AP Photo: Iowa defensive lineman Aaron Graves (95) will sign to play with Baltimore.

All Aaron Graves wanted was a chance to prove himself.

The former Iowa Hawkeye and Southeast Valley graduate’s dream was affirmed when the Baltimore Ravens came calling over the weekend.

“Their coaches had been calling me a lot leading up to the draft,” Graves said. “I talked with the defensive line coach (Lou Esposito) and defensive coordinator (Anthony Weaver) and head coach (Jesse Minter).

“I had a few teams call, but ultimately, Baltimore was the best fit for me. I will sign a free agent contract.”

On Saturday, Graves played the wait-and-see game with his family and friends as he went unpicked through the seven rounds of the NFL Draft.

“It was definitely nerve racking, hoping to get my name called,” Graves said. “I was relieved it was over.

“I’m really thrilled about going to Baltimore and the chance to be a Raven. It’s a great spot for me.”

Graves signed a contract as an undrafted free agent. After agreeing to terms with the Ravens, Graves will go through a process to try and reach the 53-man roster. He will attend a rookie minicamp and compete in training camp.

“It’s a great chance to get the opportunity to play in the NFL,” Graves said. “At the end of the day, it’s (all about) the opportunity to put the pads on and prove myself.”

Graves appeared in 52 games during his Hawkeye career, making 26 starts. The Dayton native was a highly-touted recruit from Southeast Valley who committed to Iowa as a freshman. He saw time on the field for the Hawkeyes as a rookie.

In his senior season at Iowa, Graves was named second team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media, as well as an AP second team All-Big Ten selection and Academic All-Big Ten pick.

Graves was honored as the Hayden Fry Award winner on defense for 2025. He recorded 37 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for a loss of 40 yards and five quarterback sacks and one interception.

Now with a chance to make it, Graves will begin the process of showing he is ready to play on Sundays.

Graves will also attend OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) — voluntary, non-contact spring workouts held in late May and early June. As part of Phase 3 of the offseason program, teams can hold up to 10 days of these sessions, featuring 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills. That allows coaches to work with players on schemes without live tackling or pads.

“I’ll go Thursday for a rookie minicamp and then back to Iowa City for a week,” Graves said. “I’ll then participate in OTA’s for five to six weeks and then a month off before training camp.”