Mock draft 2.0: Ravens get first-rounder back, address interior offensive line

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For four days, it looked as if the Ravens would be sitting back to watch the rest of the league make their picks on Day 1 of the NFL draft.

In what would have been the biggest trade in franchise history and an uncharacteristic organizational move, they gave up their 2026 first-round pick — and their 2027 first-rounder. In return, they added an elite pass rusher in Las Vegas Raider Maxx Crosby.

But, four days later, the Ravens backed out. Crosby allegedly failed his physical, a report the Pro Bowler and his agent have cast doubts on and that general manager Eric DeCosta has yet to confirm.

The day after that, the Ravens picked up Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, addressing the pass rush without giving up any first-round picks.

Shortly after that, they restructured quarterback Lamar Jackson’s contract and added a handful of other free agents.

With the initial rush of free-agent signings over, the Ravens’ needs have shifted as they look to the draft, which starts April 23.

Considering the additions and losses, here is a second stab at a mock draft with help from PFF’s mock draft simulator.

Round 1 (No. 14 overall): Olaivavega Ioane, guard, Penn State

Although the Ravens brought back veteran guard John Simpson, they have an extreme need at the position. Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees graded poorly, while Emery Jones Jr. saw little time due to injury and coaches determining he wasn’t ready. The loss of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum makes guard play even more critical.

There’s a reason Ioane’s name is being connected to the Ravens. The team has a need, it has shown a pattern of drafting Penn Staters in recent years, and it emphasizes athleticism. Ioane ranked second among guards at the NFL scouting combine, according to NextGen Stats. He pairs great technique with impressive core power and balance. Ioane is projected to be a great player in a downhill offense, which is what the Ravens have been with Derrick Henry. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has yet to establish a style as a new play-caller.

However, one of Ioane’s core weaknesses is his lack of foot quickness, which affects his ability to move from block to block and to keep up with stunting rushers. Those will be critical areas to improve with the quality of pass rushers in the AFC North. Ioane has shown great improvement since arriving at Penn State as a three-star recruit to become one of the most highly regarded guards in the draft.

Round 2 (No. 45 overall): Chris Johnson, cornerback, San Diego State

Re-signing Chidobe Awuzie went a way toward building cornerback depth, but the Ravens need to address the position. Veteran Marlon Humphrey seemed to have lost a step, and it’s unclear if that was an anomaly or if he’s aging out. Second-year player Nate Wiggins was inconsistent. T.J. Tampa was used in a limited role, and the two drafted cornerbacks last year suffered season-ending injuries in camp.

Johnson, who was one of the best available players in the mock draft, is a versatile cornerback. In a scheme like head coach Jesse Minter’s, players who can play inside and out are valuable. Johnson is a blend of disciplined and aggressive, which the Ravens could use as they try to get back to their standard of defensive play. He’s not the biggest, but he makes up for it with his technique and football IQ. Last season, he made 48 tackles and had four interceptions and eight pass defenses. He also stood out at the combine after running the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds.

Round 3 (No. 80 overall): Romello Height, edge, Texas Tech

Despite adding Hendrickson, the Ravens’ pass rush could need a lot of work. There are three relative unknowns behind Hendrickson. Tavius Robinson has improved in every season, but he was slowed by a broken foot. Mike Green might take a leap in Year 2. And Adisa Isaac has spent two seasons sidelined by injury.

Height most likely won’t contribute from day one — he needs to put on weight. But he plays with speed and determination. He has good moves but has to improve his base. Height played for four teams, with his best season coming his senior year at Texas Tech. He had 38 tackles, including 10 sacks.

Round 4 (No. 115 overall): Jake Slaughter, center, Florida

Replacing Linderbaum won’t be easy. While backup Corey Bullock is serviceable, as is free-agent signing Danny Pinter, they don’t have the upside Linderbaum had. This draft is not littered with elite centers, but if Slaughter is around at No. 115, the Ravens should address the position.

A two-year captain, Slaughter has leadership experience that is critical when replacing Linderbaum. He also has a high football IQ, which will help as the player communicating calls along the line. He’s versatile and has played multiple positions, which is good for the line’s depth and for his understanding of assignments. Slaughter is undersize, but so was Linderbaum. He needs to get stronger, but that’s the biggest knock on him. He has quick feet and quick eyes. He plays through blocks and executes well.

Round 5 (No. 154 overall): Caleb Douglas, wide receiver, Texas Tech

DeCosta spoke confidently when he said he expects Rashod Bateman to have a bounce-back year and Devontez Walker to take a step forward. But the Ravens have to replace DeAndre Hopkins (who is still available) and Tylan Wallace.

Douglas is a long target, providing something different in a room of relatively undersize receivers. He’s quick and has a solid route tree. However, he loses focus at times and can be bullied by larger defenders because he has a slender build. He had 54 catches for 846 yards and seven touchdowns for Texas Tech. If a gamble on Douglas pays off, he could fill the X position.

Round 5 (No. 162 overall): Joe Royer, tight end, Cincinnati

A physical player with good hands, Royer gives Jackson a target who can win a 50-50 ball. He becomes less of a threat farther down the field, which means he won’t necessarily fill the same role Isaiah Likely did, but he could turn into a reliable target when Jackson is improvising. Royer’s blocking needs work, but the Ravens added free agent Durham Smythe to help replace Charlie Kolar. A big body, a great athlete and a smart player, Royer has a good ceiling, but he has to prove his durability. Royer had 29 catches for 416 yards last season.

Round 5 (No. 173 overall): Julian Neal, cornerback, Arkansas

At 23, Neal broke out late with 55 tackles and two interceptions, and he has lots of room for improvement. But his ceiling is high. He is a long defender, which helps him in deep zone coverage, and a skilled tackler, which helps in short zone coverage. Although he is explosive, he can struggle to find makeup speed. And, although he contests the catch well, he needs to look for the ball earlier. In the fifth round, Neal could be a steal.

Round 5 (No. 174 overall): Aiden Fisher, linebacker, Indiana

Last season, the Ravens saw three rookie linebackers suffer serious knee injuries. They also lost special teams contributor Jake Hummel in free agency. They could stand to add depth, even if their top three linebackers are set in Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson.

Although Fisher probably does not have the athleticism to be a starter, he’s a smart player with leadership qualities. He could attempt to follow a similar path to Hummel’s and make his name through special teams. His stats are impressive — he had over 300 tackles across the last three seasons — and he has solid technique.

Round 6 (No. 211 overall): Brett Thorson, punter, Georgia

The New York Giants lured Pro Bowler Jordan Stout with an impressive contract, leaving the Ravens without a punter. Although they won’t want to use precious draft capital on a specialist, they should grab one of the top prospects — especially considering they will have very young players at kicker and punter.

An Australian punter, Thorson is older than the average draft prospect. Although he doesn’t have incredible leg strength, he gets good hang time, allowing the coverage unit to get down the field. It’s uncertain how much stronger Thorson will get because he’s already 26. He also has little experience with bad weather — which the AFC North has plenty of — but specialists coach Randy Brown stuck around, so he’ll have a good teacher.

Round 7 (No. 250 overall): James Thompson Jr., defensive lineman, Illinois

The status of the Ravens’ defensive line remains uncertain as they wait for an update on Nnamdi Madubuike. Travis Jones continues to take steps forward, and the Ravens extended veteran John Jenkins’ contract. However, Broderick Washington spent last season on injured reserve, Aeneas Peebles is a relative unknown after his rookie season and Brent Urban is a free agent.

At 6-foot-6, 310 pounds, Thompson is a big body and is learning how to use it. He’s a power player who is better against the run but can contribute to the pass rush. He does not have a wide variety of pass rush moves but can disrupt offenses with his power, pushing back the offensive line. He’s a high-effort player who could contribute on special teams as he adjusts to the NFL.

Round 7 (No. 253 overall): Fa’alili Fa’amoe, tackle, Wake Forest

The Ravens are set at tackle with veteran Ronnie Stanley locked in at left tackle and young talent Roger Rosengarten on the right, but they could stand to add depth.

Fa’amoe has the right build to be an NFL tackle but is projected to be a backup. He has good hands, but he needs to move his feet better. He’s inconsistent but has shown improvement, leading some scouts to believe he can grow as a blocker. He has the potential to shift to guard.