The Ravens need better guard play. Here are the draft’s top options

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 07: Keylan Rutledge #77 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lines up during the fourth quarter against the Syracuse Orange at JMA Wireless Dome on September 07, 2024 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) | Getty Images

There is little point in rehashing the Ravens’ sub-optimal horrible guard play over the last few years. Baltimore reunited with John Simpson in free agency to upgrade over Andrew Vorhees at left guard. There is no clear starter on the right side; 2025 third-round pick Emery Jones should have a shot at the starting job, but he barely played as a rookie and is no guarantee to be a Week 1 starter.

The Ravens could certainly look for an immediate upgrade at right guard in this year’s draft, which is fairly strong at the position. Fano and Rutledge even have potential center versatility, which would be huge after Tyler Linderbaum left Baltimore in free agency.

Here are Baltimore Beatdown’s top guard prospects in the 2026 draft with selected scouting notes:

1. Spencer Fano, Utah (No. 9 on Baltimore Beatdown’s Big Board)

Fano is a superb athlete that has full understanding of utilizing body to create displacement as a zone blocker. He took snaps at center at the Combine and projects best on the interior, where his functional athleticism and core strength give him a solid foundation to handle the position at the next level. He has the mobility to operate in space and the base strength to hold up against interior power, offering encouraging versatility as he transitions inside. Fano is also an efficient striker and can redirect players in pass protection. With continued technical development and the right coaching staff, he carries notable upside as a long-term starter at center or guard.

2. Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State (No. 20 overall)

Ioane is most Ravens fans’ favorite option for the No. 14 pick. He is a stout pass protector with a refined ability to latch onto defenders in the run game and angle block them out of the frame. He is a solid, but not elite athlete, raising some minor questions about his fit in Declan Doyle’s scheme. Ioane’s lack of positional versatility is another negative that, in our eyes, makes him a less-than-ideal pick in the first round with the potential for another Tyler Linderbaum fifth-year option/franchise tag situation down the line.

3. Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon (No. 33 overall)

Consistent and reliable in pass protection. Displaces defensive linemen with heavy hands and notable upper-body strength. Brings an physical edge, finds work, and finishes blocks through the whistle.

4. Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M (No. 53 overall)

5. Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech (No. 60 overall)

Rutledge allowed just one sack and 12 pressures across 893 pass blocking snaps in his last two years at Georgia Tech, per Pro Football Focus. He is a heavy-handed, scheme-versatile guard who squares up defenders when blocking in space, especially as a puller or when finding work at the second level. Like Fano, Rutledge offers some potential as a center with enough functional strength and short-area movement skills to maximize his ‘phone booth’ blocking style. He also brings the toughness, base power, physicality, and scheme versatility the Ravens (should) prize in their linemen.

6. Gennings Dunker, Iowa (No. 94 overall)

Dunker is a solid athlete and a strong, pugnacious brawler in the trenches. His footwork and balance are issues, particularly out in space/on an island, but the requisite agility for Declan Doyle’s zone scheme is there. He has plenty of competitive toughness but a worrying injury history. Dunker is better suited for guard in the NFL but has the frame and experience to play right tackle if necessary. He does not profile as an immediate starter in Baltimore.

7. Jalen Farmer, Kentucky (No. 96 overall)

Farmer is a heavy-handed puncher with a boat-sized anchor in pass protection, with just five sacks and 28 pressures allowed in the last two years. In the run game, he is a strong downhill blocker on gap runs who is great at seeking contact and finishing. His age and athleticism offers an appealing developmental trajectory.

8. Billy Schrauth, Notre Dame (No. 126 overall)

9. Beau Stephens, Iowa (No. 130 overall)

A superb athlete that would fit seamlessly into Declan Doyle’s zone running scheme.

10. Keagen Trost, Missouri (No. 155 overall)

11. Febechi Nwaiwu, Oklahoma (No. 158 overall)

12. Jeremiah Wright, Auburn (No. 177 overall)

13. DJ Campbell, Texas (No. 189 overall)

14. Micah Morris, Georgia (No. 195 overall)

15. Carver Willis, Washington (No. 196 overall)