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By Anne Erickson
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The Baltimore Ravens are heading into the 2026-27 season with a new head coach in Jesse Minter and the determination to have the team go all the way with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Now that free agency is winding down, the next major event on the NFL's calendar is the 2026 draft, which is set for April 23 through 25 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The 91st annual event allows franchises to bring fresh new talent to their teams at a deal.
In a Tuesday, March 10, piece for SI, Mark Morales-Smith names projected landing spots for the top college players entering the 2026 NFL draft. For the Baltimore Ravens, he sees them taking offensive guard Olaivavega Ioane of Penn State.
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"Baltimore desperately needs to address the interior of their offensive line," he notes in the piece, "and they do so with the top guard in the draft."
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Ioane's official draft profile from the NFL calls him a "prototypical guard for physical run schemes with thick limbs, a broad frame and plus core strength. Ioane plays with excellent contact balance and technique on both base blocks and double teams."
The profile adds that the player "uses his hips and hands for leverage and displacement when drive blocking. However, he lacks athleticism and foot quickness to operate effectively as a move blocker. He pass sets with good posture and a firm punch and can anchor against power."
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As for the downside, though he's quicker at a lighter weight in 2025, he's expected to "struggle with twitchy interior defenders who cross his face in the run game and attack his edges in protection." But, despite his scheme dependence, he's projected to be an early starter with a "high floor," they add.
So, the Baltimore Ravens are reshaping their lineup, including snagging defensive end Trey Hendrickson in free agency. Now, they may add Ioane to the mix.
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