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Baltimore Ravens 2026 Draft Class: Rookie Impact
Jul 3, 2026Ryan McCrystalSharp Football Analysis
Getting things ready
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Player mentions
Rasheen Ali
RB · BAL · #general
...r at receiver before switching to running back in 2025. He’ll compete with Rasheen Ali as the third-string ball carrier. Ali also returned kicks for Baltimore, a...
Devontez Walker
WR · BAL · #breakoutcandidate
...is another big outside receiver (6-foot-3) who will compete with Lane and Devontez Walker for the third receiver role behind Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. Sarratt...
Elijah Sarratt
WR · BAL · #general
...tch rate was 9.6% below expected (and 3.7% below expected for his career). Elijah Sarratt (fourth round) is another big outside receiver (6-foot-3) who will compete...
Josh Cuevas
TE · BAL · #general
...routes he ran at least 25 times. Matthew Hibner (fourth round) and Josh Cuevas (fifth round) will compete to be the third tight end behind Mark Andrews a...
Adam Randall
RB · BAL · #general
Article text
The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2026 Football Preview . In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps, as well as draft class analysis from Ryan McCrystal. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2026 Football Preview . Every team is excited about their incoming class of rookies, but how will those new players affect each team in 2026? Let's look at the Baltimore Ravens, breaking down the most likely instant-impact rookies from their class while also providing some insight into why certain early picks may not see the field. Baltimore Ravens 2026 Draft Class: Which Rookies Will Make an Impact? In typical Ravens fashion, they stayed patient and waited for a standout prospect to fall before landing Vega Ioane (first round), widely considered the best interior offensive lineman in this draft class. Ioane played over 2,000 snaps during his career at Penn State, primarily at left guard, and committed just five career penalties. Andrew Vorhees, a seventh-round pick in 2023, started at left guard for the Ravens last year, but Ioane is expected to immediately take on that role. Baltimore still has an opening at center, however, so we shouldn’t dismiss the possibility that Ioane is Tyler Linderbaum’s replacement. Ioane played some snaps at center in college and showcased those skills at his Pro Day, so there’s a slight chance Baltimore allows him to compete for the job. Zion Young (second round) will compete with last year’s second-round pick Mike Green for a starting job on the edge opposite Trey Hendrickson. Young’s consistency as a pass-rusher at Missouri was impressive, and should allow him to get on the field on passing downs at a minimum. In three games against teams ranked in the top 50 of pressure rate allowed (Texas A&M, Alabama, Oklahoma), Young generated a 19% pressure rate, demonstrating his ability to rise to the level of his competition. Ja’Kobi Lane (third round) was a surprising selection, though maybe not too shocking considering Baltimore has often struggled when drafting receivers. The Ravens lack size in the receiving corps, so there’s room for the 6-foot-4 Lane to carve out a role as a downfield weapon who can battle for contested targets. However, he’s coming off a season in which his route-adjusted catch rate was 9.6% below expected (and 3.7% below expected for his career). Elijah Sarratt (fourth round) is another big outside receiver (6-foot-3) who will compete with Lane and Devontez Walker for the third receiver role behind Rashod Bateman and Zay Flowers. Sarratt lacks Lane’s athletic traits but is further along in his development as a route-runner thanks to playing in a more balanced offensive system. Lane ran a curl route 30% of the time and only had three routes he ran at least 25 times last year at USC. Sarratt didn’t run any route more than 17% of the time and had six routes he ran at least 25 times. Matthew Hibner (fourth round) and Josh Cuevas (fifth round) will compete to be the third tight end behind Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe. Hibner has more upside as a receiver, whereas Cuevas is fairly well polished as a blocker. The hope is likely that Cuevas takes over Smythe’s role as a blocking tight end in 2027, while Hibner continues to develop and maybe makes a play at Andrews’ job down the road. Chandler Rivers (fifth round) was a starter as an outside corner for most of his four years at Duk…