Former Penn State football guard Olaivavega Ioane was selected 14th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft with the Baltimore Ravens picking up the Nittany Lion. As the draft chaos winds down, the new crew of rookies are already in the spotlight with questions as to if they'll perform to standards.
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For Baltimore, it posed a question for each draft pick. Ioane's proved that the Ravens have a high ceiling for him.
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It's simple, but important: Can Ioane meet expectations?
"Ioane was the first guard selected in the draft and the highest guard drafted in franchise history. He's a mauler who many scouts have compared to Indianapolis Colts eight-time Pro Bowler Quenton Nelson," BaltimoreRavens.com staff writer Clifton Brown wrote.
"Inconsistent guard play was a major problem for the Ravens in 2025 and contributed to them dropping from the NFL's No. 1 offense in 2024 to 16th in 2025. Head Coach Jesse Minter said it hasn't been determined if Ioane will play left or right guard, and the Ravens must still decide on a starting center. But after losing Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, Baltimore needs Ioane to be a stud, and the sooner it happens, the better."
Those Pro Bowl expectations might not happen in year one, but that doesn't mean Ioane won't start solving Baltimore's problem in the trenches as a rookie. His development and journey in the NFL is just starting, and free agency prior to the draft gave him an opportunity to prove himself.
For a first round pick, expectations should be high for Ioane. However, with Linderbaum departing, the former Penn Stater's skill set and talents will be front and center, even if he's not the one snapping the ball.
So, it's also about handling the spotlight. Knowing there are high expectations and a clear stage to prove he's the guy, Ioane will have to embrace the pressure and perform. Based on his film, that shouldn't be an issue.
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