The Baltimore Ravens have kept the rest of the AFC North on their back foot for the entire offseason by staying aggressive. One move after another has shown why they will be contenders in 2026.
Finally, on Saturday, the AFC North bit back with the Cincinnati Bengals pulling off a blockbuster trade for NFL All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, sending the New York Giants the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft in exchange for arguably the NFL’s elite interior defensive lineman.
That means the Ravens will be dealing with some fallout from the move on several levels. That includes the sting from seeing their Giants head coach John Harbaugh send his team’s best player to face his former team twice a year.
“From Ravens perspective, biggest takeaway from Lawrence deal to Bengals is they have to deal w/him twice a year,” The Athletic’s Jeff Zrbiec wrote on X. “2 things: Would think NYG push harder for DJ Reader who visited Balt. 2. Reports indicate NYG are eyeing WR Jordyn Tyson at 10 so he may not be option at 14.”
Dexter Lawrence Could Dismantle Ravens OL
It’s hard to envision a scenario in which Lawrence doesn’t completely dismantle the Ravens’ interior offensive line, as its currently constructed, both times the teams face each other in 2026.
That’s thanks in large part to the Ravens losing their top free agent, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, to a record-setting free-agent contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Linderbaum agreed to a 3-year, $81 million contract with the Raiders that made him the highest-paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history.
“ESPN Sources: former Ravens free-agent center Tyler Linderbaum reached agreement today on a record deal with the Raiders, who are awarding him with a three-year, $81 million deal that includes $60 million guaranteed and makes him the highest paid interior offensive lineman in NFL history,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account. “Before today, Cowboys guard Tyler Smith was the NFL’s highest-paid interior offensive lineman, with a deal that averaged $24 million per year. Tyler Linderbaum’s deal averages $27 million per year.”
Losing Linderbaum represented an unfortunate piece of franchise history for the Ravens.
“With center Tyler Linderbaum going to Raiders, this marks just the second time in the Ravens’ 31-year history that they have failed to keep a multiple Pro Bowl first-round pick past his rookie deal,” ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote on X on March 9. “The other time this occurred was 2019 with C.J. Mosley.”
Ravens Almost Certainly Need to Draft Interior OL
Cincinnati landing Lawrence in a trade also forces Baltimore’s hand in terms of the 1st round, where they now almost certainly need to make sure that pick lands with an interior offensive lineman at No. 14 overall.
The most popular player for the Ravens in mock drafts has been 6-foot-5, 339-pound Penn State offensive lineman Vega Ioane.
“Certain pairings just make too much sense,” Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski wrote. “Olaivavega Ioane to the Baltimore Ravens after the organization lost its three-time Pro Bowl center is one of them. Ioane is the class’s top pure guard prospect, so he won’t directly replace Tyler Linderbaum. However, his inclusion immediately strengthens Baltimore’s offensive interior, which is still needed if the Ravens plan to continue playing a physical brand of football. John Simpson’s free-agent signing isn’t enough to buoy that group.”
Ravens Brace for Fallout From Massive AFC North Trade