The Baltimore Ravens have long been known for their savvy draft strategies, but not everyone is impressed with their 2026 haul. While most analysts have handed the Ravens a solid "B" grade for their draft class, CBS Sports' Pete Prisco begs to differ—and he's not shy about pointing out his least favorite pick.

In his comprehensive review of all 32 NFL teams' draft classes, Prisco gave Baltimore a lukewarm C+ grade. The biggest point of contention? The selection of USC wide receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round, at pick No. 80 overall.

"I didn't love the pick of USC receiver Ja'Kobi Lane in the third round. There were better options out there," Prisco wrote.

On paper, the criticism has some merit. When the Ravens were on the clock, quality centers like Trey Zuhn III, Connor Lew, and Sam Hecht were still available—players who could have filled a lingering need in the trenches. But here's the flip side: reaching for a center at that spot might have been a stretch in its own right.

Let's give Baltimore's front office some credit. The Ravens desperately needed wide receiver depth, and Lane is no ordinary prospect. He's a physical specimen with freakish athleticism, and he already has existing ties to the coaching staff. In the NFL, those relationships often matter more than outsiders realize during the evaluation process.

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta made it clear that this draft was about "prioritizing value over urgency," and Lane fits that philosophy. The debate gets a bit more interesting when you consider that Baltimore took another wideout, Elijah Sarratt, just 35 picks later in the fourth round. Could one of those receiver picks have been used to snag a center instead? Lew and Hecht were still on the board at that point. That's a fair question—but it's a conversation for another day.

For now, Ravens fans can take comfort in knowing that Prisco did acknowledge the team's biggest bright spot: first-round guard Vega Ioane, who looks like a home run selection. And while Lane's selection might raise eyebrows now, remember that the draft is a marathon, not a sprint. Only time will tell if Prisco's critique was spot-on or premature.