Baltimore adds a gritty, reliable tight end from Alabama. Cuevas’ proven production and championship mindset are primed for NFL success.
When Baltimore Ravens turned in their card in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they weren’t just adding depth to a position.
They were adding a competitor.
A grinder.
A guy who understands what it means to earn everything.
They were getting Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas.
Cuevas heard his name called at No. 173 overall on the final day of the draft, and just like that, another piece of Alabama Crimson Tide football toughness and culture is headed to the league. And if you’ve watched Alabama football closely, you already know, this isn’t just another late-round pick. This is the kind of player who sticks.
The Ravens already made a move at tight end earlier in the draft, even trading up to grab SMU’s Matthew Hibner. But going back to the position again? That tells you everything you need to know. They see value. They see upside. And they see something in Cuevas that fits exactly what they want to build.
Cuevas’ journey isn’t flashy, but it’s real.
It’s built on consistency, development, and buying into a system.
He spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa after transferring in with head coach Kalen DeBoer, following him from Washington when he took over after Nick Saban stepped away.
That decision?
It mattered.
Because Cuevas didn’t just show up, he produced. Over his college career, he totaled 119 receptions for 1,527 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Those aren’t empty numbers.
That’s reliability. That’s trust. That’s a quarterback knowing when things break down, you’ve got a tight end who will be exactly where he’s supposed to be.
And that’s what the NFL values more than anything.
Cuevas isn’t the loudest name in this draft class.
He’s not the one grabbing headlines every single day.
But he’s the type of player who earns his way onto the field, and once he’s there, he doesn’t give it back.
That’s why this fit makes so much sense.
Baltimore is built on toughness. On physicality. On doing your job and doing it right.
And if you’ve watched Alabama over the years, you know that’s exactly how players are developed in Tuscaloosa.
Cuevas is bringing that mindset with him.
So don’t get caught up in the round.
Don’t get caught up in the number.
Because the Ravens didn’t just draft a tight end in the fifth round.
They got a football player.
And don’t be surprised when Josh Cuevas makes people remember his name.