Faulk's talents fit the Ravens' profile. He's a versatile, hard-charging pass rusher.

Is a guard the best use of the 14th pick? If your answer is yes, you probably are well aware of the struggles the Ravens had at both guard spots last season. Ioane certainly wouldn't be a sexy pick, but he would be a very functional one. He's the top guard in the draft and has Pro Bowl upside. The Ravens could plug him in from Day 1 and not have to worry about that spot for at least five years. That would be a nice luxury to have, particularly for a team that hasn't gotten enough quality from that position in recent seasons.

It's a matter of personal preference, but when it comes to interior defensive linemen in this class, I don't know that anybody has as high a ceiling as Caleb Banks, which makes him worth betting on. He played in only three games in 2025, but when you go through the tape, you see flashes of eye-popping plays. The question will be whether those flashes turn into more consistent production.

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.