Playing the Game of Threes with Ravens draft

With the start of the draft coming around the corner like Maxx Crosby and…

Too soon?

Regardless, the 2026 NFL Draft is indeed approaching, and the Ravens have a few spots on the roster that are still fairly big needs, along with a few other spots that could use a fresh coat of paint. It’s not the worst spot to be in, as most teams still have some pretty big question marks with their rosters right now. But this marks an important draft for the Ravens, both in terms of potentially competing for a championship next season, and continuing to replenish the depth of the roster to keep it competitive for as long as possible.

With that in mind, I decided to play the Game of Threes with the Ravens draft.

Three guys who could (sorta-kinda-possibly) fall to the Ravens in the First Round

Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

There are definitely teams drafting before the Ravens who could select Tate, and a few others behind the Ravens who could move up if the talented receiver started to fall. I do fully expect that he’ll be gone.

Why would he drop? Well, there are some in the draft community who believe Tate is too slow, and just not dynamic enough to be a “Real #1 at the next level.” And I get it. I’ve also heard some say that he wasn’t even the best guy at Ohio State, so why throw a high pick at that guy?

Because he’d catch it, that’s why. He catches everything. Even though it’s not the screaming need that other positions might be for Baltimore, sign me up for this guy any day of the week.

Rueben Bain, Jr., Edge, Miami (Fla.)

There’s always a guy who drops, and though I won’t believe it until I actually see it happen with my own eyes, there are a few signs that Bain might not go as highly as I had previously thought.

The arm-length issue has been well-documented, and even though I think it’s a little over-blown, arm-length does factor in when trying to get separation from tackles who can get their hands on you quickly. There is also the matter of some serious driving incidents that have come to light in recent days.

But give me Bain if he drops. Cue the national outrage over the Ravens selecting another pass-rusher with character questions. Laugh about the fact that nobody with his arm size has made a Pro Bowl. I’ll take it. Even if he never becomes a 12-sack guy, he’s going to destroy your run game and add some nastiness up front.

Sign me up.

David Bailey, Edge, Texas Tech

Of the three, Bailey is the one I have to squint the hardest on to see potentially falling to 14. But if he’s at 9 or 10, do you try to make the move if you’re the Ravens? I do. All day long.

Bailey has elite pop off the line at the snap, and NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein compared him to Nik Bonitto, one of the most explosive pass-rushers in the league.

Why could he fall? Someone always does. There’s always one. And there are some questions about Bailey’s ability to hold the edge against the run, or to get detached from good tackles. And Matt Holder of Bleacher Report sad that Bailey already gained 13 pounds since transferring from Stanford and might be about at his limit — which is kind of small to play the edge in the NFL on non-passing downs.

Still. I’d pounce if he got into realistic trade range.

Your Favorite NFL Draft Prospect Stinks

Three guys I love and want to see on the Ravens

Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

You’ve probably noticed a trend that my eye is on the edge group this year. Yes. Yes, it is. And while we wrote about a few guys potentially there in the first round that feature explosion and incredibly high ceilings, there’s a pretty good chance that none fall to Baltimore.

Jacas is a dawg. He’s 6’4” and 260 pounds of bully, tossing asides tackles and tight ends without prejudice. He harkens back to a time when the Ravens found strong, physical edges who caved in the pocket and suffocated quarterbacks, rather than winning a race to the outside.

If the Ravens come out of the first round without one of those aforementioned edges, and chances are they will, I’d be thrilled to hear Jacas’ name later.

Logan Jones, Center, Iowa

He might come to the party with some of the same weaknesses has his predecessor, Tyler Linderbaum, in terms of getting handled by monster nose tackles, but Jones is smart, physical and just looks like “teaching tape” when you watch him play.

I’m not sure if he has All-Pro potential in him, but I think he’s a guy who is going to play a very long time in the league and won’t be considered a weakness where he lands. I also think his ability to get to the second level on his blocks could spring some long, long runs by Mr. Derrick Henry.

Hey, Henry’s huge. You’d be smart to call him “Mr.”

Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State

This is not a sexy selection. Orange is a physical force who can push an interior offensive line backwards and close the door on interior runs.

There’s not a lot of pass rush there. And, to be fair, those interior defensive linemen who do provide that often go very, very high in the draft.

But Orange will help bring back that tough mentality in the defensive front that many in the Ravens Fandom have been missing.

Three positions I do not want the Ravens to draft in Round 1

Quarterback

Lamar Jackson exists. And, if he didn’t, there isn’t anybody I’d take at 14, anyway.

This one’s easy.

Safety

There are some interesting ones in this draft, particularly in the form of Caleb Downs, Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. However, as was the case at quarterback, the Ravens’ proverbial cupboard is full, with Kyle Hamilton, Jaylinn Hawkins and last-year’s top pick, Malakai Starks. Player valuations be damned. There’s no room at the inn.

Linebacker

Again, there are some tasty possibilities here. Sonny Styles appears to be the modern prototype for the position. CJ Allen from Georgia is incredibly interesting. And there are many in the draft community who believe Arvell Reese is better at off-ball linebacker than the edge.

But Teddye Buchanan showed some reasons for optimism in his rookie year before being shelved by injury, and Trenton Simpson’s skills might be better put to use in Jesse Minter’s defense, particularly in sub packages where his ability to both go forwards and backwards can be potentially maximized.

Also, it’s linebacker, in a day when nickel and dime are becoming base packages. Let’s see a season of Roquan Smith in this system before we start sounding the alarm. A fresh scheme might do wonders for the veteran.

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