Instant grades for the Ravens drafting Olaivavega Ioane at No. 14

Q: Who is Olaivavega Ioane and why was he drafted by the Ravens?

Olaivavega Ioane is a guard from Penn State, drafted by the Ravens to enhance their offensive line, which was a critical need for the team.

Q: What grades did analysts give the Ravens for drafting Ioane?

Analysts provided mixed grades, with some giving Ioane an A+ for addressing a major need, while others noted the missed opportunity to draft edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr.

Q: How does Olaivavega Ioane's performance at Penn State impact his NFL prospects?

Ioane did not give up a sack in his last two years at Penn State, showcasing his strong performance and suggesting he will be an immediate contributor in the NFL.

Q: What are the implications of the Ravens drafting Ioane for Lamar Jackson?

Drafting Ioane is seen as a significant move to improve protection for Lamar Jackson, which is crucial for the team's offensive success moving forward.

PISCATAWAY, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 29: Olaivavega Ioane #71 of the Penn State Nittany Lions looks on against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at SHI Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Piscataway, New Jersey. The Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights 40-36. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Baltimore Ravens have selected Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the No. 14 overall pick. Here are the instant grades from Baltimore Beatdown’s staff: It’s hard to argue with Ioane, the top pure guard in the 2026 draft class. It’s just…not what I would have done. There are a lot of situations in which I would be happy to send up the card for Ioane without thinking much about it, but passing on Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. was not one of them. If his arms were one inch longer, he would be the top edge rusher in the draft, and his tape is chock-full of different ways he overcomes it. But Ioane could be a very, very good guard in the NFL, and it’s never a bad idea to put better blockers in front of Lamar Jackson. I’ll give it a B for Bain is Better! ***– Nikhil Mehta*** This pick is an A+ for me. The Ravens entered the offseason desperately needing to upgrade the interior of the offensive line and Volaivavega Ioane goes a long way towards doing that. Having two solid guards on paper now with John Simpson and Ioane puts less pressure on whoever will suit up at center for Baltimore in replacement of . Protecting Lamar Jackson is priority number one going forward so I am more than happy with this selection, even though Reuben Bain was somehow still available. It’s hard for me to say I would have gone with Bain instead since I am not privy to everything going on behind the scenes, but I would have been ecstatic with either pick. I hope Eric DeCosta continues to attack the offensive line tomorrow with a center selection. ***– Dustin Cox*** This pick made too much sense all along and there’s good reason why Ioane was the most mocked player to the Ravens. He fills arguably the team’s biggest need and profiles as an instant impact starter from Day 1. Ioane is a tone-setter at the position with a solid all-around skill set. It isn’t a flashy selection and the decision to take Ioane over Rueben Bain is debatable. However, there’s very little downside and plenty of upside to adding a plug-and-play offensive guard and fortifying the trenches for Lamar Jackson. This pick warrants a solid B+/A- grade. ***– Frank Platko*** Predictably, Ioane is the pick. With how the board fell I’ll be honest in saying that I wanted Rueben Bain Jr., but there’s little doubt in my mind that Ioane will be a staple on this offensive line for the next decade. A good, safe pick. I’ll give it a B+.***– Mark Myers*** The only thing that could make me dislike this pick is the fact that Reuben Bain was still on the board. However, the Ravens desperately needed a new protector for Lamar Jackson and Vega Ioane should come in and be an immediate difference maker and anchor for their offensive line. Ioane didn’t give up a sack the last two years at Penn State and will be an immediate upgrade over what they had last year at the position. He’s arguably the best offensive lineman in the draft and would’ve been a top 5 pick if he played tackle. While Bain would have also been nice, I can’t help but give this anything less than an A. ***– Stephen Bopst*** oane is an A for me. , you could tell Coach Ledford was enamored with him and just couldn’t show it fully. The biggest obstacle the Ravens faced last season was subpar guard play, and this feels like it comes with so much peace of mind. One of my favorite recent coach-isms is “No line, no shine,” and Ioane’s addition helps Lamar stay upright and do his thing. ***– Kevin McNelis*** For me, this pick is a B+. The Ravens put themselves in this position by underinvesting at offensive guard in the past few offseasons/drafts. It’s hard not to ponder what the outcome of Rueben Bain Jr. will be considering he went one pick later. Instead, Baltimore decided to invest in Lamar Jackson’s protection and address one of their biggest weaknesses from last season. A new guard duo of John Simpson and Ioane is a huge upgrade in pass pro. But the question remains: how much do the Ravens improve from the worst pass rush in the league? ***– Yuri***