Ravens To Sign Calais Campbell
Future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Calais Campbell will play his age-40 season in 2026. Campbell is reuniting with the Ravens on a one-year pact, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Eighteen years since the Cardinals took him in the second round of the 2008 draft, Campbell has suited up for five teams. Also a former Jaguar, Falcon and Dolphin, Campbell previously played for the Ravens from 2020-22. He earned one of his six Pro Bowl nods in their uniform. The Ravens nearly brought him back in a 2024 deal with the Dolphins, but it fell apart before the trade deadline.
After short stints in Atlanta and Miami, Campbell returned to Arizona on a one-year, $5.5MM deal in 2025. Despite his advanced age, the 6-foot-8, 315-pounder remained durable and productive. During his third straight 17-start season, Campbell played 45.72% of defensive snaps and notched 43 tackles, 16 QB hits, nine TFL and 6.5 sacks. Campbell ended the year as Pro Football Focus’ 23rd-ranked interior defensive lineman among 122 qualifiers, suggesting he has plenty left in the tank.
Although he remained a quality contributor last year, the 2010s All-Decade Team member seriously contemplated retirement after the season. Campbell said last August he was likely entering his last year, but he has had a change of heart eight months later. Now that Campbell is coming back, he will be in position to vault to No. 1 on the all-time list of games played by a defensive lineman. At 278, Campbell is third behind Jim Marshall (282) and Bruce Smith (279). Campbell is also 34th on the all-time sack list (117).
Campbell is signing up to join a new regime in Baltimore, which replaced longtime head coach John Harbaugh with Jesse Minter earlier in the offseason. While Minter was the Chargers’ defensive coordinator over the previous two seasons, he and Campbell have some familiarity with each other. Minter was the Ravens’ defensive backs coach during Campbell’s first year in Baltimore.
As a rookie head coach, one of Minter’s key tasks will be to help orchestrate a defensive turnaround. The Ravens finished a disappointing 24th in total defense last year, largely because standout D-tackle Nnamdi Madubuike missed 15 games with a neck injury. Madubuike is expected to return next season. If that happens, Campbell will provide a solid complement. If not, Campbell should give the Ravens a nice fallback option up front.
Along with Madubuike, there is uncertainty surrounding Broderick Washington, who is working back from an Achilles injury that cost him 14 games in 2025. Before agreeing to terms with Campbell, the Ravens’ other options included Travis Jones, John Jenkins, C.J. Okoye, Aeneas Peebles and 2026 seventh-round pick Rayshaun Benny. It was clear a post-draft D-line addition was in order, and the Ravens have now picked up one of the most accomplished players left on the market.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 4/30/26
Today’s draft pick signings:
Baltimore Ravens
- WR Ja’Kobi Lane (third round, USC)
- TE Matthew Hibner (fourth round, SMU)
- CB Chandler Rivers (fifth round, Duke)
- TE Josh Cuevas (fifth round, Alabama)
- RB Adam Randall (fifth round, Clemson)
- P Ryan Eckley (sixth round, Michigan State)
- G Evan Beerntsen (seventh round, Northwestern)
Las Vegas Raiders
- S Treydan Stukes (second round, Arizona)
- G Trey Zuhn (third round, Texas A&M)
- RB Mike Washington (fourth round, Arkansas)
- S Dalton Johnson (fifth round, Arizona)
- CB Hezekiah Masses (fifth round, Cal)
- WR Malik Benson (sixth round, Oregon)
Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Cole Payton (fifth round, North Dakota State)
- S Cole Wisniewski (seventh round, Texas Tech)
- EDGE Keyshawn James-Newby (seventh round, New Mexico)
Seattle Seahawks
- CB Julian Neal (third round, Arkansas)
- G Beau Stephens (fifth round, Iowa)
- WR Emmanuel Henderson (sixth round, Kansas)
- CB Andre Fuller (seventh round, Toledo)
- DT Deven Eastern (seventh round, Minnesota)
- CB Michael Dansby (seventh round, Arizona)
Tennessee Titans
- G Fernando Carmona (fifth round, Arkansas)
- RB Nicholas Singleton (fifth round, Penn State)
- DT Jackie Marshall (sixth round, Baylor)
- C Pat Coogan (sixth round, Indiana)
- TE Jaren Kanak (seventh round, Oklahoma)
Ravens Sign First-Round G Vega Ioane
The Ravens have acted quickly in getting first-round guard Vega Ioane under contract. The 14th overall pick has signed his rookie deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. Ioane will earn a fully guaranteed $24.23MM over four years. The contract also comes with a fifth-year option.
The 6-foot-4, 325-pound Ioane was a standout at Penn State, where he became a full-time starter at left guard in 2024. Ioane earned second-team All-Big Ten honors that year, and he improved to first-team honors last season. He was also a first-team All-American after putting together a second straight season without allowing a sack or taking a holding penalty. Ioane yielded just four pressures over 614 snaps in his last year with the Nittany Lions.
Considered the best pure guard in this year’s draft class, Ioane ended up as one of a whopping nine offensive linemen to come off the board in the first round. The Ravens could have lost out on Ioane if not for the Rams’ affinity for Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson. Teams hoping to jump the Ravens for Ioane called the Rams about acquiring the 13th overall pick, but general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay stayed put to draft a potential QB of the future.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta and head coach Jesse Minter landed a plug-and-play starter in Ioane, though it is unclear whether he will line up on the left side in 2026. John Simpson, whom the Ravens signed to a three-year, $30MM contract in free agency, is more “comfortable” on the left than the right, Zrebiec notes. Regardless, Ioane and Simpson are poised to start next season, giving the Ravens two new No. 1s after they used Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele as 17-game starters last year. Vorhees is now ticketed for a bench role, while Faalele signed with the Giants and reunited with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
In addition to signing Ioane, the Ravens have inked fourth-round wide receiver Elijah Sarratt to a deal, Zrebiec relays. Sarratt enjoyed a productive three-year college career between James Madison and Indiana, where he combined for 200 catches and 31 touchdowns in 40 games. Sarratt was an integral part of the Hoosiers’ undefeated, national title-winning team in 2025. Serving as a key weapon for quarterback Fernando Mendoza and a strong complement to fellow receiver Omar Cooper Jr., Sarratt caught 65 passes for 830 yards and an NCAA-leading 15 scores. The Ravens snagged Sarratt at No. 115, 35 picks after they chose USC wideout Ja’kobi Lane at No. 80.
Saints Made Multiyear Offer To K’Lavon Chaisson
The Saints have been shopping around for edge rushers this offseason. Connected to Arvell Reese and Rueben Bain Jr. before the draft, New Orleans also made an offer for Kayvon Thibodeaux. The team ultimately pivoted to Tyree Wilson when the Giants rejected their proposal.
Weeks earlier, however, New Orleans was in the K’Lavon Chaisson market. This would have been a homecoming of sorts for the LSU product, and the Saints outflanked the Commanders in terms of contract length. But it sounds like the former first-round pick was willing to bet on himself rather than be tied down to a multiyear deal at a less-than-desirable rate.
Chaisson’s YouTube channel presented a look into his free agency decision. The seventh-year pass rusher’s agent (David Mulugheta) communicated to him a Saints three-year offer, though it does not sound like NFC South team would have placed him much higher — in terms of AAV — than Washington’s proposal (one year, $11MM). Mulugheta indicated he attempted to move the Saints to $13MM per year; the team not getting there created a decision on term length.
As Mulugheta explained to his client the Patriots did not make an offer, preferring Dre’Mont Jones to help in run defense from the EDGE position, the two discussed the Saints and Commanders (Jones signed a three-year, $36.5MM Pats contract). Mike Vrabel said at the Combine he would “love” to retain Chaisson, but nothing ended up materializing on that front.
It is not known how much guaranteed money New Orleans was offering, but the video points to guarantees into Year 2. Chaisson, however, preferred to bet on himself. This led to the late-blooming sack artist declining to return to Louisiana.
“I’m not gonna lie, I think that Commanders (offer), only because … you know, they’re competitive. So, we’re going to be in some time of playoff race,” Chaisson said. “I’m going to have more opportunities to be ahead (in) the game. I don’t know about the Saints; I don’t know what they offense look like. To know, like, we’ll be playing from ahead to even have rush opportunities.”
Chaisson, who is heading into an age-27 season, broke through with the Patriots after failing to justify his draft slot with the Jaguars. He joined the Raiders on a one-year, $1.13MM after the Panthers released him in 2024; his 2025 Pats contract came in at one year and $3MM. Chaisson recorded 7.5 regular-season sacks and three more in the playoffs. Mulugheta advised his client to avoid a multiyear deal for less than $11MM per when the Commanders were offering that in a “prove it” scenario.
After the EDGE market transformed throughout 2025, Chaisson opted to take the Commanders’ offer in hopes teams present better proposals — he mentioned a future deal beyond $20MM per year — in 2027. This is an interesting behind-the-curtain look at Chaisson’s process. In the video, he also inquires about the Buccaneers and Ravens, but without much traction from either, the decision came down to the Commanders or Saints.
PFR ranked Chaisson 32nd in this year’s free agent class, predicting some teams would deem his Patriots breakthrough as insufficient for a big multiyear offer. The Saints gave Chase Young a three-year, $51MM deal in 2025, but they had seen him excel with the team in 2024. Chaisson, who will team with Odafe Oweh in Washington, will hope to make a similar jump (Young played on a one-year, $13MM deal in 2024). Meanwhile, Oweh signed a four-year, $100MM deal with the Commanders.
Although the Saints finished with a better record than the Commanders last season, Chaisson looks to view the latter in higher regard because of Jayden Daniels‘ presence. The team, after all, voyaged to the NFC championship game during Daniels’ healthy rookie season before regressing as its quarterback battled multiple injuries. The Saints finished 6-11 last season and saw promise from Tyler Shough, but Chaisson will bet on Daniels presenting him with more pass-rushing snaps in Washington.
Ravens To Sign QB Diego Pavia
Initially set to take part in a Ravens tryout at their weekend rookie minicamp, Diego Pavia has secured a UDFA deal ahead of that point. Baltimore is signing the undrafted quarterback Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.
This will be a standard three-year UDFA contract. Pavia follows Jalon Daniels (Buccaneers) and Haynes King (Panthers) as QBs to find homes post-draft. The Vanderbilt quarterback finished second in the 2025 Heisman voting, completing a four-year career spent with the Commodores and at New Mexico State.
The SEC Offensive Player of the Year led the conference with a 70.6% completion rate, 29 touchdown passes, and 9.4 yards per attempt in 2025. He finished second to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in Heisman voting, but as our Nikhil Mehta noted during the pre-draft process, size is a major concern about his potential in the NFL. Listed as 6 feet tall in college, Pavia measured in at 5-foot-9 at the Combine.
Transferring from New Mexico State in 2024, Pavia completed 59.4% of his passes in his first Vanderbilt season. That year did include a 20:4 TD-INT ratio while also featuring 801 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The run game served as a key component for the undersized QB in college, as he gained 923 yards at New Mexico State in 2023 and 862 (to go with 10 TDs) in his Heisman runner-up season. Pavia’s rushing ability certainly should appeal to a Ravens team that deploys the league’s most dynamic quarterback as its starter.
Baltimore has used Tyler Huntley as its backup for a chunk of Lamar Jackson‘s career, reacquiring him last year and re-signing him this offseason. Jackson and Huntley entered Tuesday as the only QBs on the Ravens’ roster (Baltimore gave Huntley a two-year, $5MM deal coming with $3.5MM at signing). That opens the door to a potential developmental backup, and it will be interesting to see if Pavia can make a case to land on Baltimore’s 53-man roster or practice squad by summer’s end.
2026 NFL Draft Results: Team By Team
Here is every team’s haul from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Arizona Cardinals
- Round 1, No. 3: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
- Round 2, No. 34: Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 65: Carson Beck (QB, Miami)
- Round 4, No. 104: Kaleb Proctor (DT, Southeastern Louisiana)
- Round 5, No. 143: Reggie Virgil (WR, Texas Tech) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 183: Karson Sharar (LB, Iowa) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 217: Jayden Williams (T, Ole Miss) (signed)
Atlanta Falcons
- Round 2, No. 48: Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
- Round 3, No. 79: Zachariah Branch (WR, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 134 (from Raiders)*: Kendal Daniels (LB, Oklahoma) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 208 (from Bills via Jets and Raiders): Anterio Thompson (DT, Washington)
- Round 6, No. 215) (from Eagles)*: Harold Perkins (LB, LSU) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 231: Ethan Onianwa (T, Ohio State) (signed)
Baltimore Ravens
- Round 1, No. 14: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 45: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
- Round 3, No. 80: Ja’Kobi Lane (WR, USC) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 115: Elijah Sarratt (WR, Indiana) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 133 (from 49ers)*: Matthew Hibner (TE, SMU) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 162 (from Chargers): Chandler Rivers (CB, Duke) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 173*: Josh Cuevas (TE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 174*: Adam Randall (RB, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 6, No. 211 (from Broncos via Jets, Vikings and Eagles): Ryan Eckley (P, Michigan State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 250: Rayshaun Benny (DT, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 253: Evan Beerntsen (G, Northwestern) (signed)
Buffalo Bills
- Round 2, No. 35 (from Titans): T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 62: Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)
- Round 4, No. 102 (from Raiders): Jude Bowry (T, Boston College)
- Round 4, No. 125 (from Bears via Chiefs and Patriots): Skylar Bell (WR, UConn)
- Round 4, No. 126: Kaleb Elarms-Orr (LB, TCU)
- Round 5, No. 167 (from Texans): Jalon Kilgore (S, South Carolina) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 181 (from Lions)*: Zane Durant (DT, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 220 (from Jets): Toriano Pride Jr. (CB, Missouri) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 239 (from Eagles via Jaguars, Browns and Bears): Tommy Doman (P, Florida) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 241 (from Bears): Ar’maj Reed-Adams (G, Texas A&M) (signed)
Carolina Panthers
- Round 1, No. 19: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia) (signed)
- Round 2, No. 49 (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
- Round 3, No. 83: Chris Brazzell II (WR, Tennessee) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 129 (from Bears): Will Lee III (CB, Texas A&M) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 144 (from Titans via Panthers): Sam Hecht (C, Kansas State) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 151 (from Dolphins): Zakee Wheatley (S, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 227 (from Dolphins): Jackson Kuwatch (LB, Miami (OH)) (signed)
Chicago Bears
- Round 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
- Round 2, No. 57: Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
- Round 3, No. 69 (from Giants via Texans, Bills and Titans): Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)
- Round 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU)
- Round 4, No. 124 (from Jaguars via Panthers): Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)
- Round 5, No. 166 (from 49ers via Eagles and Panthers): Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State)
- Round 6, No. 213 (from Seahawks via Jaguars, Lions and Bills): Jordan Van Den Berg (DT, Georgia Tech)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Round 2, No. 41: Cashius Howell (DE, Texas A&M)
- Round 3, No. 72: Tacario Davis (CB, Washington)
- Round 4, No. 128 (from Texans via Lions and Bengals): Connor Lew (C, Auburn)
- Round 4, No. 140 (from Bengals): Colbie Young (WR, Georgia)
- Round 6, No. 189: Brian Parker II (C, Duke)
- Round 7, No. 221 (from Giants via Cowboys): Jack Endries (TE, Texas)
- Round 7, No. 226: Landon Robinson (DT, Navy)
Cleveland Browns
- Round 1, No. 9 (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
- Round 1, No. 24 (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
- Round 2, No. 39: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
- Round 2, No. 58 (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
- Round 3, No. 86 (from Chargers): Austin Barber (T, Florida)
- Round 5, No. 146: Parker Brailsford (C, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 149 (from Bengals): Justin Jefferson (LB, Alabama)
- Round 5, No. 170 (from Broncos): Joe Royer (TE, Cincinnati)
- Round 6, No. 182 (from Jets via Browns, Jaguars, Raiders, Bills and Broncos): Taylen Green (QB, Arkansas)
- Round 7, No. 248 (from Seahawks): Carsen Ryan (TE, BYU)
Dallas Cowboys
- Round 1, No. 11 (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs (S, Ohio State) (signed)
- Round 1, No. 23 (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
- Round 3, No. 92 (from 49ers): Jaishawn Barham (EDGE, Michigan) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 112: Drew Shelton (T, Penn State) (signed)
- Round 4, No. 114 (from Falcons via Eagles): Devin Moore (CB, Florida) (signed)
- Round 5, No. 137 (from Eagles)*: LT Overton (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
- Round 7, No. 218 (from Titans): Anthony Smith (WR, East Carolina) (signed)
2026 NFL Draft Results By Round
From the No. 1 overall pick to Mr. Irrelevant (No. 257), here are the results from the 2026 NFL Draft:
Round 1
1) Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza (QB, Indiana)
2) New York Jets: David Bailey (EDGE, Texas Tech)
3) Arizona Cardinals: Jeremiyah Love (RB, Notre Dame)
4) Tennessee Titans: Carnell Tate (WR, Ohio State)
5) New York Giants: Arvell Reese (LB/EDGE, Ohio State)
6) Kansas City Chiefs (from Browns): Mansoor Delane (CB, LSU)
7) Washington Commanders: Sonny Styles (LB, Ohio State)
8) New Orleans Saints: Jordyn Tyson (WR, Arizona State)
9) Cleveland Browns (from Chiefs): Spencer Fano (T, Utah)
10) New York Giants (from Bengals): Francis Mauigoa (T, Miami)
11) Dallas Cowboys (from Dolphins): Caleb Downs, (S, Ohio State)
12) Miami Dolphins (from Cowboys): Kadyn Proctor (T, Alabama)
13) Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Ty Simpson (QB, Alabama)
14) Baltimore Ravens: Vega Ioane (G, Penn State)
15) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE, Miami)
16) New York Jets (from Colts): Kenyon Sadiq (TE, Oregon)
17) Detroit Lions: Blake Miller (T, Clemson)
18) Minnesota Vikings: Caleb Banks (DT, Florida)
19) Carolina Panthers: Monroe Freeling (T, Georgia)
20) Philadelphia Eagles (from Packers via Cowboys): Makai Lemon (WR, USC)
21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Max Iheanachor (T, Arizona State)
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Akheem Mesidor (EDGE, Miami)
23) Dallas Cowboys (from Eagles): Malachi Lawrence (EDGE, Central Florida)
24) Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): KC Concepcion (WR, Texas A&M)
25) Chicago Bears: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)
26) Houston Texans (from Bills): Keylan Rutledge (G, Georgia Tech)
27) Miami Dolphins (from 49ers): Chris Johnson (CB, San Diego State)
28) New England Patriots (from Texans via Bills): Caleb Lomu (T, Utah)
29) Kansas City Chiefs (from Rams): Peter Woods (DT, Clemson)
30) New York Jets (from Broncos via Dolphins and 49ers): Omar Cooper Jr. (WR, Indiana)
31) Tennessee Titans (from Patriots via Bills): Keldric Faulk (DE, Auburn)
32) Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price (RB, Notre Dame)
Round 2
33) San Francisco 49ers (from Jets): De’Zhaun Stribling (WR, Ole Miss)
34) Arizona Cardinals: Chase Bisontis (G, Texas A&M)
35) Buffalo Bills (from Titans): T.J. Parker (EDGE, Clemson)
36) Houston Texans (from Raiders): Kayden McDonald (DT, Ohio State)
37) New York Giants: Colton Hood (CB, Tennessee)
38) Las Vegas Raiders (from Commanders via Texans): Treydan Stukes (S, Arizona)
39) Cleveland Browns: Denzel Boston (WR, Washington)
40) Kansas City Chiefs: R Mason Thomas (EDGE, Oklahoma)
41) Cincinnati Bengals: Cashius Howell (EDGE, Texas A&M)
42) New Orleans Saints: Christen Miller (DT, Georgia)
43) Miami Dolphins: Jacob Rodriguez (LB, Texas Tech)
44) Detroit Lions (from Cowboys via Jets): Derrick Moore (EDGE, Michigan)
45) Baltimore Ravens: Zion Young (EDGE, Missouri)
46) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Josiah Trotter (LB, Missouri)
47) Pittsburgh Steelers (from Colts): Germie Bernard (WR, Alabama)
48) Atlanta Falcons: Avieon Terrell (CB, Clemson)
49) Carolina Panthers (from Vikings): Lee Hunter (DT, Texas Tech)
50) New York Jets (from Lions): D’Angelo Ponds (CB, Indiana)
51) Minnesota Vikings (from Panthers): Jake Golday (LB, Cincinnati)
52) Green Bay Packers: Brandon Cisse (CB, South Carolina)
53) Indianapolis Colts (from Steelers): C.J. Allen (LB, Georgia)
54) Philadelphia Eagles: Eli Stowers (TE, Vanderbilt)
55) New England Patriots (from Chargers): Gabe Jacas (EDGE, Illinois)
56) Jacksonville Jaguars: Nate Boerkircher (TE, Texas A&M)
57) Chicago Bears: Logan Jones (C, Iowa)
58) Cleveland Browns (from 49ers): Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (S, Toledo)
59) Houston Texans: Marlin Klein (TE, Michigan)
60) Tennessee Titans (from Bills via Bears): Anthony Hill Jr. (LB, Texas)
61) Los Angeles Rams: Max Klare (TE, Ohio State)
62) Buffalo Bills (from Broncos): Davison Igbinosun (CB, Ohio State)
63) Los Angeles Chargers (from Patriots): Jake Slaughter, C (Florida)
64) Seattle Seahawks: Bud Clark (S, TCU)
Ravens Trade Up To No. 133 Pick for SMU TE Matthew Hibner
The Ravens have taken their third pass catcher in a row. After two physical wide receivers, they have now traded up to the No. 133 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to select SMU tight end Matthew Hibner.
Baltimore sent the No. 154 pick and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the 49ers in exchange for the 133rd pick, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
Hibner, 24, was a two-year starter at SMU who overlapped at Michigan with Ravens head coach Jesse Minter in 2022 and 2023. He was a nonfactor in the Wolverines’ offense, but recorded 55 catches for 804 yards and eight touchdowns across the last two seasons with just two drops, per Dane Brugler of The Athletic.
At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Hibner brings good size to the tight end position that shows up as a blocker and red zone threat. He is also a solid all-around athlete who posted an impressive 4.57-second 40 yard dash at the Combine with a 37-inch vertical and 20 reps on the bench press.
Hibner’s receiving profile in general is more limited. He was not a focal point of the Mustangs’ passing game and may not have the short-area movement skills to thrive in a versatile role. If he can establish himself as a blocker in the NFL, he profiles as an inline tight end that will allow Mark Andrews to split out into the slot.
The Ravens badly needed to rebuild their tight end room after losing 2022 fourth-rounders Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in free agency. Veteran Durham Smythe followed offensive coordinator Declan Doyle from Chicago to Baltimore to provide some run-blocking heft, but the team still needs more receiving upside at the position.
Hibner should provide that, but do not be surprised if the Ravens double dip on Day 3 tight ends as they did in 2022. However, they still have a major need at center and will need to use one of their remaining picks on the position.
Ty Simpson Fallout: Rams, McVay, Snead, Stafford, Lemon, Sadiq, Garoppolo, Ioane
While loosely connected to Ty Simpson entering the draft, the Rams were viewed as more likely to add a player that helped their strong 2026 roster compete for a Super Bowl title. In a move eerily similar to the Packers’ Jordan Love pick six years ago, the Rams came out of Round 1 with Simpson — who may well sit behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons.
Discussions about this pick pivoted from whether Simpson was a reach at No. 13 to whether Sean McVay was enthused about the selection. McVay’s post-draft presser left plenty to be desired on the latter front. For instance, McVay made this comment shortly after the choice:
“There were a lot of players that we liked, but when you do look at it, I think the thing you liked about the body of work is … let’s make one thing clear, this is Matthew’s team,” McVay said. “You get a chance to be able to address the backup quarterback.”
[RELATED: Rams Considered Joe Flacco In Free Agency]
This situation technically makes Simpson the backup quarterback — McVay went as far as to say Simpson will compete with disappointing holdover Stetson Bennett for the gig — but the Rams paid Jimmy Garoppolo barely $3MM to handle that role over the past two years. Dynamics in play here certainly separate this from merely staffing the QB2 job. With the exception of the Packers’ three-year Love developmental plan, QBs chosen in Round 1 play as rookies or, at the latest, by Year 2. Stafford is going into an age-38 season and is expected to sign an extension soon.
The Packers did add Love ahead of a Rodgers MVP season, but Stafford coming off an MVP campaign and seeing his team draft his successor is uncovered ground. No team rostering a reigning MVP quarterback has chosen another passer in the first or second round since the 1970 merger. But that is Stafford’s reality now. While this situation differs from the clunky Kirk Cousins–Michael Penix Jr. setup, as Stafford is unlikely to be benched anytime soon, a clock is almost certainly in place on his Rams tenure — rather than a Super Bowl frontrunner augmenting his current roster.
Makai Lemon was “definitely” in the mix to go to L.A. at 13, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but this does not appear to have been a McVay-Les Snead power struggle. A personnel source informed Fowler that Simpson being there at 13 meant the Rams were taking him, going so far as to say the Alabama prospect compared favorably to No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza by some in the team’s building.
McVay “absolutely” was onboard with the pick, another source told Fowler, with a separate team source indicating the duo was in lockstep by “all indications.”
“I think Sean had a chat with Matthew before last night. And that’s one thing that Matthew’s definitely earned,” Snead said, via The Sedano and Cap Morning Show (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Myles Simmons) “It’s one of the things that we’re working together to go through it. Matthew is on his way to, I would say this, a Hall of Fame career, right? And he still has gas left in the tank. And big picture, our vision’s always been, ‘Hey, let’s make the most of this time with Matthew and his teammates — let’s chase special together, however long that may [last].’ There’s no timeline on this. The longer, the better. Matthew just came off an MVP season, so if he continues playing, it’s like, this is better for everyone involved.
“And I think at the end of the day, Sean and I are going to always work together in these types of decisions. … But there was a lot that was going on into maneuvering that draft. So, we’re in lockstep. We work together. We’re collaborative. It’s him and I partnering to try to do the best for the Rams.”
Snead played in the SEC (at Auburn) around the same time Simpson’s father (Jason) was at Mississippi State. Jason Simpson, the longtime HC at Tennessee-Martin, consulted with Snead on whether Ty should declare for the draft or stay in college. Snead said Ty was a first-round-level talent, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes. Simpson received $5MM and then $6.5MM offers from Miami to transfer there for the ’26 season, according to Pelissero. Snead had his eye on Simpson dating back to the fall, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes.
These discussions commenced before Alabama’s Rose Bowl game. Miami’s second offer would have compared to a second-round guarantee, but Simpson’s No. 13 overall pact will be worth $25.77MM fully guaranteed (per OverTheCap). When Ty’s parents discussed the QB’s future with Snead before his draft declaration, Pelissero indicates the longtime Rams GM conveyed a real possibility the Rams would draft him in the first round. (While the Rams’ draft slot was not known at that point, L.A. knew where its Atlanta-obtained pick would land since the Falcons’ season had ended.)
Simpson declared for the draft Jan. 7 — three days after the Falcons’ season wrapped — and the Rams carried a rare opportunity to find a Stafford heir apparent. The team’s draft slot regularly comes outside the top 20; it landed at No. 29 this year. The Rams traded their own pick to the Chiefs for Trent McDuffie, and the draft community had viewed that swap as a decision that would likely send Simpson elsewhere. The Rams were viewed as high on Simpson but were considered more likely to draft him at 29 than at 13 (or via a trade-down from 13).
Even if this was a Snead-based pick, McVay has held tremendous input since arriving in L.A. nine years ago. A source familiar with the organization’s inner workings told FanSided’s Jason La Canfora that McVay “pulls all the triggers, and especially on a quarterback.” It would be highly unlikely a coach with McVay’s track record would be overruled by his GM, leading some in the league to view McVay’s lack of post-draft enthrallment for the pick as performative for Stafford’s benefit.
McVay indeed called Stafford on Thursday, per Jones. This differed from the Falcons’ approach, as they famously did not call Cousins before the Penix pick. Stafford is on a different QB tier than Cousins, and while it will be interesting to hear the veteran passer’s thoughts on the move, Simpson will be expected to sit for a while. The move also came partially due to Garoppolo uncertainty, per Fowler, though that assuredly played a small part in this. Garoppolo, whom the Rams had wanted back, is considering retirement.
McVay said (via Jones) he does not believe this pick will affect Stafford extension talks. The Rams have reached revised deals with their five-year starter in each of the past two offseasons, but with the QB unsigned for 2027, a true extension is on the docket this year.
Stafford pursued a $50MM-plus-AAV deal last year, being allowed to explore a trade, but backed down — after aggressive Raiders and Giants pushes — and signed a reworked Rams pact that brought a $40MM early guarantee. Simpson’s status aside, Stafford will still carry considerable leverage in Rams talks. Though, it is worth wondering if Simpson’s arrival will affect how much in future guarantees the Rams will want to offer.
Tied closely to the Rams coming into the draft, Lemon fell to 20th (via an Eagles trade-up in front of the Steelers). The Rams also considered tight end Kenyon Sadiq, per Fowler, who adds Caleb Downs — had he fallen to 13 — was on the team’s radar. Dallas traded up one spot to ensure it landed Downs at No. 11. The Rams have pursued a young weapon in each of the previous two first rounds. They sought Brock Bowers in 2024 and made an offer for No. 8 overall — believed to be a Tetairoa McMillan aim — in 2025. They also were linked to Emeka Egbuka in last year’s first round.
That makes the Simpson-over-Lemon call interesting, but if the Rams are right on the passer (and they certainly have an optimal setup to develop one given McVay’s success), that will end up being the right play long term.
The Rams also received calls from teams eager to move ahead of the Ravens (at No. 14) for guard Vega Ioane, and while it would have made sense to explore sliding down and picking up assets, the team stood pat. That certainly furthers the belief McVay was firmly in Camp Simpson, despite the Crimson Tide signal-caller being a one-year college starter. Simpson, who was linked to the Cardinals and Jets (among other teams) in this draft, preferred to end up in L.A., Fowler adds.
Green Bay has seen its Love investment pay dividends, though its 2020 squad — despite a Rodgers MVP effort — fell just short of Super Bowl LV. The Packers have not been that close since, with a non-QB first-round pick potentially enough to make the difference in that Buccaneers matchup five Januarys ago. But the Packers have since extended Love, who has become an upper-crust QB. The Rams had not brought in a starter-level draft prospect under McVay, though the HC developed Snead draftee Jared Goff upon arrival.
The Simpson project will be scrutinized, but this will remain Stafford’s show for a while. The extension talks will be the next chapter to follow here, and it will be fascinating how long the Rams truly commit to their likely Hall of Fame-bound starter — and, perhaps, how long he now wants to commit to the team — now that they have his likely replacement rostered.
Ravens DT Nnamdi Madubuike Expected To Play In 2026 Following Neck Surgery
APRIL 24: Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said on Thursday night (via team reporter Ryan Mink) Madubuike is now present for the team’s offseason program. That is another encouraging sign with respect to his progress in recovering from surgery.
APRIL 21: Nnamdi Madubuike‘s 2025 campaign ended in Week 2 due to a serious neck injury. Since then, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle’s future has been in question.
Few updates have emerged in recent months on this front, but the Ravens veteran himself has offered hints that a recovery could be in store. The team has appeared to hold a similar stance on the matter. Tuesday has brought about another encouraging development.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Madubuike underwent neck surgery last week. He adds doctors expect the 28-year-old to return to action during the 2026 season. The timing of Madubuike’s procedure is certainly interesting given the time which has transpired since the injury was suffered. Nevertheless, a positive outlook will be welcomed news for all parties in this case.
Madubuike has been a mainstay along the defensive line during his six-year Baltimore tenure. The former third-rounder posted 13 sacks in 2023, a figure which made him one of the players at the position to benefit from its rising market the following offseason. Madubuike inked a four-year extension averaging $24.5MM per season, cementing his status as a core player for the foreseeable future. No major injuries had occurred up to that point, and Madubuike logged a full season in 2024.
Things were much different last year, however. Losing Madubuike proved to be highly impactful for the Ravens, a team which ranked 30th in the NFL in sacks. Getting the Texas A&M product back in the fold would be critical for Baltimore with a rebound from an 8-9 campaign being sought out. New head coach Jesse Minter will be tasked with leading a defensive turnaround, and a healthy Madubuike could be central to that effort.
Adding along the defensive interior was likely to be a Ravens priority regardless of Madubuike’s outlook. Baltimore should still be expected to select at least one rookie defensive tackle this week, but the team’s approach could be altered slightly if a return to full health is expected throughout the organization.