Ranking the AFC's top NFL draft classes: Ravens, Chiefs headline

The Ravens selected 11 players in the 2026 NFL draft, with Eric DeCosta getting tremendous value with his first four picks. Value is an integral part of the draft process, and understanding the board is vital to judging how teams maximized value during the draft. Establishing actual "value" on NFL draft prospects is incredibly difficult, with all 32 NFL teams having different schemes, cultures, and ideas of what elite talent looks like.

Over his final two seasons in Happy Valley, Vega Ioane didn't allow a single sack and drew zero holding penalties. From the physical, defense-first identity built by the Baltimore Ravens to the ongoing roster reload by the Kansas City Chiefs, the AFC once again showcased elite draft strategy among multiple contenders. The Cleveland Browns , Las Vegas Raiders , and New York Jets each added foundational pieces that could accelerate their timelines, creating a competitive balance that should make the conference even more unpredictable heading into the season.

Ravens 1 14 Vega Ioane G Penn State 2 45 Zion Young Edge Missouri 3 80 Ja'Kobi Lane WR USC 4 115 Elijah Sarratt WR Indiana 4 133 Matthew Hibner TE SMU 5 162 Chandler Rivers CB Duke 5 173 Josh Cuevas TE Alabama 5 174 Adam Randall RB Clemson 6 211 Ryan Eckley P Michigan State 7 250 Rayshaun Benny DT Michigan 7 253 Evan Beerntsen G Northwestern Over his final two seasons in Happy Valley, Ioane didn't allow a single sack and drew zero holding penalties. Young, a transfer from Michigan State, started all 13 games at the JACK position last season. He recorded a total of 23 tackles, including 9 solo tackles, 9.

5 tackles for loss (TFL), and a team-high 9. 0 sacks, along with one interception. His average of 0.