The Baltimore Ravens may not have everything figured out, but they’re closer than most. That's a good thing.
As the 2026 NFL Draft approaches, much of the conversation has centered on needs. Center, guard, edge rusher, and wide receiver are the positions under discussion. All are valid. All are worth addressing, but Albert Breer's recent perspective offers something different. Breer’s 2026 NFL Draft Needs for Every Team Reveal a Compelling Theme offers another satisfying angle about where a team in transition is. The senior NFL reporter says the Ravens aren’t drafting out of desperation.
"The interesting thing about the Ravens is that, outside of center, there’s not a spot where you’d say there’s a real crying need. And that opens GM Eric DeCosta up to do what Baltimore usually does, which is take the 'I can’t believe he’s still there' guy."
Breer goes on to state, "Baltimore is operating from a position of strength here in picking higher than they normally do." Most probably haven't thought of it that way, but he has a point.
There are flaws in the theory. Breer noted that outside of center, there isn’t a glaring, 'must-fix-now' hole on the roster. That may not be accurate. This team needs at least two guards, an edge rusher, a wide receiver, and a tight end. Still, this team is in better shape than most. With a salary cap and challenges caused by roster turnover, every NFL team needs something. Baltimore certainly isn't in as dire a position as other teams are in certain areas, and that has to give one cause to smile about the 2025 outlook.
In a league where most teams enter the draft trying to plug obvious gaps, it's a meaningful distinction. It gives general manager Eric DeCosta something every front office covets: freedom. The Ravens have the freedom to let the board come to him. They have the freedom to avoid reaching, freedom to do what Baltimore has done better than almost anyone else, take the player no one expected to still be available. That's where this gets interesting. Breer floated several names who could fit that mold if they slide, including Vega Ioane, Spencer Fano, Mansoor Delane, and even playmakers like Jordyn Tyson.
None of those scenarios would feel forced. All of them would reflect value in meeting opportunities. That's the Ravens' sweet spot. Of course, that doesn't mean every option is equally realistic. Positional overlap and prior investments still matter, but the larger takeaway remains clear. Baltimore isn't boxed into one path.
That's great news for the Ravens' faithful and upsetting news for the rest of the league. When the Ravens don't have to reach in an NFL draft, they tend to get their selections right.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: NFL insider says Ravens are in position to draft best player available