
The Ravens selected Penn State guard Vega Ioane with the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL draft to bolster their offensive line and protect Lamar Jackson. This move addresses their previous struggles at guard positions.
In Jesse Minter's first draft as head coach, the Ravens took steps to protect Lamar Jackson, while bringing brute strength and physicality to Baltimore. In a move that's been mocked and expected for weeks, the Baltimore Ravens selected Penn State All-American guard Vega Ioane with the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. Baltimore had two of the lowest-rated offensive guards in the NFL last season, with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele.
Vorhees will battle John Simpson for snaps, while Faalele signed with the New York Giants. The first round selection ensures Ioane is a Day 1 starter at right guard.
With the reactions to the move coming in, we're looking at an instant analysis of the selection.
Over his final two seasons in Happy Valley, Ioane didn't allow a single sack and drew zero holding penalties.
While he's an All-American guard, Ioane has played offensive tackle and center at Penn State, offering Baltimore positional flexibility with Emery Jones Jr., Andrew Vorhees, and John Simpson as other offensive guards on the roster.
The Ravens selected Vega Ioane to strengthen their offensive line and provide better protection for quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Vega Ioane is expected to be a Day 1 starter at right guard, significantly improving the team's performance after last season's low ratings at the guard positions.
The Ravens had two of the lowest-rated offensive guards last season: Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele.

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Ioane is the youngest of eight siblings raised in Washington state.
With offensive guard off the board, Baltimore could use the best player available approach in Round two in a potential target for a wide receiver, center, tight end, edge rusher, or cornerback.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Key takeaways from Ravens landing Vega Ioane with the 14th pick