In a move that's been mocked and expected for weeks, the Baltimore Ravens selected Penn State All-American guard Olaivavega Ioane with the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL draft. The Ravens are no strangers to letting the draft come to them, often capitalizing on top-tier talent that unexpectedly slides down the board with a best-player-available approach.

The board settled in, and after Spencer Fano and Kadyn Proctor came off the board, Ioane landed with the team that badly needs his physicality and dominant traits inside at offensive guard.

The Ravens are built to contend now, and Ioane is an immediate Day 1 starter at right guard opposite John Simpson.

The #Ravens will select Penn State G Olaivavega Ioane at No. 14. This fell perfectly for Baltimore. Ioane is a plug-and-play starter who thrives in both the run and pass game. pic.twitter.com/UDMlwFmPg3

While the Ravens could have been tempted to draft a wide receiver, there's available talent in Rounds 2 and 3, while Ioane and Spencer Fano were the best at their respective positions, and the former Nittany Lion gives Baltimore a potential ten-year starter at offensive guard, while ensuring physicality and elite traits at the position.

Ioane plays with intense power and quickness, using 330 pounds of elite force, earning second-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Football Foundation as an offensive guard. Ioane is the 158th Nittany Lion (192nd selection) to be named an All-American by an NCAA-recognized outlet (AFCA, Associated Press, FWAA, The Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation). Ioane was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team in 2024 and to the Honorable Mention Team in 2023. He'll exit State College after playing in 44 games and making 32 starts at Penn State. According to PFF, he allowed zero sacks and three pressures in 310 pass blocking snaps in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens select Olaivavega Ioane with No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL draft