The Baltimore Ravens learned that they’ll have to deal with another star in the AFC North on Saturday night. The New York Giants dealt their disgruntled defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence, to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
John Harbaugh likely played a part in the decision-making process to strike on this deal, and it feels like a bit of a gut punch to Ravens fans. He’s been a thorn in their side all offseason, signing his former players and now improving a division rival, albeit at a hefty price.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix to match the Bengals’ aggressiveness to add to their defensive line. On April 23, the Ravens would be silly not to select guard Vega Ioane (Penn State) at No. 14. They must boost their interior offensive line after the blockbuster Lawrence trade.
Baltimore Ravens have clear choice at No. 14 after Bengals trade for Dexter Lawrence
Ioane was already the chalk pick for Baltimore in many eyes. After dealing with such an abysmal offensive guard duo of Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele in 2025, it’s clear that they need to change that if they want to keep Lamar Jackson upright and playing like an MVP candidate.
Still, there have been rumblings of the Ravens drafting a pass catcher at No. 14. Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) and tight end Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) have been the top two names to help in that area. However, even after signing John Simpson in free agency, the guard has felt like the top need all offseason. The Lawrence trade only pushes the urgency of drafting a prospect like Ioane.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (Utah) could also be a guard candidate for Baltimore in this year’s draft. The reason I’d give the nod to Ioane over Fano, though, is simply because he’s a natural guard. There’s a lot of projection on how Fano’s career could go at guard after being a tackle his entire college career. It may be a smooth transition, but for Ioane, we already know what he can do at guard. And he’s a darn good one.
Ioane is the 15th-ranked player on FanSided’s top-50 big board. He’s as good as it gets in pass protection, not allowing a single sack or QB hurry for the Nittany Lions last year, and his size and power make him an NFL-ready talent. The run blocking can be a bit of a worry, but his play strength should at least make him a decent factor in that facet out of the gates.
Although there could be a world where the Giants actually select Ioane with their new pick at No. 10, most rumors seem to be pointing toward a Tyson pairing. And if Ioane makes it to Baltimore's draft slot, they should be running the card up immediately.
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