As free agency rolls on, the Baltimore Ravens have significant holes to fill. They’ve lost starting-level talent in players like center Tyler Linderbaum, as well as important depth in players like tight end Charlie Kolar.
While they’ve done a good job replacing those players in recent days, there are still additions that need to be made if they want to get back to their winning ways in 2026. A lot of those areas surround quarterback Lamar Jackson. Center, wide receiver, and tight end have quickly become top needs.
Like usual, the Ravens will look to the NFL Draft to revamp their roster. In a recent three-round mock draft by FanSided’s Cody Williams, Baltimore surrounds Jackson with much-needed talent and bolsters Jesse Minter’s defense.
Williams has the Ravens selecting Arizona State wideout Jordyn Tyson (first round), LSU safety A.J. Haulcy (second round), and Florida center Jake Slaughter (third round).
Baltimore Ravens improve Lamar Jackson-led offense in latest FanSided mock draft
As Baltimore continues to improve their team in free agency, it’s looking more and more likely that they’ll select a wide receiver early on. If any of the big three between Jordyn Tyson, Carnell Tate, and Makai Lemon are there, it'd be tough to go in a different direction. In this mock, Tyson was the one who fell to them at 14. Williams wrote:
“After spending big on Trey Hendrickson, the offense feels like the right area of focus [for] Baltimore, and Tyson is the potential true No. 1 that Lamar Jackson and this regime have been trying to find for years.”
There might not be a better fit than Tyson if the Ravens opt to go wide receiver here. Tyson brings the size that the team has long been missing on the boundary, showcasing exceptional contested-catch skills paired with great athleticism. He can jump out of the building and rip passes out of the air with hands like glue.
Sure, Tyson’s injuries are a red flag, which include knee and hamstring issues. However, general manager Eric DeCosta always goes with the best player available, and given the 21-year-old’s talent, it’s a risk worth taking.
A.J. Haulcy is an interesting case. He’s one of the uber-talented safeties in this year’s class, bringing pro-ready instincts to disrupt offensive operations simply by being on the field. He’s a smooth operator in zone coverage and brings the boom coming downhill as a run defender. The question is: Does Baltimore need a safety this early?
The Ravens lost both their third safety options between Alohi Gilman and Ar’Darius Washington in the first wave of free agency. However, they pivoted with the addition of Jaylinn Hawkins. Between Hawkins, Kyle Hamilton, and Malaki Starks, it seems Baltimore’s safety room is set. Perhaps adding an offensive guard or a cornerback here could be a better bang for their buck.
This could be a “best player available” pick for DeCosta, and maybe new head coach Jesse Minter wants to draft his own young safety that he can develop and pair with Hamilton and Starks for the foreseeable future. With Hawkins signed to a two-year deal, though, the second round could be too rich for a safety. Regardless, Haulcy is an electric playmaker and could bring the defense to another level.
Rounding out this mock is Jake Slaughter. This fit here is simple: the Ravens lost Linderbaum in free agency and replace him here with Slaughter in the third round. You cannot leave the first two days of the 2026 NFL Draft without addressing the center spot. Jackson needs a talented protector to snap him the football.
Slaughter is one of the best centers available. He’s a technician who constantly lands accurate punches and possesses the athleticism to mirror defensive linemen and reach blocks upfield when asked to pull. He may not have the size or play strength, but that’s kind of the route that the Ravens went last time when they selected Linderbaum in 2022.
DeCosta has mentioned that they have had a ton of success with drafting centers. With most of the free agent talent at the position already gone, it’s all but confirmed that Baltimore will draft a center this year. Slaughter is certainly a worthy selection.