OTL: One Final Mock Draft Before the Real Thing!

The day has finally arrived, as Round 1 of the NFL Draft officially gets underway tonight in Pittsburgh. Baltimore holds the 14th overall pick as well as 10 other selections over the three-day event. There’s no denying that this is one of the more important drafts for the Ravens in recent memory. There’s plenty to wonder about over the next 72 hours. Will Jesse Minter have a large influence on the team’s selections? Will the Ravens address the trenches heavily? Or will the recent news on Nnamdi Madubuike change their original plans?

It’s going to be a busy few days in the Ravens’ war room, so let’s take one last attempt to predict the Ravens 2026 draft class.

Round 1, Pick 14: Olaivavega Ionae, G, Penn St

It seems like Ioane has run away as the favorite to land in Baltimore in the first round. Ioane is an immediate day one starter in a position group at which the Ravens desperately need an upgrade. Surrendering zero sacks across a two-year span, Ionae enters as the best interior offensive lineman in the 2026 class. Ravens run game coordinator Dwayne Ledford spent extensive time with Ioane at Penn State’s pro day, running workouts and getting a real look at the potential first-rounder. Lamar Jackson spent most of 2025 banged up, and bringing in Ioane immediately helps prevent more of the same in 2026. It’s time to build the Great Wall of Baltimore.

(Projected Trade) Baltimore Receives Picks 54 & 98; Philadelphia Receives Pick 45

Round 2, Pick 54: Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn St

It’s a double dip into Penn State’s draft prospects early, but Dennis-Sutton would be a solid addition to the Ravens pass rush. The senior edge rusher recorded 17 sacks over his last two seasons in Happy Valley, showing progression in each of his three years as a starter. The edge rush room enters 2026 with some serious question marks, with Trey Hendrickson being the only guy with true NFL production on the outside. Dennis-Sutton and the Ravens have been in contact, as Baltimore hosted the prospect for a Top-30 visit leading up to tonight’s draft. Many may not view it as a large need for the Ravens, but adding a pass-rusher who’s put up consistent pressure numbers would be an immediate upgrade for Jesse Minter’s defense.

Round 3, Pick 80: Connor Lew, Center, Auburn

Acquiring another third-round pick in the trade with the Eagles gives us two picks within the Top-100, allowing us to grab the top center on many big boards. With Linderbaum taking his talents to Vegas, center has become a large need for the Ravens. Lew is coming off a season-ending ACL injury in 2025, but is ahead of schedule on his rehab, and is expected to be good to go come training camp. He plays with a real physical attitude, with room to grow in drive blocking. Avoiding an interior lineman coming off an ACL injury is understandable, but Lew’s upside and proven ability to get off the ball quickly are worth the gamble in Round 3. Similar to Linderbaum, Lew also has a wrestling background.

Round 3, Pick 98: De’Zhaun Stribling, WR, Ole Miss

Tylan Wallace is a Brown now, and the uncertainty of DeAndre Hopkins‘ return leaves the Ravens searching for a wideout in one of the seven rounds this weekend. Stribling falling to the third round would be a dream for the Ravens. Adding a receiver who also brings such an upside in run blocking would be a great addition. Stribling finished his fifth college season in Ole Miss with 55 receptions, 811 receiving yards, 6 TDs, and a lone drop. Flowers, Bateman, Walker, and Stribling would be a great start to the receivers’ room heading into May.

Round 4, Pick 115: Kage Casey, Tackle, Boise St

The Ravens need help in the trenches, and getting a prospect like Casey gives you a tackle for the future, who could also find himself filling in at times in year one. He’s strong as a drive blocker in the run game, and mirrors well in his pass sets. Casey brings flexibility to play guard as well as the ability to play as a swing tackle at the next level. Casey allowed just 6 sacks on 2,730 career pass blocking snaps, according to PFF. He’s a bit undersized, but brings tenacity and relentlessness to win his reps. Ronnie Stanley isn’t getting any younger, and grabbing a guy like Casey gives you a great replacement for the future.

Round 5, Pick 154: Eli Raridon, Tight End, Notre Dame

The Ravens watched both free-agent tight ends walk during the “legal tampering” phase of free agency. With Likely and Kolar now gone, Baltimore could look to repeat their 2022 draft class, where DeCosta and company selected both former tight ends in the same class. Raridon could find himself taking over the Likely route, as the Notre Dame tight end has shown an ability to win consistently on intermediate routes. He’s not the best run-blocking tight end, but he showed improvement during his time in the Irish’s run-heavy offense. Raridon finished 2025 without a TD, but in a limited passing attack, still managed to record 32 receptions for 482 receiving yards.

Round 5, Pick 162: Nate Boerkircher, Tight End, Texas A&M

Eric DeCosta has made it known that the Ravens could look to add multiple tight ends during the draft. Picking up from our pick at 154, selecting Boerkircher at 162 gives the Ravens that Charlie Kolar-like blocking tight end. The stat sheet won’t provide much help for the senior, but the tape doesn’t lie. He’s a tenacious blocker who finishes his assignment once engaged with a defender. It’ll be interesting to see the offensive scheme under new OC Declan Doyle, but the usage of multiple tight end sets has been up around the league as the years have gone on.

Round 5, Pick 173: Thaddeus Dixon, Cornerback, UNC

Switching things up and addressing the secondary, there’s no question it’s a position Baltimore will have to address with one of their eleven draft picks next week. Marlon Humphrey is coming off the worst season of his career, Nate Wiggins still struggled at times in year two, and season-ending injuries to both cornerback draft picks in 2025 leave question marks at the position. The Ravens have done their due diligence on corners in this class, bringing in first-round projection Mansoor Delane for a visit. It’d be a little frustrating to see Baltimore address the secondary in the first round, for the fourth time in five years, but not a shock to see a pick or two at the position. Dixon appeared in just 7 games for the Tar Heels last season, but has shown solid ball skills over his three-year career, totaling 2 INTs and 20 PBUs. The addition also allows Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone as much time as needed to work themselves back to action.

Round 5, Pick 174: Zane Durant, IDL, Penn St

The news on Madubuike this week ultimately changed my approach a little bit when it comes to the interior defensive line. If Nnamdi is truly on the positive side of a return, it’s still feels unrealistic to expect #92 on the field in Week 1. Getting a prospect like Durant allows the Ravens to add a player who could potentially contribute in year one, without passing on other positional needs early. Getting a freak athlete like Durant would be a great piece alongside Travis Jones. Durant produced 4 sacks and 19 total pressures last season, showing a twitch and quickness to win off his blocks. Aneeas Peebles, whom the Ravens selected in the 6th round last season, deserves his looks as well in 2026, but Jones, Durant, and Peebles would be a solid approach into what truly is the second wave of free agency.

Round 6, Pick 211: Roman Hemby, Running Back, Indiana

The Ravens will need to address the running back position either in the draft or at some point in free agency before camp begins. With the departure of Keaton Mitchell to the Chargers, the Ravens don’t have any true explosiveness in the backfield. Hemby has the quickness to succeed in zone schemes, with a toughness to brace for contact and grab the extra yard. A local kid out of Edgewood, MD, Hemby finished the season as Indiana’s top back en route to a National Championship. The senior back finished with a career-high 1,118 rushing yards while showing an ability to be a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield. If he remains on the board at 211 come Saturday, Hemby is 100% worth the selection.

Round 7, Pick 250: Brett Thorson, Punter, Georgia

It’s not a flashy pick, but a needed one after the Ravens watched their All-Pro punter Jordan Stout join John Harbaugh in New York. Thorson is viewed by many as the most pro-ready punter in the draft. Thorson’s 43.4 average net yards ranked 4th in the country, with 24 punts landing inside the 20(16th). You hope to never see your punter unless he’s holding for an XP, but Stout showed last season how valuable a good punter is. Replacing him will be tough, but Thorson could be that guy.

Round 7, Pick 253: Taylen Green, Quarterback, Arkansas

With the last pick of the weekend, why not take a shot on an exciting athlete like Green? Standing at 6’5”, 227 lbs, Green would be an interesting addition to the quarterback room. His ability to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs was a key part to his success in college. A 99 Athletic Score on NFL.com, Green finished the combine as the highest rated QB in the class. The last quarterback selected by Baltimore was Devin Leary back in 2024. With Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley as the lone quarterbacks on the roster, using your final pick on a project like Taylen Green would be enticing.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/04/23/out-to-lunch/otl-one-final-mock-draft-before-the-real-thing/