The 2026 NFL draft is approaching, and the Ravens have 11 picks, including No. 14. GM Eric DeCosta has made one notable trade since 2018, selecting All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton.
We're a little over 24 hours away from the start of the 2026 NFL draft, and the Ravens are a team to watch despite being relatively quiet on the trade front over the past few years. Since taking over for Ozzie Newsome in 2018, GM Eric DeCosta has made one significant draft-related trade, and his best selection undoubtedly is All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton. The Ravens have 11total picks: Nos. 14, 45, 80, 115, 154, 162, 173, 174, 211, 250, 253 in this weekend's draft, and ample opportunity to move up or down draft boards.
With the 2026 NFL draft fast approaching, we're looking at every first-round pick selected during Eric DeCosta's tenure as the Baltimore Ravens GM
Jul 24, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) runs drills during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Jul 24, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Malaki Starks (24) runs drills during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Starks, a 2025 first-round pick from Georgia, started 15 of the 17 games he appeared in this season, logging 1,060 defensive snaps (11th), 84 total tackles (49 solo) and four passes defensed, including two interceptions. Starks finished his rookie season with the third-most interceptions and the fourth-most total tackles on the Ravens' defense. Starks may not be Kyle Hamilton, but he was solid, and an improvement in pass coverage (64.9 PFF grade) could take him to a Pro Bowl level.
Q&A
What first-round picks has Eric DeCosta made for the Ravens?
Eric DeCosta has selected several first-round picks for the Ravens, including All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks.
How many total picks do the Ravens have in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Ravens have a total of 11 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, including Nos. 14, 45, 80, and others.
What significant trade has Eric DeCosta made since becoming GM?
Since becoming GM in 2018, Eric DeCosta has made one significant draft-related trade.
What is the significance of the Ravens' No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Ravens' No. 14 pick provides them with an opportunity to select a top talent or trade up or down in the draft.
Related Articles
Sports
Ranking every WNBA team's offseason, from Aces to Fire
ESPN News·
MLB·Feature
Cold offensive starts? A reliever who could win a Cy Young? 8 stats that tell the early story of the 2026 season
Discover the surprising stats shaping the early 2026 MLB season!
ESPN News··1 min read
Sports
Jarrell Miller and a viral toupee-fueled comeback
Jarrell Miller faces a hair crisis just days before his crucial fight against Kingsley Ibeh.
ESPN News··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Full injury report for Wednesday's Suns vs. Thunder Game 2 matchup
Injury report for Suns vs. Thunder Game 2 in NBA playoffs
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports·Feature
Returning UNC guard confident in offseason improvements
Isaiah Denis returns to UNC, confident in his offseason improvements for the upcoming season.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Every East Tennessee State University player drafted by the Boston Celtics
Exploring the Boston Celtics' Draft Picks from East Tennessee State University
Jul 24, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) runs drills during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Jul 24, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) runs drills during training camp at the Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Wiggins was the Ravens' highest graded rookie and looks like a future star after recording 33 tackles while playing 15 games for the Ravens in the 2024 season and starting in each of the team's playoff games. Wiggins's 769 snaps were the seventh most on the Ravens defense that struggled against the pass early on but improved down the stretch.
Dec 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Dec 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half against Cincinnati Bengals safety Geno Stone (22) at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Baltimore made a trade and moved up to land Flowers out of Boston College. In his rookie season in 2023, Flowers recorded 77 catches for 858 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games. Flowers has earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods.
Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton (14) during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
A Swiss Army Knife, the ultra-versatile Hamilton earned his second AP first team All-Pro honor. Everything Minter wants to do on defense starts with Hamilton.
Hamilton joins Hall of Famer Ed Reed (2003 & 2004) as the only Ravens defensive backs to earn multiple Pro Bowl nods within the first three years of a career.
Dec 11, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) gestures at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 11, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum (64) gestures at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Linderbaum was the first Ravens offensive lineman to earn consecutive Pro Bowl honors since Orlando Brown Jr. (2019-20). He's now departed, joining the Raiders as the highest-paid center in NFL history.
Jul 23, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) warms up during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; Owings Mills, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (7) warms up during training camp at Under Armour Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
After a career year in 2024, Bateman finished last season with 13 games played, 12 starts, 38 targets, 19 receptions, 224 yards receiving, and two touchdowns.
2021: 1st Round (No. 31) – EDGE Odafe Oweh, Penn State
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: Odafe Oweh #98 of the Los Angeles Chargers sacks Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 12: Odafe Oweh #98 of the Los Angeles Chargers sacks Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter in the game at Hard Rock Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images)
Oweh was one of the most freakishly gifted athletes in the entire draft, at any position. At 6-foot-5, 251 pounds, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.37 seconds. He had only played football for five years when Baltimore made the selection.
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen warms up for a game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Nov 30, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen warms up for a game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Now a Steelers linebacker, Queen, the running mate for Roquan Smith, made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after logging 125 tackles (78 solos) and matching a career high with six passes defended. He also added 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, one interception, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery for the best defense in the league. Queen is the only NFL defender to have produced at least 400 tackles (with 445), double-digit sacks (13.5), and double-digit takeaways (four interceptions and six fumble recoveries) since 2020.
Dec 12, 2019; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown (15) catches a pass for a touchdown as New York Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts (27) looks on during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 12, 2019; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Marquise Brown (15) catches a pass for a touchdown as New York Jets cornerback Darryl Roberts (27) looks on during the third quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Marquise Brown (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Marquise Brown (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Ravens traded wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown to the Arizona Cardinals for the 23rd-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Baltimore also sent the 100th-overall pick (third round) to the Cardinals as part of the trade. Brown was the Ravens' leading wide receiver the year prior (2021), hauling in 91 passes for 1,008 yards and six touchdowns. But in the prior year's draft, Baltimore also used a first-round pick on Rashod Bateman. Brown posted 195 catches for 2,361 yards and 21 touchdowns in his three seasons in Baltimore.
