Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta commented on the traits of both Spencer Fano and Vega Ioane.
There have been a multitude of mock drafts that have attached the Baltimore Ravens to both Utah's Spencer Fano and Penn State's Vega Ioane. Both linemen have attributes that would be beneficial to any team that selects them, including the lineman-needy Ravens.
During the pre-draft press conference, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta offered his opinion on both Fano and Ioane, giving a little bit of an inkling of where the team could be leaning in terms of drafting one or the other.
Currently, the Ravens are picking at No. 14 overall, but DeCosta's comments at the presser seemed to indicate the team could move up or down. With both Fano and Ioane moving up and down first-round draft boards, Baltimore may face a situation where they would have to trade up to land either one of them.
That said, DeCosta spoke openly about both linemen's attributes.
When asked about Fano, DeCosta indicated he sees the Utah prospect as someone who can play multiple positions on the line.
"I think Fano can play wherever you want him to play," DeCosta said. "He can play tackle, he can play guard. He's a good athlete, tough. He's a good player.
Fano has been a linemen that many pundits have stated the Ravens would select and convert into a guard or potentially as the team's starting center.
Fano himself spoke to Kay Adams about converting to a guard or center position if drafted.
"I think my best ball would be at tackle ... there's always a little transition, but I'd be fine to do it," Fano said.
Fano did take some snaps at center during the combine, which could be a major reason the Ravens would consider converting him, among other teams wanting to draft the lineman.
When it comes to Ioane, DeCosta was a little more direct in revealing the Penn State prospect is a hard-lined guard.
"Vega, I've seen him play a bunch, physical, tough. He's probably a guard. He's probably a guard, but [he] sort of prototypes, straight from central casting, of what you want your guards to look like. I think they're both excellent prospects. I think both guys are first-round talents, both guys will probably come in right away and help your team quite a bit."
The Ravens have a major need at guard with the exit of Daniel Faalele, who struggled at the position in 2025. Andrew Vorhees also had his own issues, which could lead to a completely new revamp of the line apart from Ronnie Stanley at left tackle.
Head coach Jesse Minter did indicate as much when he spoke about the team potentially adding more free agent centers via free agency leading into training camp and preseason.
The Ravens did add John Simpson, Jovaughn Gwyn, and Danny Pinter as depth and potential starters, but none have won a starting position just yet and will not until much later in the offseason program.
Fano and/or Ioane could be the right kind of day one plug-and-play starters the team needs to rebuild the offensive line into something respectable. Whether or not that takes trading up remains to be seen, but the Ravens need to find a way to improve the line in a big way to protect Lamar Jackson in 2026 and beyond.