OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — The Baltimore Ravens filled one need right away in the first round of the NFL draft.
A couple of days later, they still hadn't clearly addressed another.
Baltimore took guard Vega Ioane of Penn State at No. 14 on Thursday night in an effort to shore up the middle of its offensive line, but the Ravens also have a hole at center after losing Tyler Linderbaum to free agency, and they didn't draft anyone who has played primarily at that position.
General manager Eric DeCosta said the Ravens liked a couple of centers who were taken in the second round, but it would have been expensive to trade up for them.
“We have a plan. It didn't necessarily fall our way this weekend, but it's still early,” DeCosta said. “I'm thrilled with what we've been able to accomplish.”
Six of Baltimore’s top eight picks were offensive players, but Ioane was the only offensive lineman in that span.
Baltimore took linebacker Zion Young of Missouri in the second round; receivers Ja'Kobi Lane of Southern California in the third and Elijah Sarratt of Indiana in the fourth; tight end Matthew Hibner of SMU in the fourth; cornerback Chandler Rivers of Duke, tight end Josh Cuevas of Alabama and running back Adam Randall of Clemson in the fifth; punter Ryan Eckley of Michigan State in the sixth; and defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny of Michigan and guard Evan Beerntsen of Northwestern in the seventh.
DeCosta noted that Beerntsen has played a bit of center.
The Ravens used their first two picks to improve up front after the offensive line struggled to protect Lamar Jackson last season and the defense had issues all around. The guard position was a weakness, and Ioane made sense in the middle of the first round. Then Baltimore took Young, who was probably the most excited new Raven while addressing reporters.
“I’m fired up. ... I’m more fired up than y’all seem on this call,” Young said at the end of the video conference. “I don’t know if y’all bored or fired up. I don’t know. I’m fired up though, for sure.”
Baltimore restocked its tight end group, taking Hibner and Cuevas. The Ravens still have Mark Andrews at that position but lost tight ends Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar to free agency.
The Ravens also lost standout punter Jordan Stout, so they took Eckley. He's the fourth punter Baltimore has drafted in franchise history.
DeCosta said senior special teams coach Randy Brown handles picks at punter and kicker.
“If Randy comes to me and says, ‘This is the guy that we need,' I'm going to accept it,” DeCosta said. “I might fight with him as to when we have to draft the guy, in what round, but as far as being the best ranking, I think he's the best at that.”
The Ravens used back-to-back picks on wide receivers, taking the 6-foot-4 Lane and the 6-foot-2 Sarratt. If they pan out, those two could give Jackson some bigger playmakers alongside the team's top receiver, 5-foot-9 Zay Flowers.
What this means for Rashad Bateman's future is unclear. He's under contract through 2029 but had just 19 receptions last season.
DeCosta said Randall was selected by owner Steve Bisciotti, who has a good relationship with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney.
“When we were down in Florida, Steve was begging for a draft pick and he owns the team. I said, ‘Yeah Steve, of course you can have a draft pick.’" DeCosta said. "So we decided on the last fifth-round pick. He did his research, he studied the tape, talked to people.”
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Baltimore Ravens fans cheer during the second round of the NFL football draft, Friday, April 24, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Baltimore Ravens first round draft pick Olaivavega Ioane poses for a photo during an introductory press conference at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., Friday, April 24, 2026, (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Baltimore Ravens first round draft pick Olaivavega Ioane speaks during an introductory press conference at the Under Armour Performance Center in Owings Mills, Md., Friday, April 24, 2026, (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Matt Boldy scored on a deflection with 28.9 seconds left in the first overtime and the Minnesota Wild beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 on Saturday in Game 4 to tie the first-round NHL playoff series.
Jared Spurgeon took a shot that Boldy, unmarked in front of the net, tipped with his stick shaft to guide the puck past goalie Jake Oettinger after the Wild lost Game 3 in double overtime.
Boldy, who had a goal waved off in regulation when teammate Joel Eriksson Ek pushed Miro Heiskanen into Oettinger and another discounted in overtime because he made a kicking motion at the puck, has three goals in the series.
Game 5 is in Dallas on Tuesday night.
Marcus Foligno tied it for the Wild on a second-effort tip-in with 5:20 left in the third period, and Jesper Wallstedt made 43 saves.
Jason Robertson and Heiskanen scored on the only two regulation power plays for the Stars, who continued their special teams mastery of the Wild and are 8 for 19 in the series.
Oettinger stopped 40 shots in another steely performance in his home state.
Brock Faber had the first goal for the Wild, who were again without first-line right wing Mats Zuccarello due to an upper-body injury that occurred in Game 1 and felt his absence on their flagging power play. The Wild were 0 for 4 in regulation, with just one goal in their last 15 opportunities.
Seconds after a near-miss by Wyatt Johnston during a scrum around the Wild goal, Nico Sturm's shot took a fluky bounce off the end boards toward the goal mouth as Foligno jarred it loose from Oettinger and poked it in as he tumbled over the top of the goalie's shoulder.
The power-play disparity has been the difference, much like in the first round in 2023 when Dallas downed Minnesota in six games.
Ryan Hartman, long one of the Wild's most-penalized players, was whistled for goaltender interference just 4:31 into the game. Robertson responded by snapping in a rebound after Matt Duchene — who has seven points in four games — muscled a shot from just outside the crease that ricocheted off Wallstedt.
The Stars, who are playing without top center Roope Hintz, have managed to get shots through the screens and attack the net far more effectively.
After the Wild had two empty power plays in the first period with just three seconds between them, the home crowd that has seen this script many times before booed the last group off the ice.
Even strength is where the Wild must live if they're going to mount a comeback. They're up 9-4 in 5-on-5 goals, including Faber's wrister that tied it later in the first period by glancing off Heiskanen's glove.
Wallstedt has been a bulwark all series. The Wall of St. Paul thwarted plenty more prime chances, but playing 4-on-5 doesn't help. After Faber took a high-sticking penalty, Heiskanen zipped a shot from the slot that eluded Wallstedt's shoulder and scraped the top of the net.
Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist left during the second period after taking an inadvertent skate to the face by Michael McCarron as Lundkvist was being called for tripping McCarron.
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Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson, right, and Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist, left, collide during the third period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno celebrates his goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild players celebrate after their team's win over the Dallas Stars during overtime of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Foligno celebrates his goal against the Dallas Stars during the third period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild players celebrate after their team's win over the Dallas Stars during overtime of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) reacts during the second period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs against the Dallas Stars, Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt defends his net against the Dallas Stars during the second period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Dallas Stars left wing Jason Robertson is congratulated at the bench after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen celebrates after his goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of Game 4 in the first round of the NHL Stanley Cup hockey playoffs Saturday, April 25, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
