Ravens Draft Projections: Ioane Leads, Delane a Possible Steal

Most mock drafts project the Ravens selecting Ioane in the first round, with alternatives including Utah's Spencer Fano (wide receiver), Sadiq (position unspecified), or an edge rusher. Cornerback is not among the Ravens' primary needs, but LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane could be chosen if available at the 14th overall pick.

Delane is expected to be selected in the top 10, but analysts note that players sometimes fall.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley stated:

"[Delane] could slide out of the top 10 if teams choose to upgrade in the trenches and draft offensive linemen. Plus, there's a chance that Tennessee's Jermod McCoy is the first cornerback drafted."

Hensley added:

"The Ravens likely would jump at the opportunity to grab Delane, who is considered the top cornerback in this draft. Cornerback is an underrated need for Baltimore because Marlon Humphrey turns 31 in July and is a free agent at the end of the season."

The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec commented that Delane could be the Ravens' quintessential best player available. Zrebiec said:

"The Ravens have used a first-round pick on a defensive back in three of the last four years, and they already have a ton of assets wrapped up in the secondary. However, would General Manager Eric DeCosta be able to resist Delane if he falls? The former LSU standout has all the qualities of a shutdown cornerback in the NFL, and those guys are hard to find, particularly when you don't often draft this early. Cornerback also looks like a need in the future with both Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie eligible for free agency next year."

Safety Depth: A Surprise Consideration

Separately, despite the Ravens having a strong safety group (All-Pro Kyle Hamilton, 2025 first-round pick Malaki Starks, free-agent addition Jaylinn Hawkins), ESPN's Matt Miller indicated they may still consider drafting a safety.