Baltimore Ravens: Skill Position Or Offensive Line At 14?
When the Ravens are on the clock at pick 14, they will need to decide whether improving the offensive line or their group of pass catchers is the best decision. Assuming the first 13 picks go roughly as expected, they will likely have a choice between Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, or Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane.
Sadiq may not fill as big a need as the other two prospects, given that Baltimore gave former Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews a three-year extension back in December. Andrews, however, is coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign that saw him put up a career low yardage total, and the Ravens have just Durham Smythe as depth, who caught only four passes last season.
Even if Andrews returns to form, the Ravens could use Sadiq as a big slot receiver or in two-tight-end packages, similar to the role Isaiah Likely played prior to signing with the New York Giants this offseason. Sadiq is a rare athlete at tight end, running a 4.39 40-yard dash, indicating he can serve in a receiver-type role as a complement to Andrews.
Tyson would arguably fill the biggest need for the Ravens, with a receiving corps that contains two-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers and five other receivers with a combined 25 receptions last season (three of those five having zero). Tyson can line up outside or in the slot, and may not be known for his speed, but is more than athletic enough to work open in the NFL. He is a quality route runner who has shown the ability to win contested catches, but also has a significant injury history that could cause him to fall until late in the first round. Tyson missed games every year of his college career with issues ranging from a torn ACL to a broken collarbone and multiple hamstring injuries.
Ioane is considered to be the best pure guard prospect in the Draft, and he would immediately come in as the favorite to start for the Ravens. A former All-Big Ten and All-American level talent, Ioane has ideal size for a guard and would match the power run scheme the Ravens have excelled in with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. Ioane is not an elite athlete, and guard is not typically viewed as a high-value position, which could lead Baltimore to go in a different direction at 14.
The Ravens historically value taking the best player available in the first round, even if it means disregarding positional value. The team selected a safety in round one in both 2025 and 2022, Malaki Starks and Kyle Hamilton, respectively, and a center in 2022 in Tyler Linderbaum. Hamilton is arguably the best safety in the NFL, and Linderbaum was a three-time Pro Bowler before signing with the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason.
The departure of Linderbaum creates a significant hole in the interior offensive line, and given the team’s history of foregoing positional value for overall talent, Ioane should be the pick for the Ravens at 14. This provides the Ravens with an immediate starter at left guard, who can help minimize the absence of Linderbaum and help both Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry play at a high level. This class is deep at both receiver and tight end, which would allow the Ravens to find a difference maker at those positions in later rounds.
