2026 NFL Draft General Discussion

[rossihunter2]

We're getting closer to draft season
Both in terms of time and also in terms of losses...

a team that looked stacked going into 2025 suddenly looks full of holes going into 2026

What's the biggest need?
OG
EDGE
DL
WR
CB

because you could make a case for basically any of them...

 

[allblackraven]

We're getting closer to draft season
Both in terms of time and also in terms of losses...

a team that looked stacked going into 2025 suddenly looks full of holes going into 2026

What's the biggest need?
OG
EDGE
DL
WR
CB

because you could make a case for basically any of them...

Trouble is that we need a couple of players at all those positions.

 

[UKRaven1827]

We're getting closer to draft season
Both in terms of time and also in terms of losses...

a team that looked stacked going into 2025 suddenly looks full of holes going into 2026

What's the biggest need?
OG
EDGE
DL
WR
CB

because you could make a case for basically any of them...

It's a dilemma for sure. In the range I think we are looking at, I have been keen on Vega Ioane to sure up the guard position. Don't see EDC doing that though.

 

[Simba]

Obviously we still have a bit to go to really know where we're picking, but the QB class not exactly living up to expectations could hurt. Hopefully some teams reach again.

 

[RaineV1]

The somewhat brightside is that the middle of the first is usually an solid spot for the trenches. We could have first dibs on the top pure interior guys on both lines.

 

[JAAM]

As of right now we pick 13. Me likey

 

[Argentina Raven]

We should come out of the draft with at least four defensive linemen. It's a good draft for defense. If we could come out with Woods and Lee Hunter, for example, I'd feel much better.

 

[52520Andrew]

The one silver lining if the Ravens struggle is that they may be high enough to get a new left tackle for the future or an actual impact pass rusher. Then work the trenches. Ravens identity on offense is running the ball(when we remember to run it) and if they want to be effective they need strong blockers. Also need defensive linemen although with the Madubuike injury I am a little more sympathetic. Lack of trench investment compared to WR or the secondary is catching up to them.

I should also mention that we can't count on Lamar to bail out bad O-line play forever and we gotta keep him clean

 

[gtalk12]

The one silver lining if the Ravens struggle is that they may be high enough to get a new left tackle for the future or an actual impact pass rusher. Then work the trenches. Ravens identity on offense is running the ball(when we remember to run it) and if they want to be effective they need strong blockers. Also need defensive linemen although with the Madubuike injury I am a little more sympathetic. Lack of trench investment compared to WR or the secondary is catching up to them.

I should also mention that we can't count on Lamar to bail out bad O-line play forever and we gotta keep him clean

Let's say we do get a LT in the first round. What do the Ravens do with Stanley? Or do they simply move whoever the LT is going to be to LG in the meantime?

 

[rossihunter2]

Let's say we do get a LT in the first round. What do the Ravens do with Stanley? Or do they simply move whoever the LT is going to be to LG in the meantime?

If you're confident in him, you can trade Ronnie away but you lose cap if you cut Ronnie in 2026
i think you've got a few options

let the OT you get compete at RT with RR
let the OT you get compete at LG with whoever else is there

and in both situations have them be the heir apparent to Ronnie in 2027 when you can get out of ronnie's deal or if Ronnie's playing at a high-level you keep that guy where he is, especially if that guy looks good at that position (e.g. Tyler Smith with the Cowboys)

as LTs go, Ronnie's not expensive even in 2027 and 2028 when his cap number goes up and while he's not been an all-pro this year, he has been at a fairly consistent level (except vs Myles Garrett who seems to be doing that to everyone this year tbf)

 

[gtalk12]

If you're confident in him, you can trade Ronnie away but you lose cap if you cut Ronnie in 2026
i think you've got a few options

let the OT you get compete at RT with RR
let the OT you get compete at LG with whoever else is there

and in both situations have them be the heir apparent to Ronnie in 2027 when you can get out of ronnie's deal or if Ronnie's playing at a high-level you keep that guy where he is, especially if that guy looks good at that position (e.g. Tyler Smith with the Cowboys)

as LTs go, Ronnie's not expensive even in 2027 and 2028 when his cap number goes up and while he's not been an all-pro this year, he has been at a fairly consistent level (except vs Myles Garrett who seems to be doing that to everyone this year tbf)

If possible you keep Ronnie and move the future LT to LG. IMO it makes the most sense to go about it that way. Ronnie getting hurt cost us a player is Orlando Brown who other wise was doing well playing at RT. I wonder if he just sticks there if the bug to be considered only a LT still hits him.

 

[rossihunter2]

If possible you keep Ronnie and move the future LT to LG. IMO it makes the most sense to go about it that way. Ronnie getting hurt cost us a player is Orlando Brown who other wise was doing well playing at RT. I wonder if he just sticks there if the bug to be considered only a LT still hits him.

i mean he was traded away while ronnie was still coming back from injury
i think he was looking for LT money and a guaranteed LT slot even after ronnie came back and he wasn't gonna get that here even though he would definitely have been playing LT for the ravens in 2021

 

[gtalk12]

i mean he was traded away while ronnie was still coming back from injury
i think he was looking for LT money and a guaranteed LT slot even after ronnie came back and he wasn't gonna get that here even though he would definitely have been playing LT for the ravens in 2021

I thought the timeline of events was he was playing on the right, Ronnie get hurts, he plays extremely well on the left and then says I only want to be a LT.

Am I off?

 

[rossihunter2]

I thought the timeline of events was he was playing on the right, Ronnie get hurts, he plays extremely well on the left and then says I only want to be a LT.

Am I off?

yes that's correct

ronnie's still injured when he leaves
ronnie played 1 game the next year and then missed the start of 2022 too

 

[Argentina Raven]

There are no first-round left tackles this year. The tackle we were going to take and prepare was Josh Simmons, but we chose Stark.
Carter Smith and Isaiah World are interesting, but I think it's better to go for a defensive tackle or Edge in the first round.
The rest are right tackles or guards

 

[RaineV1]

There are no first-round left tackles this year.

Fano is both, was the 11 starts at LT and 13 at RT. Also Kadyn Proctor is absolutely a first round LT.

 

[Argentina Raven]

Fano played the last two years as a right-hander (RT), only playing left-hander (LT) in 2023. He has more games on the right side.
I don't trust players who need to be switched sides. It could be a swing, but even if he's a first-round pick, I don't think we should draft him there. I don't consider Proctor a first-round pick either. I think there are better first-round picks for us, mainly Defensive Line (DL) or Edge, or maybe Love or Styles

 

[Simba]

This QB class looks full of guys that people thought were going to be round 1 picks, but they struggled and now who knows what they do. A bunch of guys that should go back to school. Could lead to an opportunity to throw a dart for a long-term backup in the later rounds, because there’s definitely looking to be some talent but just not what they were supposed to be.

 

[rossihunter2]

This QB class looks full of guys that people thought were going to be round 1 picks, but they struggled and now who knows what they do. A bunch of guys that should go back to school. Could lead to an opportunity to throw a dart for a long-term backup in the later rounds, because there’s definitely looking to be some talent but just not what they were supposed to be.

a lot of the guys who are gonna come out this year are guys who decided to go back for an extra year last year - and then haven't developed the way you'd hope

i do think from a wider perspective, NIL might have torpedoed QB development even more than it already was

but i say that having not watched any tape

not that many bonafide top 5 talents at QB coming the last 5 years
Drake Maye and Caleb Williams were in 2023
People said Trevor Lawrence was in 2021 (but i disagreed at the time)
Joe Burrow was in 2020

that's only 3 guys in the last 6 draft classes - which is awful given there are many years we hear before the year going in that it's going to be a stacked group

 

[Simba]

a lot of the guys who are gonna come out this year are guys who decided to go back for an extra year last year - and then haven't developed the way you'd hope

i do think from a wider perspective, NIL might have torpedoed QB development even more than it already was

but i say that having not watched any tape

not that many bonafide top 5 talents at QB coming the last 5 years
Drake Maye and Caleb Williams were in 2023
People said Trevor Lawrence was in 2021 (but i disagreed at the time)
Joe Burrow was in 2020

that's only 3 guys in the last 6 draft classes - which is awful given there are many years we hear before the year going in that it's going to be a stacked group

Yep. If you go down the list, most of the guys have switched schools at least once. I get chasing the NIL bag but development is being seriously stunted twofold - both guys moving schools on their own accord and other guys coming in when some of these younger guys would be getting a chance in the pre-NIL era.

Not totally exclusive to QBs either.