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.
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 Add G Vega Ioane At No. 14
Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft is on fire along the offensive line. After Spencer Fano went to Cleveland and Francis Mauigoa to New York, Vega Ioane is going to Baltimore.
The Ravens took the Penn State guard at No. 14, bringing in a player who should be an instant starter on the interior. The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Ioane was a full-time starter at left guard for the past two years. After earning a second-team All-Big Ten nod in 2024, Ioane took home first-team all-conference and first-team All-America honors last season. He went back-to-back years without allowing a sack or taking a holding penalty, per Pro Football Focus.
Known as a mauler who excels in the running game, Ioane looks like an ideal fit for the Ravens. Although dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson was rarely healthy during a 13-start 2025, he was still a key contributor to a rushing attack that finished first in yards per attempt and second in yards. Jackson and running back Derrick Henry stand to benefit from Ioane’s presence going forward.
Ioane should serve as a much-needed upgrade on a Ravens line that has undergone a few notable changes this offseason. They lost elite center Tyler Linderbaum to the Raiders, which was a major blow. The team also allowed Daniel Faalele to leave for the Giants after back-to-back 17-start seasons. Faalele was on the field for 99.7% of offensive snaps last year. Free agent pickup John Simpson will replace Faalele, while Ioane should step in at left guard from the get-go and send 2025 starter Andrew Vorhees to the bench.
OL-Heavy First Round Expected
This draft is expected to bring the rare instance of a running back, safety and off-ball linebacker each chosen in the top 10. Beyond the Jeremiyah Love, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles inclusions, this draft lacks quarterback depth — at least at the top of the prospect pool — and does not feature a surefire top-10 cornerback.
In terms of high-end volume, offensive line may be where this group stands out. Although no blockers are certain to go in the top five, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes as many as 10 could come off the board in Round 1. Various executives have informed veteran insider Jordan Schultz simulations are seeing nine O-linemen go in the first round.
The Nos. 10-14 spots may be where the run begins, per Schultz, and Graziano names a host of teams as interested parties. The Lions (No. 17), Panthers (No. 19), Steelers (No. 21), Chargers (No. 22), Eagles (No. 23), Browns (Nos. 6, 24), 49ers (No. 27), Chiefs (Nos. 9, 29) and Patriots (No. 31) are among the teams who would “love” to exit Round 1 with an O-lineman added.
Cleveland’s O-line interest has been well documented, and Graziano adds the team wants to leave the first round with a tackle and a receiver. The Browns traded for Tytus Howard to play right tackle but have injury-prone Dawand Jones penciled in at LT; Jones’ place on the depth chart may well change based on a transaction tonight. Detroit has been linked to tackles following Taylor Decker‘s release. Kansas City was loosely tied to Trent Williams, but the longtime San Francisco LT has reached an extension to stay in the Bay Area.
The collection of teams Graziano mentioned would lend to the O-line run beginning in the back half of the first round, and FOX’s Jay Glazer points to seven or eight being off the board by the early 20s. That could influence trade-up moves from teams who view the first round as essential to restocking their front fives.
Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Spencer Fano (Utah), Vega Ioane (Penn State), Monroe Freeling (Georgia), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama) and Blake Miller (Clemson) look like the safest bets to be chosen in Round 1. Mauigoa and Fano have been connected to Cleveland at No. 6, while Ioane-Giants ties have circulated after Ravens connections emerged. Ioane may be viewed as the safest bet among the whole lot, as Glazer adds NFL personnel staffers have him among four players in this class (along with Downs, Love and Fernando Mendoza) as the surest candidates to rise to the Pro Bowl level.
The Chiefs using their No. 9 pick on a blocker would not be surprising, Graziano adds, and it would mean back-to-back years with a first-round lineman chosen. Kansas City has a right tackle vacancy following its Jawaan Taylor release. While Jaylon Moore (two years, $30MM) is an overpriced backup, the ex-49er entered last season behind Taylor and Josh Simmons — the Chiefs’ No. 32 overall pick in 2025.
Caleb Lomu (Utah) and Max Iheanachor (Arizona State) also land in Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com top 32. Both were busy on the “30” visit circuit. Although Keylan Rutledge comes in 47th on Jeremiah’s big board — as the next O-lineman listed — ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler adds the Texans have done plenty of work on the Georgia Tech guard. The Texans have been connected to further bolstering their O-line — a recent trouble spot — early in this year’s draft. Houston met with Lomu, Iheanachor and Miller recently, and Proctor visited in March.
Draft Rumors: Stukes, Allar, Seahawks, Price, Chiefs, Mauigoa, Bolts, Banks
This draft figures to produce at least three first-round safeties, with Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren following Caleb Downs off the board. Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft has Thieneman going 18th to the Vikings and McNeil-Warren heading to the Eagles at 23. A fourth safety looks to have entered the equation for Round 1, with CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz noting Arizona’s Treydan Stukes has made a push to go early on Day 2 or late on Day 1. Coaches have viewed Stukes favorably, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who views the safety as a candidate to see slot time and potentially be a first-round pick.
Blazing to a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time (third among safeties) at the Combine, Stukes intercepted seven career passes (four last season) with the Wildcats. A six-year collegian (which is certainly no longer uncommon), Stukes looks to have made noise late in the pre-draft process. The versatile DB made 11 pre-draft visits, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano, who mentions meetings with the Chiefs and Seahawks. Although Daniel Jeremiah’s NFL.com big board places Stukes 48th (33 spots behind McNeil-Warren), the longtime draft expert’s final mock sends Stukes 29th to the Chiefs and leaves McNeil-Warren out of Round 1.
Here is the latest from the draft ranks:
- Francis Mauigoa‘s back issue has generated some concern. Some teams think he will need surgery to repair a herniated disk, and Graziano indicates some clubs are worried about the Miami tackle prospect’s health. A scenario in which Mauigoa — long hyped as being this class’ top O-lineman — falls behind Utah’s Spencer Fano and Penn State’s Vega Ioane is one to monitor as a result of the disk issue, per Graziano.
- The Chargers are hoping to trade down from No. 22, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, eyeing an increase to their five-pick total. Though, Popper cautions a few teams in this draft sector want to move down. This draft is not viewed as having a clear line of demarcation between talent beyond the top 15 or so, and teams eyeing drops to accumulate capital while still landing a comparable player after sliding down the board makes sense. The Bolts hold picks 22, 55, 86, 123 and 204 in this draft. If the Chargers do not move down, Popper points to Thieneman and fellow Oregon product Kenyon Sadiq as names to monitor. Ely had Sadiq going to the Panthers at No. 19 in his mock.
- As we covered Tuesday, the Seahawks have an extensive history of trading down in Round 1 under John Schneider. The two-time Super Bowl-winning GM confirmed he wants to move out of the first round, as the Seahawks hold a league-low four draft choices. Should Seattle stay at No. 32, however, Graziano connects the defending champions to Notre Dame running back Jadarian Price. It is possible Price could be there early in Round 2, depending on how far the Seahawks prefer to move down, but the Jeremiyah Love backup is viewed as this top-heavy RB class’ second-best option at the position. The Jaguars may loom as a Price suitor if he slips into Round 2.
- Penn State quarterback Drew Allar, San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson and Central Florida edge rusher Malachi Lawrence are generating some late momentum heading into the draft, Zenitz adds. Allar’s college tape left plenty to be desired, per Zenitz, though one coach views Day 2 as an appropriate landing spot. Adam La Rose’s most recent PFR mailbag pegged LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier as this class’ No. 3 QB prospect, though it is not a lock any non-Fernando Mendoza or Ty Simpson options hear their names called before Day 3.
- Florida defensive tackle Caleb Banks is recovering from a broken foot that required surgery. That has affected his draft stock, but ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel notes teams received a letter from Banks’ camp saying the ex-Gator will be ready for football work by early June. Banks broke his foot at the Combine; Jeremiah’s big board places him 51st.
Giants Draft Latest: Styles, Downs, Love, Ioane, Fano, Tyson, Trade
For the second time in four years, the Giants hold two top-10 picks in a draft. Joe Schoen‘s first draft did not maximize the value at Nos. 5 and 7, where Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal arrived. If the GM is to save his job, he will need to serve as a meaningful contributor while a John Harbaugh-fronted regime navigates the Nos. 5 and 10 overall selections.
The Giants obtained No. 10 from the Bengals for Dexter Lawrence. While that haul surprised some Giants decisionmakers, the team bungling the Neal pick reminds how having such meaningful draft real estate can backfire. Several possibilities certainly exist for Big Blue near the top of this draft.
A path where the Giants grab Sonny Styles at No. 5 and emerge from No. 10 with another offensive line starter should be considered in play, according to SportsBoom.com’s Jason La Canfora. A GM informed La Canfora that Styles will not be available by No. 10, so if Harbaugh wants a Roquan Smith-type linebacking anchor, the Giants would need to pull the trigger at 5.
Likely set to be the highest ILB drafted since the Buccaneers chose Devin White fifth overall in 2019, Styles has been connected to the Titans at No. 4. With the Jets down to Arvell Reese and David Bailey and the Cardinals not tied to Styles much, it would seemingly be down to Tennessee passing to greenlight a Giants pick.
The Giants have two locked-in tackle starters, in Andrew Thomas and Jermaine Eluemunor, but their guard posts do not feature a long-term piece. Although Jon Runyan Jr. came up as a cut candidate months ago, he remains on the roster. The former Packer is entering the final season of a three-year, $30MM contract and may not be a roster lock, and the team signed ex-Raven (one of many brought in under Harbaugh) Daniel Faalele to go with Lucas Patrick. Those players could be swing options, however, and La Canfora hears Harbaugh “loves” Penn State guard Vega Ioane.
Ioane has been linked to Baltimore at No. 14, where Ely Allen’s PFR mock draft sent him. Prior to the Lawrence trade, Ely mocked Francis Mauigoa to New York at No. 5. The Giants have an interesting opportunity to add a quality O-line option thanks to holding a second first-rounder, and Ioane should remain on the board by No. 10. Kadyn Proctor and Spencer Fano, two tackle prospects who could slide to guard (joining Mauigoa in that regard), also are believed to be on the Giants’ radar, per La Canfora.
Wide receiver should also be considered a factor for the Giants, especially at No. 10. They have been linked closely to Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson, and ESPN.com’s Dan Grazino adds more fuel to the Tyson-to-New York fire by noting the team indeed is fond of the injury-prone Arizona State talent. Tyson has been one of the pre-draft process’ late climbers, as his recent workout showcased upside Tate may not carry. Tate is viewed as a safer prospect, however.
Another scenario for New York may feature Tyson at 10 — if he is still available — but Caleb Downs over Styles at 5, with Graziano adding multiple sources have informed him the Giants would be likely to take the ex-Buckeyes safety over the linebacker if both are available. Downs has been linked to the Giants for weeks, and the Ravens certainly valued the safety position — from Ed Reed to Eric Weddle to Earl Thomas to Kyle Hamilton — under Harbaugh.
A wrench in this plan exists at running back, though. Interest in Jeremiyah Love could prompt the Giants to table a defensive pick and go for the dual-threat Notre Dame RB prospect, with Graziano noting Love will be squarely in play — perhaps even over Downs — if he’s still available at 5. Some in the Giants’ building are holding out hope for Love at 5, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, with ESPN colleague Jordan Raanan finding it difficult to envision the team passing. Love would mark the organization’s second top-five RB investment in nine years. A Saquon Barkley ceiling is uncertain here, but teams have been rewarded for recent first-round RB picks — as possible 2023 extension recipients Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs highlight.
While Fowler also points to the Giants closely eyeing an O-line upgrade at No. 10 in the event Downs is the pick at 5 — mentioning Fano and Ioane — EssentiallySports.com’s Tony Pauline offers more on the receiver front. A concern exists Malik Nabers may not be 100% by Week 1, and Pauline goes as far as to say the Giants “will” use the No. 10 choice on a receiver.
Short-term Nabers concerns would not be a great reason to make a long-term WR investment with such a high pick, though if Tyson or Tate ends up being higher on New York’s board compared to Fano or Ioane, pairing Nabers with one of them makes sense. Tate may be unlikely to fall past New Orleans at No. 8, however. Pauline also cites a source close to Ioane who believes No. 10 might be a bit early for the draft’s top guard prospect to go.
Trading down would represent another route here, and we heard the Giants were open to moving back from No. 5 a bit ago. The New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy hears the Giants would be willing to make a small move back from No. 5 to obtain more Day 2 capital. New York traded its third-round pick to climb up for Jaxson Dart last year. A scenario in which the Cardinals take Love at No. 3 leaving the Titans with a Styles-or-EDGE selection could accelerate Giants trade talks, and either Bailey or Reese remaining on the board at 5 could prompt a trade-up — as the Giants are not in need of OLB help.
As if we aren’t deep enough in this web — big night, Giants fans — Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer is iffy the Giants would use the No. 5 pick on Downs. But the veteran insider confirms the team’s interest in Tyson (who dined with Schoen while the latter was in town for his workout). No. 5 might not even be too high for Tyson, though that would be higher than expected.
The Giants view Tyson as “so dynamic,” Glazer adds. He posted a 1,100-yard season in 2022 but has suffered major knee and collarbone injuries prior to multiple bouts with hamstring trouble. Odell Beckham Jr. comparisons have also emerged here. Were Tyson to become a Giant, a Beckham reunion may not come to pass.
NFL Draft Rumors: Bain, Bailey, Chiefs, Ravens
Miami defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. was subject to a blast of media a week ago, when news of a careless driving citation he received two years ago that resulted in the loss of life of a passenger broke with unfortunate timing. Several media members and NFL executives with existing knowledge of the situation provided leveled input, though some believed it could still affect his draft stock.
Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports recently dug into the what these executives reportedly knew and how they handled the information they were given. Upon the general reaction that most teams already knew of the situation, Epstein looked into why these franchises were okay with what they found and learned that some had talked to Bain and fellow prospects Wesley Bissainthe and Nyjalik Kelly about the incident. Bissainthe, a linebacker at Miami, and Kelly, a pass rusher out of UCF, were both teammates of Bain’s and passengers of the vehicle at the time of the incident. Teams who spoke with them were satisfied to find that their narratives aligned with Bain’s.
When Epstein asked teams whether they considered Bain a significant character risk, four of the five respondents said no, and the fifth said “it would exercise caution but did not view him to be as risky as” recent NFL players with citations for speeding or driving under the influence, something most teams believe Bain was cleared of doing. In fact, one team that did some digging reportedly believes that “Bain does not drink or smoke.”
In other news with Bain, concerning another red flag from his evaluation process, Epstein relays that, while Bain’s below-average arm length may be evident without exact numbers, “multiple evaluators believe this year’s combine arm-length measurements were not precise.” Epstein goes on to say that arm measurements performed by NFL scouts at pro days have delivered longer results for several players. Bain certainly has some of the shorter arms in this year’s class, but if the combine measurements are indeed short, it may not be as historically bad as initially framed.
Here are more recent rumors on some trench prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft:
- Texas Tech defensive end David Bailey has received plenty of interest over the course of the pre-draft process. He visited a good number of teams early on in the month and added a trip to Tennessee a week ago. He even had a visit canceled with the Jets, though there’s wide speculation of what that could mean. To close out his pre-draft process, Bailey visited the Commanders, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Washington added a pair of former late-first-round pass rushers with varying success this offseason in Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson, but Bailey could raise the ceiling of the team’s pass rush.
- The Chiefs have a luxury unusual to the recently successful franchise in this upcoming draft as they sport two first-round picks. According to Dakota Watson of SBNation, general manager Brett Veach seemed to indicate that the team could be looking to address the defensive line early and often in next week’s draft. He also identified offensive tackle as a position of need in the draft, meaning Kansas City may need to address that position with one of their top picks, as well. We recently mocked Bain to the Chiefs, which would certainly address the defensive line, but Veach fears a potential run of tackles shortly after their ninth overall pick, so they may be forced to attack the offensive line first.
- Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta also recently identified offensive line as a focus for his team early in the upcoming draft. Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane and Utah right tackle Spencer Fano are names opposing evaluators have connected to Baltimore, according to Jason La Canfora of Sports Illustrated. We mocked Ioane to the Ravens in our recent mock draft, but Fano could easily end up being the pick, and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor has been mentioned as a prospect of interest, as well.
Steelers Host Germie Bernard, Spencer Fano, Vega Ioane
Set to pick 21st overall in this year’s draft, the Steelers have been busy hosting potential first-rounders in the past couple of days. The Steelers visited with Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard and Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano on Monday, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN. They met with Penn State guard Vega Ioane on Tuesday, Pryor adds.
Bernard is more of a long-shot first-rounder than either Fano or Ioane, who look like shoo-ins to come off the board on Day 1. There is a chance Bernard will still be available when the Steelers are on the clock at No. 53 in the second round. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com ranks the 6-foot-1, 206-pounder as the 50th-best prospect available, contending he should turn into a solid slot receiver in the pros.
Bernard would begin his career as a complement to the Steelers’ starting receivers, D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The team is lacking strong auxiliary options behind the two 6-foot-4 targets, making receiver a position of interest heading into the draft.
Bernard began his college career at Washington, but he found another gear after transferring to Alabama in 2024. He averaged 57 catches, 828 yards and just under five touchdowns per season in his two years with the Crimson Tide. Bernard formed a nice connection in 2025 with quarterback Ty Simpson, a speculative fit for the Steelers in this year’s draft. While the Steelers are not expected to take Simpson, the second-rated signal-caller in this class, he could be tempting if they still do not have an answer on 2025 starter and current free agent Aaron Rodgers‘ future by then. Perhaps there is a scenario in which Bernard and Simpson reunite in Pittsburgh in the next couple of weeks.
Whether Rodgers or someone else is under center for the Steelers in 2026, he could play behind a more talented group of blockers if the team addresses the unit early in the draft. The Steelers lost starting left guard Isaac Seumalo to the Cardinals in free agency, and they are likely to reject left tackle Broderick Jones‘ 2027 fifth-year option by the May 1 deadline. With multiple question marks up front, Pittsburgh is eyeing a couple of premier O-line prospects in Fano and Ioane.
Fano was a three-year starter at Utah, where he mostly played right tackle. A unanimous All-American in 2025, the 6-5, 311-pounder also has the talent to serve as a plug-and-play guard in the pros, according to Dane Brugler of The Athletic. Jeremiah ranks Fano as the 13th overall player in the class, while he checks in at No. 8 on Brugler’s list. The two are similarly high on Ioane (Jeremiah places him 11th, Brugler has him 12th), who is considered the best guard in the draft. Acquiring Fano or Ioane may be unrealistic for Pittsburgh unless it trades up, which could be a possibility for a club with a league-leading 12 picks. The Steelers’ haul includes three third-rounders and two fourths.
Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor, Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald and Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman may be other prospects to watch for the Steelers in the first round, according to Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom. Proctor is not expected to fall past the Lions at pick 17. If that is the case, the Steelers would have to move up for him.
Penn State G Vega Ioane Visits Eagles
Although left guard Landon Dickerson and right tackle Lane Johnson are putting off retirement for at least another year, it would behoove the Eagles to have succession plans in place. Cognizant that Dickerson and/or Johnson could be gone by 2027, the Eagles may address the offensive line as early as the first round of April’s draft, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Penn State guard Vega Ioane, among the premier prospects in this year’s class, may be a solution for the Eagles. The team hosted Ioane at its facility on Monday, Berman reports. The Eagles are set to pick 23rd overall. Ioane looks like a logical candidate for their top selection, though he could be off the board by then. With that in mind, general manager Howie Roseman might have to trade up.
Notably, Roseman has not drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since the ill-fated decision to take Andre Dillard 22nd overall in 2019. Dillard, a former tackle, made just nine starts in three years with the Eagles.
While Dillard was an obvious misfire, Roseman was at the helm for the eminently successful selections of the Eagles’ current starting line. Dickerson (second round, 2021), Johnson (first round, 2013), left tackle Jordan Mailata (seventh round, 2018) and center Cam Jurgens (second round, 2022) have all been hits. Roseman also spent a 2023 third-rounder on right guard Tyler Steen, a 17-game starter last year.
If Ioane ends up in Philadelphia, he could either push Steen for a starting job or begin as depth behind him and Dickerson. Although Dickerson is just 27, the three-time Pro Bowler has grown weary of a long line of injuries and surgeries dating to his college career. The Eagles removed a year from Dickerson’s contract earlier this month, giving them two more seasons of control. Dickerson may not last that long, though, given how seriously he considered retirement this winter.
A potential long-term successor to Dickerson, the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Ioane was a full-time starter at left guard for the past two years. After earning a second-team All-Big Ten nod in 2024, Ioane took home first-team all-conference and first-team All-America honors last season. He went back-to-back years without allowing a sack, per Pro Football Focus. In ranking Ioane the 13th-best prospect in the 2026 class, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com contends that he will “be an impact starter from Day 1.” Perhaps that prediction will come true in Philadelphia.