The first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is in the books. The Baltimore Ravens went into round one with needs at guard, center, defensive line, edge, wide receiver, and tight end. At pick 14, the Ravens selected guard Olaivavega Ioane, filling a major need on the interior of their offensive line.
As stated above, the Ravens had a number of needs, but after losing center Tyler Linderbaum to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, the interior of the offensive line was likely the biggest. Even with Linderbaum in the mix last season, the interior of the offensive line was one of the team’s greatest weaknesses.
One of the most important things you can do as an organization with a franchise quarterback is protect that investment. The Ravens did not do that well last season, and Lamar Jackson spent much of the year under pressure and playing dinged up. This is a huge step in the right direction.
There were several talented players still on the board when the Ravens were on the clock last night. The biggest surprise was edge rusher Reuben Bain Jr. dropping that far. The Ravens are rarely in a position to pick a pass rusher with the pedigree Bain has. They had a big decision to make: do you pick a pass rusher who is falling down the board, or do you select one of the top guard prospects we have seen in years?
Reuben Bain Jr. was almost locked in as the number two pick prior to the NFL Combine, but when his measurements came out and people realized just how short his arm length was, his draft stock began to fall. There is a proven history of top talents coming out of college with short arms and not being able to make that same level of impact in the NFL.
This created an interesting situation for the Ravens, but they ultimately went with the safer pick in Ioane. He is widely considered the best guard prospect to come out since Quenton Nelson in the 2018 draft class. He is a clean prospect with many strengths and very few flaws.
Olaivavega Ioane is a strong prospect overall, but he is a better pass blocker than run blocker. He allowed just four total pressures last season and did not allow a sack over the past two seasons. He was also flagged for only one penalty last year.
Ioane is a fierce and physical offensive lineman, and his nasty mentality fits the Ravens’ culture. He has incredible power and body control. His size and strength allow him to create momentum and drive through interior pass rushers.
He sets with great posture and can anchor in pass-blocking situations. With his athleticism and core strength, Ioane has a unique ability to quickly recover at the line of scrimmage when most linemen cannot. He is built for a downhill, up-the-middle run game like the one the Ravens run with Derrick Henry, making this an excellent fit.
Ioane is not going to have a direct impact on your fantasy football numbers. However, he will greatly affect the production of players like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers.
In the ground game, Ioane will open up massive holes for Henry to run through. His elite pass protection should give Jackson more time to throw and allow Flowers more time to get open. This selection by the Ravens could help increase the fantasy output for all three players.
As usual, it was an eventful first round, and some talented players have come off the board, but there is still plenty of talent remaining. The Ravens still have needs at defensive tackle, edge, wide receiver, tight end, center, and cornerback.
With 10 selections left in the draft, it will be very interesting to see where the Baltimore Ravens go from here. Tonight, they hold pick 45 in the second round and pick 80 in the third round.
There is talent available that had been projected as first-round caliber, and these players could be steals in the second round. The following players could be strong options for the Ravens at pick 45:
- Cornerback-Jermod McCoy
- Safety-Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
- Cornerback-Avieon Terrell
- Wide Receiver-Denzel Boston
- Defensive Tackle-Kayden McDonald
- Edge-Cashius Howell
- Cornerback-Colton Hood
- Tight End-Eli Stowers
- Wide Receiver-Chris Brazzell II
- Wide Receiver-Germie Bernard
As usual, there will also be plenty of talent available in round three. This is a deep draft at the wide receiver position, and you could see the Ravens select one here or in round four. This is also around the range where the top centers should come off the board, making it another potential target area.
Here are some players that could be good selections for the Baltimore Ravens at pick 80:
- Wide Receiver-Ted Hurst
- Wide Receiver-Skyler Bell
- Wide Receiver-Elijah Sarratt
- Wide Receiver-Chris Bell
- Center-Jake Slaughter
- Center-Sam Hecht
- Wide Receiver-Deion Burks
- Defensive Tackle-Domonique Orange
- Edge-Keyron Crawford
General Manager Eric DeCosta is hard at work, and you know he will be ready when it’s time to make these selections. However, with 10 picks remaining, don’t be surprised if the Ravens move around the board.
The Ravens currently have two picks on day two and eight picks on day three. They hold four picks in the fifth round, one in the sixth round, and two in the seventh round.
As an organization, the Ravens have always valued accumulating picks to increase their chances of hitting on selections. However, while I like DeCosta, he has struggled to find consistent contributors in rounds five through seven.
With seven picks in rounds five through seven, I am hoping the Ravens package some picks together in a trade to move up and add another selection on day two or acquire additional fourth-round picks. While the team does have roster spots to fill, it’s important to prioritize quality over quantity. Focus on adding impact players early, then round out the roster through free agency.
Regardless of the direction the Ravens choose to take, all eyes should be on the TV tonight. These rounds may not get the same attention as round one, but the players selected could play major roles in the team’s future success. Hitting on these picks is key to keeping the Ravens competitive and on track for a Super Bowl run.
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