's more beneath the surface. It’s not just what he does. It's how he approaches it. His willingness to move around, take on different roles, and do whatever is asked stands out just as much as the production.