After a 1-5 start, it's safe to say this season has been disastrous for the Baltimore Ravens. The one bright spot of having a down season is that you get a higher draft pick. Baltimore currently holds the No. 3 pick in April's draft. While the Ravens may turn their season around as their schedule opens up, it's fair to expect they will get a better draft pick than in years past.
Notably, since 2018, the Ravens have picked between 20 and 30 in all but one season. The outlier year was 2022, when they selected Kyle Hamilton with the No. 14 pick. That worked out pretty well. Beyond that, the Ravens haven't had a top 10 pick since they drafted Ronnie Stanley with the No. 6 pick in 2016. Regardless of the exact pick they get, the Ravens' 2026 draft could help them get back to their elite standard.
The possibility of turning the season around is real, but for now, the Ravens firmly have a top 10 pick. Baltimore's defense has been broken all season. The Ravens are giving up the fourth-most yards (380.8) and the most points per game (32.3). Luckily, there's plenty of high-end defensive targets if the Ravens do stay near the top of the draft.
Top end draft targets for the Ravens
Pass rush has been the Ravens' main defensive flaw as they have recorded just eight sacks and 35 pressures this season. This makes Miami's Rueben Bain a clear target for the Ravens. Bain is an explosive and versatile edge rusher. He has recorded 26 tackles, two sacks, and forced two turnovers through five games. Bain is a consensus top-three pick, so the Ravens would have to continue to trend downward to land him.
To be clear, tanking the season to land a player like Bain shouldn't be the goal. Nevertheless, if the injuries continue to pile up and the Ravens' poor defense continues, Bain would be an excellent consolation prize.
Texas Tech's David Bailey, Auburn's Keldric Faulk, and Ohio State's Arvell Reese are three other prospects who could bolster the Ravens' front seven.
Bailey is a prototypical edge rusher who leads the country in pressure rate (24.6 percent) and is tied for first in sacks (8.5). Faulk is a physical 6-foot-6 defensive lineman who could boost the Ravens' pass rush and run defense. Reese would give the Ravens a versatile linebacker and edge rusher. These three players could be available if the Ravens fall out of the top five.
A lot can change between now and April. Perhaps the Ravens would opt to draft an offensive lineman or another player in the secondary. However, upgrading the front seven seems more logical, and if the Ravens' struggles persist, these four players are worth monitoring.
Overall, this year's draft pick will be key in helping the Ravens return to true Super Bowl contention.