The Baltimore Ravens are entering the 2026 NFL Draft with significantly more ammunition than they initially believed they would have. Earlier this offseason, the Ravens pulled off a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby, only to back out of the deal at the last second due to a failed physical.
As part of that deal, Baltimore was set to send Las Vegas the No. 14 overall pick in the first round of the upcoming draft. After briefly sending that pick away, it is back in the Ravens’ possession, and the front office has been working on a plan to put it to good use. If you ask NFL insider Jason La Canfora, he believes that a “perfect” fit could exist for the team when it’s on the clock for this selection.
Kadyn Proctor Labeled ‘Perfect’ Fit for the Ravens
Baltimore is in a unique spot, as it has a much deeper roster than most teams that are usually picking at the No. 14 spot do. Considering how the Ravens already have 11 picks in this draft, they don’t really need more draft capital, which will allow them to stand pat and select the best player left on the board at this spot.
That could lead the front office to address a position that isn’t a pressing need. Right now, Ronnie Stanley is locked in at left tackle, but he’s beginning to enter the later stages of his career, as the 2026 campaign will be his age-32 season. At some point, Baltimore is going to need a replacement for him, which is where Alabama Crimson Tide star Kadyn Proctor could come into play.
Proctor is widely considered one of the top offensive tackle prospects in this draft class, as he is fresh off earning All-American honors in 2025. He still has some developing to do, which is why bringing him to town and letting him watch Stanley from afar next season could help him eventually become his replacement. It may not be the cleanest fit, but La Canfora believes that Proctor could be just what the Ravens need.
“The evaluators I trust the most continue to preach the gospel of Proctor as someone Mock Draft Nation is sleeping on,” La Canfora wrote for Sports Illustrated. “He has all the potential to be the most impactful offensive lineman in this draft, he is the best pure left tackle prospect and he absolutely could spend a rookie season at guard waiting out Ronnie Stanley if he had to.”
Should the Ravens Draft Kadyn Proctor?
GettyINDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – FEBRUARY 28: Kadyn Proctor of the Alabama Crimson Tide speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 28, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Drafting the best player available is great in concept, but doing so sometimes doesn’t make sense, and this may be one of those cases. Simply put, the Ravens are well-stocked at the tackle position for now. Sure, Stanley is getting older, but he’s under contract through the 2027 season and has shown very few signs of decline to this point. At right tackle, Roger Rosengarten has become one of the best players at the position in the league in just two seasons.
Having depth is helpful, but there’s a world where Proctor is stuck waiting in the wings to earn starting snaps for years before Baltimore actually needs him. There are other areas on the roster (such as their interior offensive line, for example) that are more pressing needs, and the Ravens would be better off bringing in someone at one of that spot than stashing Proctor just for the sake of doing so.
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