Ravens select Penn State guard Ioane with 14th pick
PUBLISHED Apr 23, 2026, 11:46 PM ET
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OWINGS MILLS, Md. The Baltimore Ravens selected Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th overall pick Thursday night, using the first-round choice to address interior offensive-line needs after the team lost center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency this offseason. The pick provides a potential plug-and-play guard who did not allow a sack across his last two college seasons and earned All-Big Ten and AP All-America honors; the team will evaluate configurations during this week's offseason workouts and training camp to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson and bolster the running game and support running back Derrick Henry under new head coach Jesse Minter.
By Emily Rhodes | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 2025 season: Lamar Jackson suffered 36 sacks across 13 games, exposing protection needs.
- Early 2026 offseason: Center Tyler Linderbaum left Baltimore in free agency.
- 2025 college season: Olaivavega Ioane earned first-team All-Big Ten and AP second-team All-America honors.
- April 30, 2026: Ravens selected Olaivavega Ioane with the 14th overall pick in the NFL Draft.
- May–August 2026: Team will use offseason workouts and training camp to finalize offensive-line roles.
News Intelligence
- The Ravens' pick of Ioane could mean a safer season for quarterback Lamar Jackson. Fewer sacks mean less risk of injury. That's good news if you're a Ravens fan. Check out Ioane's college highlights to see what he brings to the team.
- Articles Published:
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- Left Leaning:
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The Baltimore Ravens benefited by selecting a versatile Penn State guard to address interior protection and bolster the run game for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
The Ravens' interior-line continuity suffered after center Tyler Linderbaum's free-agency departure, exposing protection weaknesses the team aimed to remedy through the draft.
Coverage of Story:
From Left
By drafting old-school mauler Vega Ioane, the Ravens are returning to their roots
The New York TimesFrom Center
Ravens select Penn State guard Ioane with 14th pick
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