Matthew Hibner has everything Ravens are looking for in a starting TE

The Baltimore Ravens drafted two tight ends during the 2026 NFL Draft. Both are talented, but today, we'll focus on one. Pay close attention to the fourth-round selection, Matthew Hibner. If early impressions mean anything, it seems we already know enough to determine that he carries significant long-term intrigue.

Josh Cuevas. He will also be special. Plus, he has already earned favor from Ozzie Newsome following his time with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Baltimore's executive vice president of player personnel welcomed the rookie with a "Roll Tide" to get the ball rolling, but let's discuss pure upside and future starter potential. It becomes difficult not to circle back to Matthew Hibner if you do so.

Why the Ravens valued Matthew Hibner differently

Baltimore didn't just draft Hibner. They went and got him. The Ravens traded up 21 spots to secure the former SMU Mustangs standout in the fourth round, and that show of aggression for an organization that typically lets the board come to them certainly matters. Teams don't typically surrender future assets for prospects that they see as developmental depth pieces. Teams more often trade up because they believe something bigger awaits them. The traits are easy to see. There isn't much that Hibner doesn't do well. At 6-foot-4 with his athleticism, production, and positional versatility, he feels tailor-made for where NFL offenses are headed.

He can align in-line. He can flex out or work the seams. Creating matchup issues downfield seems effortless. That's valuable in any offense. In Baltimore's offense, that skill set becomes dangerous.

The Ravens have long treated the tight end position as more than supplemental. They build around it. That’s why Hibner’s self-scout stood out when he compared his potential role to one Isaiah Likely owned. That wasn’t accidental. It showed understanding. The starting tight end conversation may already be beginning.