The Baltimore Ravens are considered one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. Sure, they’ve been hit-and-miss outside the first round, but they’ve still been able to add effective contributors in that range. In the first round, though, they have a massive jump in that hit rate.
That makes Baltimore’s pick at No. 14 all the more anticipated. After such a horrendous 2025 campaign, fans are eager to see what general manager Eric DeCosta and company do in this year’s draft. They need a roster revamp at several crucial positions.
Among those position groups in need of more talent is the cornerback position. If the Ravens went that direction at 14, there’d be mixed reactions; it’s a need, but it may not be a first-round-caliber need. That’d also make it three straight drafts where they take a defensive back. Regardless, they have a visit scheduled with LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
#LSU CB Mansoor Delane, who could be the top CB taken, has the #Bengals, #Ravens and #Commanders as his final three visits, sources say. That’s 10 or so for Delane. pic.twitter.com/SxGh24eWFy
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 13, 2026
Baltimore Ravens may go back to the defensive back well in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
In the last two drafts, Baltimore has selected Malaki Starks and Nate Wiggins in the first round. In 2022, they drafted Kyle Hamilton. That’s three of the last four years being a defensive back. Delane could make it four of the last five.
Visits aren’t the end-all, be-all. In fact, they can signal more bad than good at times, as they tend to suggest there are more questions about prospects throughout the draft process. For Delance, though, there aren’t many concerns. And Baltimore building a connection with him ahead of April 23 may be a sign of interest at 14.
The Ravens’ need for a corner isn’t urgent. They appear to have their three starters ready to take the field for 2026. Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie will hold down the outside, and Marlon Humphrey will settle into his versatile slot role. However, there are concerns about the state of that room, both now and in the future.
Wiggins is the one player in the corner room that most people have the utmost confidence in. He’s freed from Zach Orr and should thrive under Jesse Minter. It’s Awuzie and Humphrey who raise questions.
Awuzie was a smart re-signing, but it was just a one-year contract. He’s also 30 years old, so regression could unfortunately be on the horizon. Humphrey hit that regression in 2025, and while Minter’s defense should do him a massive favor, he’s approaching 30 and is coming off an injury-riddled season. There could be reason to believe that Baltimore needs to address the cornerback need before it gets worse for those aging veterans.
If Delane is the selection, it’d be a worthwhile move. While a corner like Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy could be a stunner given his knee injury, Delane comes with fewer worries. He’s about as sound as it gets, and ranks 12th on FanSided's top-50 big board.
Delane is a smooth operator in coverage, keeping opposing wide receivers off-balance in press-man and matching breaks with quick feet. He doesn’t have any lapses in judgment either, showcasing an excellent understanding of the game.
Although adding Delane probably wouldn’t be the smartest idea when you look at the other needs in Charm City, interior offensive line and wide receiver are much greater, but in terms of talent, he could be the best player available when they’re on the clock. And we know DeCosta loves taking the best player available.
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