As free agency dies down, focus is starting to shift toward the 2026 NFL Draft. For the Baltimore Ravens, this year’s free agency period has been a blessing and a curse. They’ve filled in some big-time needs, but also lost a ton of talent. The draft is the perfect time to address those losses.
While the Ravens are under a new coaching regime in 2026, their draft strategy will remain the same: stick and pick, and draft the best player available. You likely won’t see them trading up or trading away many of their current selections, unless it’s a deal to move down to better maneuver around their draft board.
In Chad Reuter’s four-round mock draft for NFL.com, he gives Baltimore a very nice haul: Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane (first round), Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers (second round), Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron (third round), and Duke center Brian Parker II (fourth round). The most intriguing pick here is undoubtedly Stowers, who fills a newly depleted tight end spot.
Baltimore Ravens replace tight end losses with Eli Stowers selection in recent mock draft
The Ravens will still have tight end Mark Andrews leading the way in 2026. He signed a three-year, $39.3 million extension back in December and remains a legitimate red zone threat. However, he’s also taken some steps back, and the team lost both backup tight ends, Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, in free agency.
Baltimore has already partially addressed those losses. They signed former Chicago Bear Durham Smythe to be their go-to blocking tight end, and by staying in offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s system, he’ll undoubtedly play a huge role. They do need a more consistent receiving threat, though, and Stowers can certainly be that.
Stowers wowed at the NFL Combine. He ran a 4.51 40-yard dash, put up a 45.5-inch vertical jump, and set a Combine record for tight ends with an 11-foot and 3-inch broad jump. He’s an uber-athletic prospect, and those traits certainly show up on tape.
The Vanderbilt product is a tough matchup at all times. He possesses strong hands, is a contested catch artist with an impressive catch radius, and brings explosiveness after the catch. That's the type of playstyle that would fit Baltimore's offense.
Stowers saved his best for last in 2025, totaling career-highs in receptions and yards with 62 catches for 769 yards. That season earned him All-American honors for the first time in his collegiate career.
Stowers feels like the perfect replacement for Isaiah Likely. The former Raven and new Giant brought a similar blend of size and athleticism, and Stowers would help navigate that loss easily.
Doyle was able to get it done with two receiving threats at tight end in Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. With an addition like Stowers, he would be able to continue that success. For Stowers, it’d be an excellent landing spot for him, learning from Andrews and catching passes from one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Lamar Jackson.