2026 NFL Draft: Ravens players with most to lose over three days

The Baltimore Ravens are entering the 2026 NFL Draft with something every team covets: options. With 11 total selections, they have the flexibility to address multiple needs while also reinforcing depth across the roster. That's the good news. The less comfortable reality is what comes with it. Every addition creates pressure, and for players near the bottom of the depth chart, that pressure can turn into uncertainty quickly.

In Baltimore, competition isn’t optional. It’s expected. The Ravens missed the playoffs last season, but the good news is they can be right in the thick of it in the AFC again by adding a few pieces. Every NFL Draft represents a chance for roster improvement and construction, but it can also turn the temperature up for some of the familiar faces.

Durham Smythe

The Ravens once struck gold at tight end, landing both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in the same draft class. They lost both during the same offseason. Suddenly, Baltimore is searching for answers again at the tight end position.

Durham Smythe provides experience, but with a deep draft class and 11 picks at their disposal, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Ravens double-dip at the position. If that happens, Smythe's role could shift from contributor to placeholder (or worse).

Dayton Wade and Cornelius Johnson

Let's assume the Ravens keep six wide receivers on their 53-man roster. Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, and Ja'Johntay Wester feel like the top group. That leaves limited room for maybe two others. If Baltimore adds another receiver through the draft or a late move, Wade and Johnson could find themselves squeezed out in a hurry.

C.J. Okoye and David Olajiga

The need along the interior defensive line has been well documented. That’s not good news for players already fighting for position. C.J. Okoye and David Olajiga sit low on the depth chart, and in a draft loaded with trench talent, the numbers may not work in their favor.

Robert Longerbeam

Last year's sixth-round pick, Robert Longerbeam, has intriguing upside, but draft status only buys time. It never buys security. With another talented class of defensive backs entering the league, Longerbeam will have to prove quickly that he belongs. This is a talented group that needs one or two more pieces.

The Ravens won't just be adding talent during the draft. They'll be raising the standard across the roster, and for some players, that won't just mean competition. It will mean survival.

In Baltimore, nothing is given. Everything is earned. That's true of the city and its football team, and after this draft, some will rise to the challenge, while others may be left behind.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 5 Ravens players with the most to lose in the 2026 NFL Draft