After the Baltimore Ravens made 11 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. They brought drastic improvements to a roster that needed a ton of help in several areas. They certainly improved with their draft class.
While this is obviously great news for the team as a whole, there are also going to be some tough decisions that have to be made. Judging by the areas that the Ravens filled in through this year’s draft, some key roster battles are already coming into view well ahead of the 2026 campaign.
For these three players, there’s a clear message being sent to them following Baltimore’s draft selections.
Baltimore Ravens’ draft selections already have three players feeling the pressure
Emery Jones Jr.
Fans had a lot of hope for Emery Jones Jr. in 2025. He never got a real chance to prove himself due to an injury he suffered in mini-camp, but a spot appeared to open up for him this offseason. After signing John Simpson and drafting Vega Ioane, that spot has seemingly closed.
DeCosta said in his post-draft press conference that Jones will fight for a starting spot. However, let’s be honest here. If you sign a free agent guard on a three-year, $30 million deal and draft another in the first round, your starting guard duo is set. Jones may be able to compete for a chance to start down the line if Simpson doesn’t work out, but it’s clear he will, in all likelihood, be a backup in 2026.
Devontez Walker
Devontez Walker has a high ceiling. It feels like he’s always ready to make a splash play whenever he touches the field, tallying seven receptions for 157 yards and four touchdowns in two seasons. It felt like he was stuck in John Harbaugh’s doghouse, but now, under Jesse Minter, he may find himself stuck behind two rookies.
The Ravens addressed their desperate lack of size at receiver. It started with their selection of Ja’Kobi Lane in the third round, but followed that up by adding Elijah Sarratt, who DeCosta said was easily the best player available once they were on the clock in the fourth round.
Neither Lane nor Sarratt is guaranteed to steal snaps from Walker, but given the need for size on the outside, it’s looking like they’ll play a big role in new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s offense. Walker may not have a chance to break out like fans initially hoped.
Rasheen Ali
Rasheen Ali saw a good amount of action in 2025, and after watching Keaton Mitchell leave for the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency, he found himself in a pretty good spot. Well, that changed in the fifth round on Saturday.
Baltimore selected Clemson’s Adam Randall at No. 174 overall. He brings an outstanding blend of size and speed, and although he still has a lot to learn, he has a crazy high ceiling. What makes this even worse for Ali is Randall’s ability on special teams.
Randall flashed as a kick returner in college, and DeCosta mentioned they will try him out in that area this year. Ali got some reps as the kick returner last year, and even in his rookie campaign, but he failed to impress. With Randall coming in, Ali could be on the fast track to losing snaps as both a running back and a kick returner.
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