The Baltimore Ravens completely flipped their offensive line script this offseason. After possessing an abysmal front last season, the organization improved that. Sure, Tyler Linderbaum’s free agency departure threw a wrench in their plans, but they’ve finally signed his replacement in the form of Ethan Pocic.
While Pocic is a drop-off from Linderbaum, the offensive line as a whole looks legit. Pocic is solid enough, the tackles are great, and the guards are miles better. Those guards, specifically Vega Ioane, will be one of the stories to keep an eye on this year.
Ioane is among the most exciting young pieces in Baltimore, and he could actually emerge as the biggest winner of Pocic’s arrival. He already gets to learn from an experienced player in John Simpson, and now, he gets to play alongside a nine-year veteran in Pocic.
Baltimore Ravens have set up Vega Ioane with a red carpet to success
We know how good Vega Ioane can be. Scouts praised him as the best guard prospect since Quenton Nelson, and his numbers at Penn State spoke for themselves. Throughout his collegiate career, he allowed only three sacks, and in 2025, he allowed none.
Of course, Ioane will most likely be roughed up by the NFL learning curve. Almost no one is immune to that drastic shift that’s seen going from college to the pros. However, it just feels like, along with ensuring Lamar Jackson is kept upright, the Ravens were looking to put Ioane in the best possible situation in his rookie campaign.
It begins with Ioane having a certified starter working opposite of him on the offensive line. Simpson was signed in free agency to a three-year, $30 million contract, putting a sure-fire starter in the same position room as him. With 17 starts in four of the last five seasons, Simpson knows what it takes to compete in the NFL, and if he can pass that knowledge onto Ioane, the rookie has a good chance to hit the ground running.
On the other hand, Pocic will bring some stability to the left of Ioane. Again, he’s not Linderbaum-level, but he brings 97 starts to the Ravens’ offensive front, along with four-plus years of starting experience with two franchises (Seattle Seahawks and Cleveland Browns). Simply put, Pocic should be a pretty reliable shoulder for Ioane to lean on.
It’ll be up to Ioane to prove he’s a capable starter in this league, but there aren’t many better situations for a rookie to be in. A couple of proven veterans along the interior, along with Lamar Jackson evading pressure almost effortlessly, will make Ioane’s job easier. As a result, we might see the 22-year-old reach an above-average level and flash his ceiling rather quickly.
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