The Baltimore Ravens checked all the boxes this offseason. While there have been mixed opinions, one thing’s for certain: they found major boosts to their roster over the last several months.
New coaching staff? Check. Lethal pass rusher? Check. Blocking at the guard spot for Lamar Jackson? Massive check.
Baltimore’s work to steady their offensive guard play should make the spot considered their most improved position group in 2026. It was straight up pitiful last year, and now, they actually appear to have a very competent unit. The potential is sky high.
Baltimore Ravens offensive guard overhaul is the biggest upgrade of any position in 2026
While you could make an argument for the pass rush, and I’d certainly entertain that conversation, the offensive guard position could go from legitimately one of the worst to one of the top-10 groups in football. From starters to depth, it actually looks like a really strong group.
It all starts with the new duo of John Simpson and Vega Ioane. They’re ready to change the tone and keep Lamar Jackson upright and off the injury report in 2026.
Simpson returns for a second stint in Charm City, signing a three-year, $30 million contract. While he’s fairly inconsistent, Simpson is a veteran who brings 72 starts of experience to a once abysmal interior offensive line. He has played well throughout his 2023 campaign with the Ravens, and the reunion could see him return to form.
Baltimore did the smart thing, matching an experienced lineman who can bring you consistency with a rookie whose potential knows no limits. Ioane was a chalk pick for Baltimore at No. 14 overall. It’s easy to see why everyone mocked him to this squad in their mock draft, as his showing at Penn State was as close to perfection as it gets.
Ioane didn’t allow a sack or QB hit in 2025, and over 1,106 career pass-blocking snaps, he allowed just two sacks. That was already enough to sell fans on the idea of starting him in front of Jackson, but a stellar start to his first NFL offseason has reinforced that and then some.
The depth looks really good, too. Sure, Andrew Vorhees had an incredibly rough go of it last season, but now he’s a backup, and bringing experience in that role may be important. As a result, he could help steady the ship in the case of injuries.
Technically, you could count Emery Jones Jr. as an offseason addition, as well. He played a little bit in his rookie campaign, but early injuries derailed most chances of finding his footing. In 2026, he gets a full offseason to ramp up into NFL-ready shape, something that should pay off.
Even seventh-round pick Evan Beerntsen provides help to an interior that lacked talent from top to bottom. Of course, Beerntsen could quickly lose out on a roster spot and be cut ahead of the regular season, but that having to be a debate this year signals a huge improvement.
There may remain uncertainty across this position group. However, they should at least be an average unit, and seeing where they were last year, you can’t really put into words how big of an upgrade that would be.
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