With the 2026 NFL Draft festivities over and done with, the Baltimore Ravens can once again say they’re one of the best drafting teams in the NFL. They brought in yet another wonderful class and are being rightfully praised. Of course, this means nothing right now, but after leaving draft weekend, it looks good.
Looking at how it all played out, Ravens fans probably can’t help but feel let down in a way. General manager Eric DeCosta failed to address the center position, which was possibly the most overwhelming need coming into the draft. Still, it’s hard to look at this year’s draft class and feel disappointed.
Baltimore filled most of their needs, and according to some, it may even be the most well-built draft in terms of need. Even without drafting a center, it seems general manager Eric DeCosta continues to get the job done.
Baltimore Ravens earn high draft marks even without addressing possibly their biggest need
In a recent article for ESPN, draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid went over their biggest takeaways from the 2026 NFL Draft. Among those takeaways was who they believed filled the most holes, and in Reid’s opinion, it was Baltimore. Reid wrote:
“The Ravens. They had huge needs at guard, pass rusher and wide receiver. They filled all three in consecutive rounds, adding Olaivavega Ioane, Zion Young and Ja'Kobi Lane. I also love the additions of CB Chandler Rivers and RB Adam Randall as depth players to round out their roster.”
Outside of the center, those needs that Reid mentioned, guard, pass rusher, and wide receiver, were certainly within the top areas that the Ravens had to address. They did a really good job of not only adding talent to those position rooms, but also prospects who fit the exact mold of player they need there.
At guard, Vega Ioane is an instant starter. He was one of the best guards the draft has seen since Quenton Nelson, and is a master in pass protection, which every Ravens fan will tell you was their biggest issue last year. Ioane solves that and a whole lot more.
Zion Young brings potential as a pass rusher. He amassed 57 pressures in 2025, per Pro Football Focus, but he’s even better in run defense. As he comes to Charm City, that breed of player should work perfectly next to (hopefully) a pass rush extraordinaire in Mike Green.
Ja’Kobi Lane gives Baltimore the size it lacked on the boundary in the wide receiver room. Where he lacks in route running, he makes up for it in being an absolute beast in contested catch situations. Jackson really hasn’t had that type of player, and the dynamic Lane is in line to create with the shifty Zay Flowers could be really dangerous.
The Ravens nailed it on Day 3, too. With their eight selections, they came away with some high-ceiling players like Elijah Sarratt, Chandler Rivers, and Adam Randall, all of whom fill needs and create depth on the roster.
So while sure, the center position remains a huge question mark, Baltimore’s questionable draft strategy could still pay off in a major way. Their draft class is littered with talent.
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