The 2026 NFL draft is days away, and the Baltimore Ravens have some decisions to make. The event is set for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and it’s down to the wire when it comes to vetting players.
So, who will the Ravens take with their first pick of the event? I see them going with an offensive standout to help Lamar Jackson, and I’m not the only one.
In a Sunday, April 19 feature for USA Today, Nate Davis rattles off his take on the upcoming draft and which players each 32 NFL teams will take. His picks take into account the weekend trade between the Giants and Bengals.
“Five days before it was set to start, the draft’s outlook was drastically altered again – the New York Giants agreeing to trade Pro Bowl DL Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall selection,” he states, “meaning the G-Men now own a pair of picks in the top 10.”
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For the Ravens’ No. 14 pick, Davis has them taking guard Olaivavega Ioane out of Penn State.
“Any number of directions this team could go,” he says in the feature. “But reloading the middle of the offensive line – especially with a guy who truly ‘plays like a Raven,’ the ever-important mantra to this organization – makes so much sense as Baltimore tries to get QB Lamar Jackson back on an MVP trajectory. And the thought of RB Derrick Henry running behind Ioane? Truly terrifying.”
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So, does it seem likely that the Ravens will make this move? To me, it makes sense. Heading into the 2026 NFL draft, one of the Ravens’ biggest needs is at guard, and I don’t see them waiting until later in the draft to fulfill this need. Jackson could certainly benefit from help on offense, and it’s all about reinforcing the quarterback as they start with a fresh coach.