The Baltimore Ravens are picking higher than usual in the 2026 NFL Draft. They tend to pick in the backend of the first round, but after a disastrously bad 2025 campaign, they find themselves picking at No. 14.
There isn’t expected to be an overabundance of talent in this year’s draft. It’s seen as one of the weaker classes in recent memory. While it could be tough finding a truly elite talent as a result, the Ravens have had a ton of success in the draft, especially when they pick inside the top 15.
Regardless, the front office will be hoping for some luck to fall their way. After their free agency spending, it’s looking like offense is the obvious route to go on draft night. To get the weapon they desire, it’ll hinge on the first 13 picks. That part is out of their hands.
Baltimore Ravens will need help before they can draft the offensive weapon they desire
Technically, trading up is always an option, but that’s not usually a realistic move when it comes to Baltimore. They rarely trade up in the first round. General manager Eric DeCosta’s philosophy is either trade down or sit and wait for the top prospect on their board to fall to them.
The two weapons that probably make the most sense for the Ravens are Penn State guard Vega Ioane and Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Guard and wideout are undoubtedly two of their top needs, and both Ioane and Tyson are expected to be drafted somewhere within their range.
Even after signing John Simpson, the Ravens could still use someone like Ioane. There’s a bit of a question mark opposite of Simpson, and people have labeled the pairing of the Ravens and Ioane as inevitable. That’s only if he falls to them.
Sure, teams usually don’t draft guards that highly, but that changed last year. The Dallas Cowboys drafted Tyler Booker with the 12th overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. He worked out really well for them in year one, and if guard-needy teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins take notice of that, they could select Ioane before Baltimore even gets the chance to.
As for Tyson, the Ravens could use his size and athleticism on the outside. He’d be the perfect complement to two-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers, and giving Lamar Jackson an actual fearsome contested catch threat could take him to a level we haven’t seen from him just yet. Like Ioane, though, Tyson isn’t guaranteed to be available once Baltimore is on the clock.
Tyson’s draft range is unpredictable. He’s gone as high as the top-10 in mocks, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, there have been reports about him slipping outside of the top-20. His hamstring concerns have caused a bit of a stir in how teams view him as a prospect, and the Ravens could be one of them. However, if not, they’ll be hoping teams take him off their boards for that very reason.
Obviously, there are plenty of other prospects available. Ioane and Tyson, though, feel like the best fits. They just need to make it to pick 14.