The Baltimore Ravens’ 2026 NFL Draft plans aren’t really that clear. They never are, and general manager Eric DeCosta isn’t ready to show his hand yet. However, mock drafts will tell you the pick at No. 14 is crystal clear.
Countless mocks, and I mean countless, have given Baltimore guard Vega Ioane (Penn State) in the first round. After some horrific play from the interior, and that need becoming more urgent after losing Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, it’d make sense for them to use their top pick on an interior offensive lineman. However, what if Ioane’s not there when the Ravens are on the clock?
In a recent article for ESPN, Ben Solak went over how each team can ace their draft test. While he mentioned that Baltimore should take Ioane without hesitation, he offered a potential Plan B if Ioane’s already gone: edge rusher Keldric Faulk (Auburn).
“Penn State's Olaivavega Ioane is accordingly the chalk pick at No. 14, and deservedly so. But if the Ravens get beat there, I'd imagine they're interested in Keldric Faulk (Auburn) along the edge, as new coach Jesse Minter likes strong run defenders at his edge spots.”
Baltimore Ravens given first-round contingency plan if the Vega Ioane dream fades away
As it stands, Ioane feels like the perfect fit. He’d slot well opposite of free agent signing John Simpson. He's far from the only option; the Ravens have more needs than they’d like at this point in the offseason, including wide receiver, tight end, and cornerback. However, in terms of immediate impact, Ioane's the guy.
Ioane is expected to fall right within Baltimore’s range at No. 14. On FanSided’s top-50 big board, he ranks 15th. However, there’s a relatively realistic possibility that he gets taken before 14. We saw the Dallas Cowboys take guard Tyler Booker at 12 last year, which was far earlier than anticipated. If Ioane goes off the board to a guard-needy team like the New York Giants or Miami Dolphins, then Eric DeCosta and company could turn their attention to Keldric Faulk.
While the Ravens signed Trey Hendrickson to be their alpha dog off the edge, they could still use more outside linebacker help. Mike Green has a high ceiling, but remains unproven, and after Tavius Robinson, the unit is pretty shallow. Investing a first-round pick in a player like Faulk offers the chance to fix that problem.
Faulk isn’t an X-factor as a pass rusher. At least not yet. He tallied just two sacks in 2025, but he was an ultra-reliable run defender. As Solak mentioned, that’s something that Minter tends to look for, and it’s hard not to like Faulk’s ceiling.
At 6-foot-6, 276 pounds with long arms and fluid athleticism, there’s a ton of room for the Auburn product to develop into a lethal all-around edge defender. Sure, there’s no guarantee his pass-rush chops come along, but it could prove to be a risk worth taking. There’s also at least a solid floor as a very strong run defender.
Ultimately, it might be Ioane, it might be Faulk, heck, it might be a wide receiver like Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State) or Makai Lemon (USC) at pick 14. But knowing DeCosta’s ability to hit on picks in the first round, fans should have confidence in whatever the front office decides to do on April 23.
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