The Baltimore Ravens have considerable interest in rebuilding their trenches this offseason. After an injury-plagued season for Lamar Jackson, it should come as no shock that most of that attention has revolved around the offensive line.
Obviously, it’s the interior offensive line that needs work. The team made one addition there in free agency, signing John Simpson to a three-year, $30 million contract. However, free agency giveth, but it also taketh away. A massive departure of Tyler Linderbaum has the Ravens set to make big-time draft additions at both guard and center.
General manager Eric DeCosta seems to have an interest in two of the top offensive line prospects, who could be available at pick 14. In a press conference on Thursday, DeCosta was evidently enamored with Vega Ioane (Penn State) and Spencer Fano (Utah). They may have gotten the green light to be drafted.
DeCosta said that he feels Utah OT Spencer Fano can play anywhere along the OL.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) April 15, 2026
He said Vega Ioane is "straight out of central casting in terms of what you want your guards to look like."
Baltimore Ravens signal clear interest in two top trench targets
If you like to look too far into mock drafts, Ioane and Fano appear to be the leading candidates to be selected by Baltimore in the first round. Mocks don’t necessarily tell the future, and in all honesty, DeCosta showering Ioane and Fano with praise could be a smokescreen; he loves to keep things under the radar. However, one of the two becoming a Raven is at least somewhere within the realm of possibilities now. There’s some interest.
Ioane and Fano are both in Ebony Bird’s top-five prospects for No. 14, residing in second and third, respectively. On FanSided’s big board, Fano ranks 13th, and Ioane ranks 15th, right smack in the middle of the Ravens' draft range.
Between the two, Ioane feels more like a seamless plug-and-play fit. He’s a natural right guard, providing stable play as a pass protector (he didn’t allow a single sack or QB hurry in 2025). In the run game, although his ability is a work in progress, his size and power should make him a force to be reckoned with.
For Fano, it’s more of a projected fit in Charm City. He was a star at right tackle for the Utah Utes, but his lack of length could force him to the inside at the next level. In his case, though, he could even be getting calls to play center.
Selecting a player who would eventually be your starting center inside the top half of the first round may be considered overboard to some, but DeCosta isn’t worried about positional value. If Fano can be an immediate replacement for the three-time Pro Bowler Linderbaum, then he’ll be fine with picking a center at 14.
The main idea here? Protect Lamar Jackson. His pocket collapsed from the interior countless times in 2025, and it’s time to invest in that area. There’s no more time for playing it cheap there. He needs high-quality pieces. Ioane and Fano can be that.
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