Eric DeCosta sees shades of a Ravens legend in No. 14 pick Vega Ioane

There's a chance that, one day, we'll look back and say the Baltimore Ravens didn’t just draft a guard 14th overall in 2026. There's a chance that we may say that they identified something far more important. Shortly after Round 1's conclusion, general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach Jesse Minter spoke with select media members. They, of course, discussed Olaivavega Ioane, and one comment certainly raised a few eyebrows and caught everyone's attention.

DeCosta didn't compare Ioane to another offensive lineman in his draft class or compare him to another up-and-comer. He instead reached into franchise history and mentioned one of the great Ravens of years past, Haloti Ngata.

Wait! What? That's not a line one can simply gloss over.

Vega Ioane receives the compliment of a lifetime.

Ngata is one of the most respected players to ever wear a Ravens uniform, a tone-setter whose presence helped define an era. For DeCosta to bring his name into the conversation says everything about how the organization views Ioane. They don't just respect him as a player. They respect him as a person.

The reasoning had little to do with position and everything to do with demeanor. DeCosta pointed to Ioane's maturity, his quiet confidence, and the impression he made during in-person meetings.

In a field filled with elite athletes, those traits, along with Ioane's humility, became the distinguishing factors. That speaks to a larger truth about how Baltimore operates. The Ravens don't just scout production. They scout a player's personality, leadership, and how he carries himself when the spotlight isn't on. Ioane checked every box on the field, but it's what he showed off of it that may have elevated him above the rest of the board. His humility, paired with a physical playing style, creates the kind of balance the Ravens have long valued.