Ravens lauded for major steal in NFL Draft originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Baltimore Ravens, for most, were always going to go in one direction in the first-round of the NFL Draft, and that was offensive line.

Having the No. 14 overall pick, there was a fair chance that, given the teams ahead of them and their needs, at least one of the classes of big linemen would fall into their laps.

And they did, with the Ravens taking Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane to solidify the interior of the offensive line.

It's not a flashy or sexy draft choice, but for CBS Sports' Pete Prisco, it's a major addition and their best pick.

"It was their first one, Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane," Prisco wrote. "He was the best offensive lineman in this class. Landing him at No. 14 will prove to be a major steal."

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Given that Tyler Linderbaum is now with the Las Vegas Raiders, the Ravens needed some more muscle in the middle of the line.

Corey Bullock is projected to be the starter right now based on several depth charts, with Ioane slotting in next to him at left guard.

We have seen the impact some rookies can make on their teams, and for Ioane, he'll need to hit the ground running to protect Lamar Jackson in 2026, and he's got the talent to do it.

The Ravens are under pressure to bounce back from a horror 2025 season, and Ioane might have a bigger say in how far Baltimore goes than initially thought.

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