Ravens pick Penn State OL Vega Ioane at No. 14 in first round of NFL draft

Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun on Apr 23, 2026

Published in Football

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BALTIMORE — Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said he feels “really strong” that this year’s NFL draft lines up with Baltimore’s needs. At the top of that list: the offensive line.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was sacked 36 times in just 13 games last season, underscoring the need to better protect the franchise centerpiece.

The Ravens took an early swing at addressing it Thursday night in the first round.

With the 14th overall pick, Baltimore selected Penn State guard Vega Ioane.

In the words of DeCosta, the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Ioane is “straight from central casting” of “what you want your guards to look like.” He played the part well, too.

Over the past two seasons, Ioane, 22, didn’t allow a sack and drew zero holding flags on his way to becoming a second-team All-America selection.

He also showed some versatility. Though he primarily played left guard, Ioane also took limited snaps at center and tackle.

That could provide the Ravens with options after they lost Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency and failed to sign a regular starter to fill the void.

They also need help at guard. Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees struggled mightily last season, and only Vorhees is still on the roster after Faalele signed with the New York Giants in free agency. Baltimore brought back veteran guard John Simpson after Simpson spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets, and the line has been a priority.

“I think any good football team, it’s always been that way where you’re good on the line of scrimmage,” Ravens first-year coach Jesse Minter said this offseason.

Ioane will provide immediate help as a plug-and-play starter, wherever he plays up front.

Though he is perhaps best known for a viral moment in which he hopped over a wall and railing to help an equipment manager struggling to push a cart up a ramp after a loss to Ohio State, Ioane stood out most for what he did in the trenches.

A thick blocker who can overpower foes once he gets his hands on them — particularly in the run game — he also plays with an edge. In pass protection, he’s surprisingly quick out of his stance for a man of his stature and is unsurprisingly stout in his base.

If there are questions, most center around his mobility, particularly out wide, as well as how quickly he can recover in pass blocking.

Off the field, his backstory is interesting.

Ioane is the youngest of eight siblings whose father moved the family from American Samoa to Washington state. He also got a late start in organized football, not playing until high school.

His size and natural athleticism helped. His football IQ and eagerness to learn quickly, however, set him apart and led him to Penn State, where he played all five offensive line positions and made 32 starts at left guard.

“I’ve obviously seen him play a bunch,” said DeCosta, whose daughter attended Penn State. “He’s physical, tough.”

He’s also someone who will help the Ravens right away where they need it the most.