2026 NFL Draft Grades: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens' eventful March gave way to an equally eventful April. After nixing a potential Maxx Crosby trade after a failed physical, Baltimore kept its first-round pick. General manager Eric DeCosta said at the time that he was "gutted" that the deal didn't work out. But tasked with finding help for Lamar Jackson at multiple offensive positions, he might have been happy to still have that 14th pick when Olaivavega Ioane was on the board.

Ioane is a 320-pound immovable object at guard and gave up just two sacks over 2,231 career snaps. But he also moves really well for his size and has the run-blocking chops to pave some fresh lanes for Derrick Henry. Ioane has played both sides, but he will probably settle in as the left guard, with new signee John Simpson taking the other side. The loss of Tyler Linderbaum will undoubtedly hurt, but it's good to see Baltimore focused on protecting Lamar Jackson.

Other offensive highlights include Ja'Kobi Lane, who should quickly become a major player in the red zone. He's 6-foot-4 with strong hands, and 11 of his 16 touchdown catches over the past two seasons have come in the red zone. I had him high on the board early in the 2025 season, and he ended up as my WR15. Elijah Sarratt caught 15 touchdowns last season, and Adam Randall is a power back at 232 pounds who picks up yards after contact.

OK, defense. According to DeCosta, the original plan in the pursuit of Crosby was to pair him with Trey Hendrickson, going all-in on fixing a dreadful pass rush. The Ravens were 28th in sacks (30) and pass rush win rate (29.9%) last season, with defensive tackle Travis Jones leading the team with five sacks. The draft-day pivot opposite Hendrickson? Zion Young.

I like this pick for a lot of reasons. He was No. 22 on my board, and the Ravens got him at No. 45. He might have had just 6.5 sacks, but he did have 46 pressures, and with his motor, quickness and power combination, he should start converting some of those into QB takedowns. And the run-stuffing ability can't be overstated. Young can halt running backs on the edge and crashes down the line. He had 26 tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage and 16 run stops last season. Part of the allure to Crosby was his run-blocking and three-down ability, and Young will bring some of that to the table.

One more to call out: Chandler Rivers is a tough slot corner at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, and he brings 4.4 speed. Rivers had seven interceptions and 23 pass breakups over his college career.

There may not be a better marriage of team and player this year than first-round G Vega Ioane, who projects as a prototypical Raven and one who more than stabilizes the middle of a line that lost C Tyler Linderbaum during free agency. Second-round OLB Zion Young also seemed to emanate from central casting Baltimore-style to help fortify a front that didn't get the job done last year for a variety of reasons. Mid-rounders Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt could push the WRs behind Zay Flowers or might even be de facto stand-ins for departed TE Isaiah Likely, though that's a loose presumption given the schematic overhaul that's about to happen here offensively. This is another draft that will be better understood in a year when it becomes apparent whether the Ravens were better off with Ioane and next year's first-rounder ... or Crosby.

Best Pick: It was their first one, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane. He was the best offensive lineman in this class. Landing him at No. 14 will prove to be a major steal.

Worst Pick: I didn't love the pick of USC receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round. There were better options out there.

The Skinny: Vega will be a clear hit, but the rest of the draft comes with questions. They better hope second-round edge Zion Young can contribute right away.

Following the loss of All-Pro center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, it was critical that the Ravens reinvested in the interior, and Vega Ioane was one of the few blue-chip prospects available in this class. General manager Eric DeCosta came back in the second round with another player in Missouri defensive end Zion Young — one of the most violent and competitive players of this class — seemingly born to play for the Ravens.

I liked the mid-round gambles on big receivers Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt. While they play the same position and have similar size, they are quite different, with the former excelling as a vertical threat and the latter as more of a possession receiver. Both can help Lamar Jackson. I liked the similar double-dip at tight end with Matthew Hibner and Josh Cuevas on Day 3 and the addition of toolsy big back Adam Randall.

My favorite late-round pick for Baltimore, however, was fifth-round cornerback Chandler Rivers, a four-year starter at Duke who plays much bigger than his size suggests (5-foot-9, 185 pounds). With 11 draft picks, DeCosta had plenty of "shots at the basket," and I think this class will have plenty of swishes — though I was disappointed to not see the Ravens make selecting a true center more of a priority given this year's quality class at the position.

The Ravens are excellent at balancing needs and value.

Vega Ioane was lights out in pass protection and moved people off the ball as a drive blocker in the run game. This division has gotten very strong at defensive tackle, and taking him is the right counterpunch.

Zion Young is a rugged, three-down edge defender who surrenders very little against the run. He developed an inside move to go with his speed to power in 2025. I actually liked Elijah Sarratt better than Ja'Kobi Lane, despite the former being selected 35 picks earlier. Sarratt won't run away from coverage often, but he finishes plays in traffic and is incredibly detailed. Lane does his best work playing above the rim, notably in the red zone.

Two other day three picks that stood out to me were Chandler Rivers and Rayshaun Benny. Rivers only lasted to pick 162 because of his size. He's incredibly smart and sticky in coverage, giving Baltimore depth at the nickel. Benny is a hard-nosed run defender that can easily earn reps in a rotation for early downs.

Eric DeCosta and company have mastered the compensatory pick system, and I think their volume approach will pay off.

Here's why: The Ravens did a good job collecting value this weekend and plugging holes in the trenches. Olaivavega Ioane will immediately slide in as a starting guard, a move Baltimore desperately needed to make. Beyond losing Tyler Linderbaum, the Ravens just had some personnel problems to improve at guard. They also got a necessary butt-kicker on the defensive line with the selection of Missouri's Zion Young and added a couple of big, athletic pass catchers in USC's Ja'Kobi Lane and Indiana's Elijah Sarratt. This is a class that can stabilize the Ravens immediately while providing a lot of value in the future.

Most interesting pick: Zion Young, DL/Edge, Missouri

If you're going to be the team that signs Trey Hendrickson, you should probably also be the team that drafts Zion Young. Where Hendrickson treats run defense as optional, Young views it as a necessity and could be one of the better run defenders in the league as his career progresses.

The Ravens did what they always seem to do in the first round: patiently wait for a really good player to land in their lap. This time that came in the form of Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane, my 11th-ranked player, an ass-kicker on the interior who brings physicality and dependability to Baltimore's line. He should help provide more consistent pockets for Lamar Jackson and open up run lanes for Derrick Henry. Baltimore GM Eric DeCosta stayed on brand and grabbed a Ravens-y pass rusher in the second round, a big, tough, and physical defender in Zion Young, who should factor in as a rotational edge player and complement the newly acquired Trey Hendrickson. Baltimore did well to add some big-bodied playmakers at receiver, too, nabbing USC's Ja'Kobi Lane and Indiana's Elijah Sarratt, both of whom win in combat-catch situations and excel in the red zone. SMU tight end Matthew Hibner provides depth after the departures of Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. Overall, Ioane is carrying the bulk of the weight in this class, but Baltimore did well to address needs and add players that fit their archetypes.

Analysis: After losing Tyler Linderbaum and Daniel Faalele in free agency, the Ravens bolstered their interior offensive line with Ioane, who should start at guard. In Young, Baltimore got a rotational piece in coach Jesse Minter's 3-4 scheme, and then added a pair of mid-round receivers in Lane and Sarratt to bolster the position behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Sarratt was a key member on Indiana's title team, catching 65 passes for 830 yards and a nation-high 15 touchdowns.