NFL
There’s only one month to go until the Baltimore Ravens and 31 other teams draft college players. The Baltimore Ravens, going into the 2026 draft, have a total of 11 picks, where they can make some noise. The Ravens are slated to have the #14 pick in the NFL draft in the 1st round. The last time the Ravens had the #14 overall pick, they selected safety Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame. They could hit lightning in a bottle the last time at #14; maybe they can hit it again in 2026.
1st Round Pick #14: Spencer Fano OT Utah
In 2025, the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line, mainly the interior, struggled to protect Lamar Jackson, who was sacked 36 times. The right guard position is the main position that needs the most looking at for the interior offensive line. Which means the offensive line will need some retooling for 2026, to keep Lamar Jackson upright and make plays. Having a strong offensive line is key for the Ravens to contend in 2026 and win the Super Bowl. In my last mock draft, I selected G Vega Ioane; this time, I go with Spencer Fano from Utah.
Spencer Fano played tackle at Utah, where in 2025 he was named the Outland Trophy winner for best interior lineman. Some scouts have Fano potentially transitioning to either guard or center in the NFL because of his 32 ⅛ arms. In 2025 at Utah, Fano didn’t give up a single sack in 822 snaps during his junior year. Another outstanding stat for Spencer Fano is that he grades in both run and pass block above 80. The Baltimore Ravens have a history of drafting great offensive linemen, and Spencer Fano could hit lightning in a bottle.
2nd Round Pick #45: D’Angelo Ponds CB Indiana
The Baltimore Ravens’ secondary has ranked near the bottom in pass defense, giving up around 248 yards per game. Nate Wiggins is starting to come into his own as a lockdown cornerback by allowing zero touchdowns in 2025. Marlon Humphrey had a down year. He allowed a career high of 67 receptions, and could be released June 1st. So, the Ravens need all the help they can get when it comes to the particular cornerback spot on defense. A cornerback who was an NFL combine star and could fit well in the secondary could be D’Angelo Ponds from Indiana.
D’Angelo Ponds is only 5’9 and weighs about 170 lbs, which could scare some GMs about his size. But Ponds brings strong lockdown corner skills and excels in both zone schemes and off-man packages. He will most likely be a starter in slot and be used in nickel and dime packages. He also played an incredible role in Indiana’s 2025 national championship run, recording 51 total tackles and 13 pass breakups. The secondary was a mess in 2025, and getting a cornerback like D’Angelo Ponds will be a hit; lightning in a bottle.
Round 3 Pick #80: Connor Lew, C Auburn
Tyler Linderbaum left the Ravens via free agency for the Las Vegas Raiders in a multi-year deal. This puts the Ravens in a position to find Linderbaum’s replacement via either free agency or the draft. The two biggest needs for the Ravens’ OL right now are center and right guard. The interior line needs to be beefed up for Lamar Jackson to make some plays on offense in 2026. The offensive line-heavy draft continues in the 3rd round with the selection of Connor Lew, center, from Auburn.
Connor Lew from Auburn is the best center prospect in this year’s draft class, where he is a mauler. Lew has excellent communication skills on pre-snap counts and great awareness of defensive decoys. Weighs over 300 Ibs which fits the mold for the modern-day center in the NFL on any offensive line. In 2025, his junior season at Auburn was cut short after seven games due to an ACL injury. The presence of Connor Lew on the offensive line could help not only Lamar Jackson but the offense as well.
Round 4 Pick #115: Darrell Jackson Jr, DT, Florida State
The Baltimore Ravens want to build this team in the trenches to win football in December and January. Jesse Minter is the new head coach, and he wants to build the trenches on the DL. With some pieces already like Nnamdi Madubuike and Travis Jones, they want to bring the fire against the run. The run defense in 2025 was ranked in the top 10, but they want to be better at stuffing the run. Darrell Jackson Jr can add to the trenches for a Defensive line that could be a menace to run against.
Darrell Jackson Jr is a 6’5, 337-pound beast who has great run-stopping abilities in stopping runners. Also, his arms are over 35 inches, which can make interior offensive linemen’s lives a living hell. The technique is there for Jackson Jr, and with the right development, he could be an every-down player. Pass-rushing skills need to be added to his skill set to become a disruptive defensive tackle. The development of Darrell Jackson could be something that the Ravens could use on the defensive line.
