How Lamar Jackson is central to Ravens' draft plans originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens enter the NFL Draft with the 14th overall pick, and what the franchise does with that selection is a fascinating thought process.
We have become used to the Ravens going defense under John Harbaugh, but now with Jesse Minter, will the franchise follow suit?
Most mock drafts have the Ravens going offense after the free agency losses, and getting Lamar Jackson some better protection with an offensive lineman is the general idea.
And for NFL.com's Dan Parr, getting Lamar offensive line and receiver upgrades should be the priority.
“The loss of three-time Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum in free agency leaves a major void at center, and Baltimore should be on the lookout for potential upgrades at guard, too,” Parr writes. “Adding playmakers for Lamar Jackson is never a bad idea, either. Finding a bigger receiver to complement Zay Flowers would make a lot of sense as the squad looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued 2025 season.”
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Of course, right? The Ravens in 2026, as is the case every year, will go as far as Jackson takes them.
For No. 8 to be the best version of himself is to have adequate protection and to have weapons capable of making plays consistently.
With no Tyler Linderbaum to anchor the offensive line and no quality receiver behind Zay Flowers, it is easy to see those two positions being a priority for Baltimore.
I expect offensive line to be the position at No. 14 for the Ravens, because there is a gaping hole in the interior, and with a couple of star guards in the draft class, it seems all too easy for Baltimore to plug a starter in from the first-round.
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