Ryan Mink
The Ravens were serious about improving in their trenches, and they took a literal big step in that direction by selecting guard Vega Ioane with pick No. 14 of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Ioane has long been the most popular mock draft projection for the Ravens for good reason. As General Manager Eric DeCosta said before the draft, he's "straight from central casting."
Ioane is a 6-foot-4, 326-pound monster who the Ravens can plug into the offensive line as an instant starter and upgrade.
Ioane relishes punishing defenders. He has the power to toss linemen out of the club and the temperament to make sure they don't come back. Ioane plays with power and athleticism that make him scheme versatile.
In a draft class that many pundits said didn't have many blue-chip prospects, the Ravens got a guard they can count on to excel for a very long time. It's the highest Baltimore has ever selected a guard, but the Ravens have excelled when they've eschewed traditional positional value to take the best player.
Multiple draft analysts feel he's the best guard prospect since the Colts' Quenton Nelson, who was drafted sixth overall in 2018 and has gone to eight Pro Bowls.
The Ravens signed guard John Simpson in free agency to upgrade one guard spot. Now Ioane will bolster the other. Baltimore lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, but now has two towering guards protecting the middle of their offensive line with Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten at the tackle spots.
The pick was immediately dubbed one of the "safest" of the first round of the draft. The Ravens had a need at guard and took the top guard.
Now, Ioane will make Lamar Jackson feel safer. Ioane didn't give up a sack or get flagged for a penalty over the past two seasons. In the ground game, the All-American paved the way in power downhill running, gap schemes, and zone running. He can do it all.
