ExtremeRavens Posted Monday at 09:47 PM Posted Monday at 09:47 PM It’s officially draft season in Baltimore. The Ravens’ roller-coaster campaign came to a stunning end Sunday night in a wild 26-24 loss to the Steelers that gave Pittsburgh its first AFC North title since 2020, ending Baltimore’s quest for a record three-peat in the division. The Steelers will host the Houston Texans on Monday night in the wild-card round, while the Ravens are left to pick up the pieces from another heartbreaking finish. This offseason will be another crucial one for Baltimore to retool its roster around two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson, who himself faces his own contract questions heading into his ninth NFL season. There’s also the uncertain status of coach John Harbaugh after 18 years in charge, as well as the murky future of his top assistants. With a few key players hitting free agency and lingering questions about the status of other starters, the Ravens and general manager Eric DeCosta must decide how best to address those areas to return the franchise to Super Bowl contention. The lifeblood of the organization has long been the draft, and it figures to be just as important again this year. Baltimore is expected to have 11 draft picks in April, including a projected four compensatory selections. That includes the No. 14 overall pick, the team’s highest since also finishing 8-9 in 2021. Here’s an early look at what draft experts think the Ravens will do in the first round: Miami offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa CBS Sports’ Mike Renner: “Francis Mauigoa would likely start at guard early in his career, with the option to kick out to tackle when Ronnie Stanley retires. The Ravens simply have to get better at guard, and Mauigoa is exactly the kind of butt-kicker who could make the switch.” Penn State guard/center Olaivavega Ioane The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner: “Ioane is the exact type of behemoth Baltimore’s offense has been missing in the middle. Re-sign Tyler Linderbaum, put Ioane next to him, and Baltimore’s offensive line would be rocking again.” Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema: “From a traits perspective, the former four-star recruit moves exceptionally well for a 6-foot-3, 315-pound defensive lineman and flashes top-10 talent. While his week-to-week impact dipped this season, he still posted run-defense and pass-rush grades above 70.0 and previously earned overall grades north of 83.0 as both a freshman and sophomore. With the Ravens’ defensive line lacking the same punch since Nnamdi Madubuike went down and his long-term future uncertain, Woods could be a good fit alongside Travis Jones.” Bleacher Report’s Matt Holder: “Woods entered this season as a potential top-five talent. Though he wasn’t the dominant presence many expected during his final season on campus. Instead, he can land with the Ravens, where the coaching staff has a long history of getting the most out of high-upside prospects. “‘Woods didn’t live up to the preseason hype this past season,” Holder said. “He definitely left something to be desired as a pass-rusher. But no one can deny how impactful he can be as run defender and the natural traits to be a quality interior pass-rusher in the right situation.'” “The first-team All-ACC performer’s addition may be critical depending on Nnamdi Madubuike’s long-term prognosis with his current neck injury.” Miami edge defender Rueben Bain Jr. FOX Sports’ Rob Rang: “While Lamar Jackson’s health certainly generated most of the criticism of the Ravens’ 2025 season, a disappointing defense was also to blame. Routinely one of the NFL’s fiercest defenses throughout the John Harbaugh era, Baltimore was one of the league’s worst when it came to sacking opposing quarterbacks in 2025, finishing 30th in the NFL. The Ravens have long capitalized on drafting falling stars that other clubs overthought. Bain’s stubby arms (reportedly 31 inches) threaten his draft stock, but he plays with the violence and tenacity that the Ravens have always prioritized.” Texas Tech edge defender David Bailey The Score’s Dan Wilkins: “The Ravens will hope that Mike Green’s development takes off in Year 2, but finding him a bookend should be a priority in order to solve their edge-rush issues once and for all. Bailey was a sensational transfer-portal addition for Texas Tech, leading the FBS with 12.5 sacks in the regular season.” LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane The Ringer’s Todd McShay: “Delane took his game to another level and was one of the few bright spots for an otherwise disappointing Tigers program in 2025. Edge is a bigger need for Baltimore, as Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle Van Noy, and David Ojabo are all free agents this offseason, but the Ravens are looking for scheme-versatile defensive backs and Delane more than impressed me with his ability to excel in both man and zone coverage at LSU. “He totaled 138 man-coverage snaps and 176 zone-coverage snaps in 2025. You won’t see many college CBs have that kind of man-zone split, let alone someone who was as effective as he was in both areas.” Have a news tip? Contact C.J. Doon at cdoon@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/CJDoon. View the full article Quote
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