Potential Starters on Day 2 of the NFL Draft

It is officially NFL Draft week. While most of the lead-up will focus on what the Baltimore Ravens will do with the 14th pick in the first round, what they do on day two of the draft will have a big impact on the 2026 season.

Year-one starters can be found in rounds two and three, depending on the position, so let’s take a look at some players at areas of need who could find themselves facing premier playing time as a rookie should they end up in Baltimore.

To get a gauge on potential day two options, I used the consensus big board to zero in on players typically ranked 30th or later. With two picks (45 and 80) on day two, as well as eight picks on day three, the Ravens could find themselves making more than two picks on Friday night, depending on how trades shakeout.

Let’s take a look at some day-two options who could step in as starters as rookies in Baltimore.

Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia

With a wide open spot at tight end number two, any tight end the Ravens draft this week has a direct path to a large role. Isaiah Likely recorded 48% of the offensive snaps last year, so the second tight end spot is a starting role in Baltimore’s offense.

Delp lacked production in college, but has the athleticism to give hope there’s more to be tapped into going forward.

Keylan Rutledge, iOL, Georgia Tech

Offensive lineman is one of the most commonly mocked positions for the Ravens in the first round. But should that scenario not play out, there’s still plenty of appealing options in the following rounds. Rutledge headlines that list, and he could certainly be in play with pick 45.

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Rutledge played guard at Georgia Tech, but also took snaps at center at this year’s Senior Bowl, and his positional versatility could be helpful for a team like the Ravens, who have multiple needs up front.

If the Ravens miss out on the likes of Spencer Fano and Vega Ioane in round one, Rutledge would be a solid Plan B for the offensive line rebuild.

Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech

The linebacker position in Baltimore is in an interesting state. Second-year player Teddye Buchanan is recovering from a late-season torn ACL. Trenton Simpson is entering the final year of his rookie contract and saw his snap count drop in 2025. Roquan Smith will be 30 next offseason and has a contract the Ravens could move on from next Spring if needed.

So while linebacker is not a “need” on the surface, a player like Rodriguez could see himself starting as a rookie if drafted in round two by Baltimore. Rodriguez enters the NFL fresh off a Bednarik Award win for the nation’s top defensive player. He is also this draft’s most notable turnover machine, as he forced seven fumbles and recorded four interceptions in 2025.

The Ravens defense has sorely lacked the turnover-creating ability that previously existed. Remember when Marlon Humphrey forced eight fumbles in one season?

Now, forcing turnovers is not an easy thing to consistently replicate, so it’s unrealistic to think Rodriguez will create turnovers at a high rate every season in the NFL. But he still showed in college he should at least force turnovers at a slightly higher rate than his peers. Rodriguez could be an option at 45.

Jake Slaughter, C, Florida

If the Ravens are going to roll the dice on a rookie center in 2026, they will need to find one with enough starting experience and maturity to feel comfortable handing the role over to such a young player.

Slaughter started 33 games at center for Florida and was a two-time team captain. He also is a strong athlete which should help his transition. Would the Ravens feel comfortable handing the position over to a rookie as they did in 2022? Could Slaughter be the right guy for the role?

Logan Jones, C, Iowa

How about replacing Tyler Linderbaum with the man who replaced him at Iowa? Doesn’t get much smoother than that. Jones enters the NFL with 49 career starts at center, which would ease the transition into a full-time NFL role. He also brings rare athleticism to the center position.

At 6’2, 299 pounds, he is rather small, but Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was on staff in Chicago last season where a similarly sized Drew Dalman started at center, so perhaps Doyle could see some parallels to Dalman.

Which of the players mentioned above would you like to see the Ravens draft this week?

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/04/20/nfl-draft/potential-starters-on-day-2-of-the-nfl-draft/