Ja'Kobi Lane faces robust competition in Ravens' receiver room

Ja'Kobi Lane is excited about joining the Baltimore Ravens, but he faces a stiff challenge in trying to get a spot on the team's 53-man roster. This is hardly a lock. Fellow Big Ten receiver Elijah Sarratt of national champion Indiana was also picked in the 2026 NFL Draft. Sarratt went at No. 115 in the fourth round, 35 spots after Lane (No. 80) did. Ravens Wire has more on Sarratt:

"Stepping into a Ravens offense led by Lamar Jackson brings expectations, but Elijah Sarratt is keeping his focus simple. When asked about watching the Ravens and what it will be like catching passes from Jackson, Sarratt made it clear he understands exactly what his role needs to be early on."

Sarratt told Ravens Wire that "I’ve watched many Ravens games. Lamar Jackson is one of the best players in the NFL. I just want to be able to do my part on the field, so he can trust me and I can go out there and make play for him and make his job easy.”

Ravens Wire continued:

"That’s the tone you want from a young receiver walking into this system. It’s not about coming in and demanding targets — it’s about earning them. In Baltimore, trust is currency, especially with a quarterback like Jackson who thrives off timing and chemistry. If Sarratt can build that early, his role could grow quickly. The mindset is already in place. Now it’s about translating that approach into reps, consistency, and eventually production."

It will be hard for Ja'Kobi Lane to outplay the Ravens' established veterans, but it won't be easy for him to beat out Sarratt, either. We all saw Indiana roll to the national championship with Sarratt making tough contested catches. Ja'Kobi Lane, who had problems with the dropsies at USC, must raise his level to crack the 53-man roster. This is no sure thing.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: Ja'Kobi Lane was not Ravens' only receiver picked in 2026 NFL Draft