Seven Rounds of Picks, Get ‘Em While They’re Hot!

Well, we’re closing in on the NFL Draft, which means we’re closing in on a plethora of plaudits and criticisms regarding each pick the Ravens ultimately make. As Eric DeCosta said at the annual “Liar’s Luncheon,” though the Ravens enter the draft with 11 sections, they could ultimately make 14… or six.

We’re going to run through this seven-rounder without any trades for a couple reasons. First, they’re just too difficult to predict. And, two, I don’t wanna.

So, there’s that.

Here are the picks as I saw them while running through the PFF Mock Draft Simulator. I include the two picks before the Ravens’ slot each round, and three players I considered with the pick.

Round 1, pick 14

Right before this: Spencer Fano, Carnell Tate

Three I considered: Makai Lemon, Jermod McCoy, Olaivavega Ioane

The pick: Olaivavega Ioane, Guard, Penn State

Lemon was third in this by a good bit, though I do love his toughness across the middle paired with Lamar Jackson’s talent throwing to that part of the field. McCoy was enticing to me because he was my favorite player heading into the 2025 season, but he never got on the field due to injury. I just can’t pull the trigger on another high pick with injury concerns. Ioane instantly fixes a guard spot, in my opinion, and brings some physicality to the front — something I believe the Ravens badly need. This addresses a need and adds a very good player to the roster.

Round 2, pick 45

Right before this: Chase Bisontis, Brandon Cisse

Three I considered: Gabe Jacas, Chris Bell, Germie Bernard

The pick: Gabe Jacas, Edge, Illinois

I am in the camp that the Ravens need to add a receiver, and both Bell and Bernard bring some things to like for that room. Bell is big and explosive, but is coming off an ACL tear. Bernard is a “Steady Eddie” and I think he’ll be a solid player for a long time. Ultimately, I went with Jacas because he is 260 pounds of aggression and violence and we are on a mission this offseason to make this team tougher up front. Will he be a 15-sack guy? Maybe not. But he will cave in half the line, which could lead to other players getting sacks. He’s also kind of raw still, and I want to see what the new staff can do with that.

Round 3, pick 80

Right before this: Kyle Louis, Darrell Jackson Jr.

Three I considered: Max Klare, Connor Lew, Sam Hecht

The pick: Sam Hecht, Center, Kansas St.

I liked Klare as a pass-catching option at tight end, but wasn’t exactly blown away. Lew has a lot of fans, and I’m among them, but there’s just something about Hecht’s movement skills that lead me to believe he can be an asset in reaching those second-level blocks on the outside zone runs we’re expecting to see this season. Tough decision here, to be honest. But I’m a Hecht guy at the end of the day.

Round 4, pick 115

Right before this: Landon Robinson, CJ Daniels

Three I considered: Kaleb Proctor, Will Lee, Reggie Virgil

The pick: Reggie Virgil, WR, Texas Tech

Proctor is one of those interior defensive linemen that are tantalizing because of his ability to get penetration, but I’m a little wary of picking a 280-pound defensive tackle out of Southeastern Louisiana. Lee is intriguing as a 6’1” corner, and was very close to being the pick. However, Virgil is a 6’2 5/8” contested-catch guy, who is good at picking up yards after the catch. He is a bit raw, and not particularly fast, but he can ease into the Ravens’ rotation and possibly turn into a high-end weapon. Took a flyer here.

Round 5, pick 154

Right before this: Albert Regis, Jayden Ott

Three I considered: Devon Marshall, Isaiah World, Nate Boerkircher

The pick: Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M

Marshall is such a fun player, and was a good corner at NC State. I just love watching him, and he led the NCAA in passes defensed last year, per Daniel Harms at Bleacher Report. World is a big man who played tackle at Oregon, but could possibly move inside. He’s very raw, and I think is going to be a guy who sticks around a long time, but maybe doesn’t start. I went with the sure-handed tight end out of Texas A&M who, as NFL.com’s Lance Zerlein said, “flashes quickness to uncover against man underneath.” That is a skillset that can come in handy for this team. He’s also a pretty willing blocker.

Round 5, Pick 162

Right before this: Diego Pounds, DJ Campbell

Three I considered: Kaytron Allen, Kaleb Elarms-Orr, Ephesians Prysock

The pick: Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU

Allen is a good running back, but lacked explosiveness in college — that doesn’t project to improve in the pro game. Prysock is a tall corner — 6’3 3/8” — and is solid in zone coverage, per Zerlein. I went with Elarms-Orr here because of the projection. He has 4.4 speed and is strong and physical. He needs some coaching, but that’s what this new staff is supposed to be about, right?

Round 5, pick 173

Right before this: Aiden Fisher, Jeff Caldwell

Three I considered: Prysock, Julian Neal, Thaddeus Dixon

The pick: Prysock, CB, Washington

I still got my man here with Prysock, and he could be a good developmental project for the staff. I liked Neal because of his measurables, and ability to play press. Dixon also is a pretty tall corner, but there were just some inconsistencies with his play. He’s still very intriguing.

Round 5, pick 174

Right before this: Caldwell, Prysock

Three I considered: Aamil Wagner, Drew Shelton, Josh Cameron

The pick: Wagner, OT, Notre Dame

Yes, back-to-back picks for the Ravens. Shelton is an intriguing tackle out of Penn state with a lot of talent. I wouldn’t hate that pick, either. Cameron is another physical, tall receiver who could potentially become something with good coaching. I went with Wagner for two reasons: I think his floor is high, which is good for a rotational tackle; and he went to Notre Dame, and I’m a petty, biased person who always goes with the Irish player.

Round 6, pick 211

Right before this: Skyler Gill-Howard, Tyren Montgomery

Three I considered: Eli Heidenreich, Matt Gulbin, TJ Hall

The pick: Matt Gulblin, Center, Michigan State

Heidenreich is an interesting prospect out of Navy and I almost went with him just because I like watching him play football. TJ Hall is another interesting corner, and I always like adding corners whenever I can. We already went with a center here, so the pick of Gulbin might seem goofy. But how many times have we seen the Ravens double-dip and the second guy is better? Mark Andrews and Dennis Pitta immediately come to mind. Let’s get some competition going and add to that depth up front.

Round 7, pick 250

Right before this: Ethan Onianwa, Xavian Sorey

Three I considered: Roman Hemby, Taylen Green, James Thompson Jr.

The pick: James Thompson Jr., DL, Illinois

Hemby is a physical runner who had success both at Maryland and Indiana. Green is an athletic freak at Quarterback who would be an interesting guy just to get in the locker room and see what happens. Ultimately, I added the 6’6” Thompson to the defensive front mix. You can’t go wrong with a big guy when trying to make a decision, right?

Round 7, pick 253

Right before this: Fa’Alili Fa’Amoe, Hemby

Three I considered: Green, Ceyair Wright, Michael Heldman

The pick: Taylen Green, Quarterback, Arkansas

Ceyair is another talented corner I considered, and Heldman posted 12 sacks and had an overall PFF grade of 93.2 at Central Michigan. Ultimately, I went with Green, the uber-talented and lightning-fast quarterback who… well, I don’t know what to do with him. But I like the idea of getting him on the field and seeing what happens.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/04/16/nfl-draft/seven-round-mock/