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Although members of the Ravens’ front office were proud to watch their 2022 draft class sign big contracts in free agency, the departure of so many valuable players left holes in the roster.

Luckily, this year’s draft aligns well with the team’s needs, general manager Eric DeCosta said at Wednesday’s predraft news conference.

The Ravens have been adamant about their “best player available” draft strategy, although they take positional need into consideration. With the way the talent falls in this class, DeCosta does not expect those strategies to clash.

“In some years, that would be a real problem for us,” DeCosta said. “I don’t see that, necessarily, in this draft because I think that the fertile aspect of this draft kind of adheres to our needs.”

Here is what DeCosta had to say about how this draft aligns with what they need.

Offensive line

The offensive line was identified as an area of concern as soon as the season ended.

In addition to underperforming, the line had two pending free agents among its starters, including one of its leaders, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.

The Ravens did what they could to bring back Linderbaum, DeCosta said at the NFL combine in February, but were outbid by the Las Vegas Raiders. The Ravens did not bring back starting right guard Daniel Faalele either (he ended up with John Harbaugh in New York).

Although they signed veteran John Simpson, there are a lot of questions in the three spots between the tackles.

Last year’s draft yielded third-round pick Emery Jones Jr., who spent most of the season recovering from shoulder surgery, but it wasn’t a strong draft for offensive linemen.

“But it’s very cyclical,” DeCosta said. “... This year seems to be pretty good on the offensive line, interior offensive linemen. We’ve seen some centers in the draft ... but I think there’ll be many opportunities for us along the way.”

Spencer Fano, out of Utah, and Vega Ioane, from Penn State, are top names among this year’s interior offensive linemen. DeCosta said he thinks Fano could play anywhere along the line but Ioane is a prototypical guard. He described both as “excellent prospects.”

Tight ends

Entering the 2025 season, the Ravens had four players in the tight end room who were pending free agents.

Entering the 2026 league year, only one, Mark Andrews, remains.

Although the Ravens added Durham Smythe, who has been used primarily as a blocking tight end in recent years, they have a lot of production and snaps to replace after losing Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar and fullback Patrick Ricard.

The Ravens have not been shy about drafting a tight end or several, and they’ve had success, as evidenced by Likely and Kolar.

DeCosta said there are options scattered throughout this year’s class. There are some who are projecting as first-round picks, but there are also options all the way down.

Beyond the fourth round, DeCosta said, they’re looking for players who do something specific very well, and then they want the coaches and scouts to explain their vision for each of those players.

“All these guys, when you get down there, are gonna have some type of hole. But what can they do well?” DeCosta said.

With that being said, DeCosta said there’s a strong chance they’ll “add a couple more throughout.”

Defensive line

The Ravens have no update on their star defensive lineman who suffered a season-ending neck injury in Week 2.

Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike has been posting workout videos, and strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Elliott said he’s in great shape. But that was a fitness assessment, not a medical assessment. No one has said whether he will play again.

Despite the potential loss of immense talent on the line, DeCosta said, Madubuike’s prognosis doesn’t affect the Ravens’ plans for the draft.

“We just try to rank the board and then [choose] whoever the best player is at that point in time,” DeCosta said. “Certainly would love to get a young defensive lineman if we can. I think it’s important to try and do that every single year if we can.”

The Ravens signed starting nose tackle Travis Jones and veteran depth tackle John Jenkins to contract extensions last year. They also drafted Aeneas Peebles in the sixth round, and he saw game reps. Although Trey Hendrickson is not an interior lineman, his talent will ease some of the burden on the line.

Rueben Bain is considered one of the top edge defenders in the draft. Although many projected him to go in the top 10, his involvement in a fatal car crash has affected his draft stock.

Bain also has a short wingspan, which can be a liability at his position.

DeCosta said it is difficult to ignore a prospect’s measurables. But he pointed out that Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton, who has become one of the best players in the league, was probably available at No. 14 overall because he ran a slow 40-yard dash.

“So I think you got to look at the tape first, right?” DeCosta said. “... And if you think it’s going to translate and you love the player, then you should probably take the player.”

Other positions

Although those were the main positions that were addressed, the Ravens need to add at other spots as well.

They could use another cornerback because veteran Marlon Humphrey is slowing down, Nate Wiggins had an inconsistent season and many of their young players are unknowns due to injuries.

They also haven’t added wide receivers to replace free agents Tylan Wallace and DeAndre Hopkins. They could always use more depth at linebacker and edge rusher. And they don’t have a punter.

This year’s draft features highly regarded players at positions that are not considered “premiums.”

DeCosta said, historically, the Ravens have been willing to draft players those positions high. And they’ve had success doing so.

However, that success can come back to bite them when it is time to decide on picking up the fifth-year option, he said. The math for what the option costs doesn’t always align with how much they can spend on that position, and then they lose valuable players. He used linebacker Patrick Queen and Linderbaum as recent examples.

“But again, if the guy’s a great football player who can change the face of your program, you’re going to take them,” DeCosta said.