Charlie Campbell
Ravens Rookie Forecast 2026
Solid Starter
Zion Young, DE, Missouri – Round 2 
The Ravens have been looking for pass rush talent for years with early-round picks, including Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, and Mike Green. While Oweh and Ojabo didn’t turn into long-term starters, Green and Zion Young have a chance to change that after Trey Hendrickson ages out. Green can fill the speed rush spot off the edge with Young being a sturdy edge setter to stop the run and also contribute in the pass rush.
In the pass rush, Young has quickness off the ball and enough speed to turn the corner. He is an impressive power rusher who uses his length and strength to bullrush blockers backward into the pocket. Young uses his length and strength to shed blocks and push defenders away. Young also has quality vision, recognition, and the ability to adjust to quarterbacks as they scramble in the pocket. Young uses his hands and feet at the same time to battle blockers. Young has a burst to close and enough speed to get around the corner on tackles. He also has good speed to power rush. For the NFL, Young could stand to improve and expand his repertoire of moves.
As a run defender, Young is strong at the point of attack with physicality, and he is skilled at setting the edge. He is strong enough to hold his ground against downhill runs coming straight at him, and shows the ability to get off blocks. He can stuff running lanes and shed to pursue outside his gap. For the NFL, Young is a quality run defender who should be an asset to his pro defense.
Young might lack an elite skill set to be a boom pick, but he is a well-rounded defender who can contribute in both phases. I think by the end of his rookie contract, he could turn into a solid starter for Baltimore.
2025: Mike Green, DE
2024: Adisa Isaac, DE
2023: Zay Flowers, WR
2022: Kyle Hamilton, S
2021: Rashod Bateman, WR
2020: Patrick Queen, LB
2019: Miles Boykin, WR
2018: Hayden Hurst, TE
2017: Chris Wormley, DE
2016: Ronnie Stanley, OT
2015: Maxx Williams, TE
2014: C.J. Mosley, LB
2013: Arthur Brown, LB
Most Likely To Bust
Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, UCS – Round 3 
The Ravens have had issues at receiver over recent years. While Zay Flowers has been a solid pro, and they have gotten production out of the tight ends, Baltimore needed more receiving talent for Lamar Jackson. They waited until the third round before selecting Lane. While Lane was solid for the Trojans in 2025, he is a big receiver who has speed limitations for the NFL. I think he will have a difficult time separating from NFL cornerbacks and is going to have to dominate 50-50 passes to be effective. I think Lane could end up being a fourth or fifth receiver and fall short of being an effective starter. Of the Ravens’ early-round picks, I see the most bust potential with Lane.
2025: Emery Jones Jr., OT
2024: Roger Rosengarten, OT
2023: Trenton Simpson, LB
2022: Travis Jones, DT
2021: Ben Cleveland, G
2020: Justin Madubuike, DT
2019: Jaylon Ferguson, DE
2018: Anthony Averett, CB
2017: Tyus Bowser, LB
2016: Bronson Kaufusi, DE
2015: Carl Davis, DT
2014: Timmy Jernigan, DT
2013: Brandon Williams, NT
Potential Boom Pick
Vega Ioane, G, Penn State – Round 1
Guard was the biggest weakness on the Ravens roster heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, and they grabbed a plug-and-play starter in Ioane. He is a beast at the point of attack that will immediately help open holes for Derrick Henry while improving the interior protection for Lamar Jackson. Once again, the Ravens stood pat and filled a need with a good talent that fell to them.
As a run blocker, Ioane has heavy hands with sheer power at the point of attack to generate movement. Ioane can latch onto defensive tackles and use his strength to manipulate them out of their gap. Finding nasty bullies up front is getting more difficult as the uptempo and spread offense has changed the game, and Ioane is a rare college blocker who enters the NFL with a mean streak to set a physical tone at the point of attack. Ioane blocks through the whistle, pushes defenders around, buries them into the ground, and finishes them off with violence. Ioane has developed strength to push defenders out of their gap and open holes in the ground game. Ioane is going to be a load as a run blocker and a real asset in short-yardage or goal-line situations, as his team should have a lot of success running behind him. As a pro, Ioane should be a real asset as a run blocker in a power man scheme. Ioane is not super athletic or fast to cover a lot of space. He is a better fit in a power man scheme versus a zone blocking scheme.
In pass protection, Ioane has a strong anchor and can stand up bull rushers with ease. Ioane uses his strong hands and big mass to sustain blocks well. His power helps him to recover by jarring defenders off their rush, allowing Ioane to regroup and tie them up. Fast interior defensive tackles or defensive ends that move inside in passing situations could give Ioane problems early in his NFL career, but over time, he should be a steady pass protector.
If he develops and is coached well by the Ravens new staff, I think Ioane could become one of the top guards in the NFL, and he has boom pick potential for Baltimore.
2025: Malaki Starks, S
2024: Nate Wiggins, CB
2023: None
2022: Tyler Linderbaum, C
2021: Jayson Oweh, OLB
2020: J.K. Dobbins, RB
2019: Marquise Brown, WR
2018: Lamar Jackson, QB
2017: Marlon Humphrey, CB
2016: Kamalei Correa, LB
2015: Breshad Perriman, WR
2014: Terrence Brooks, S
2013: Matt Elam, S
Future Depth Player
Josh Cuevas, TE, Alabama – Round 5 
The Ravens were in need of some tight end depth after losing Isaiah Likely in free agency, and they double-dipped at the position with Matt Hibner in the fourth round and Cuevas in the fifth. Last year, Cuevas flashed as a receiving tight end with Alabama, and I think he could be similar to other Ravens mid-round tight ends who turned into nice rotational backups. Cuevas may not have the strength or blocking ability to be a three-down starter, but I think he could be a solid backup for Baltimore.
2025: Carson Vinson, OT
2024: Cade Stover, TE
2023: Kyu Blu Kelly, CB
2022: Jalyn Armour-Davis, CB
2021: Tylan Wallace, WR
2020: Malik Harrison, LB
2019: Justice Hill, RB
2018: Deshon Elliott, S
2017: Jermaine Eluemanor, G
2016: Tavon Young, CB
2015: Buck Allen, RB
2014: Brent Urban, DE
2013: John Simon, LB
Walt
