Draft Prediction Bring Ravens CFB’s ‘Best Defensive Lineman’ in First Round

It’s pretty safe to say at this point that the next version of the Baltimore Ravens are going to look much, much different than this version.

That’s what happens when you enter a season as Super Bowl favorites then go 1-5 ove the first 6 games and your defense looks like it might be the worst in the NFL.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid’s first 2026 mock draft brings in a fix for the future, where he predicts the Ravens will take superstar University of Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain at No. 2 overall.

“The Ravens’ 1-5 start has been one of the NFL’s biggest surprises, and a defense that has taken a massive step backward is one of the main culprits,” Reid wrote on October 15. “Baltimore desperately needs someone who can generate pressure up front, and Bain has a strong argument for being the best defensive lineman in the country. He is a versatile 6-foot-3, 275-pound defender who can play multiple alignments, and his 24 pressures at edge is eighth in the FBS. His hand power and knockback strength would immediately boost a Ravens defense that needs playmakers.”


Bain Triggers Turnaround for Hurricanes

While draft evaluations are usually heavy on minutiae when it comes to technique and athletic prowess, one thing they seem to lack is much of an emphasis on being a winner.

When it comes to that, Bain may have the market cornered in terms of 2026 prospects.

In 4 seasons at Miami Central High School, Bain was nothing less than the best football player in the best state for high school football — perhaps only matched by current Ohio State wide receiver and potential 2027 No. 1 overall pick Jeremiah Smith.

At Miami Central, Bain led his team to 4 consecutive state championships and finished his career with 77.0 sacks, including 48.5 sacks and 60 TFL over his final 2 seasons.

With the Hurricanes, Bain has done nothing less than breathe new life into a once proud program.

As a true freshman in 2023, Bain was one of the nation’s best defensive players on the way to being named ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year and All-ACC with 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 13 TFL. Miami also went 7-6 after finishing 5-7 in head coach Mario Cristobal’s first season in 2022.

In 2024, he had 23 tackles, 3.5 sacks and 6 TFL in just 9 games after he missed 4 games due to a soft tissue injury suffered in the season opener against Florida as Miami went 10-3 — only their second season with double digit wins since 2003.

In 2025, Bain and the Hurricanes are off to a 5-0 start and ranked No. 2 in the country. He has 26 tackles, 2.0 sacks and 1 forced fumble through 5 games, along with a game changing interception in a season opening win over No. 6 Notre Dame.


Ravens Haven’t Gotten Pass Rush Production

It seems like the Ravens were lulled into a false sense of security at edge rusher after 34-year-old Kyle Van Noy had a career high 12.5 sacks in 2024. In 2025, Van Noy has missed 2 games due to injuries and has just one sack and 6 tackles in the 4 games he’s played in.

The Ravens also thought they got first round value in the second round with Marshall edge rusher Mike Green, who has zero sacks and just 2 QB hits through his first 6 games.

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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports

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