Ravens' Rookie Already 'Closest' to 'Pro Bowler' Level

Vega Ioane’s NFL debut for the Baltimore Ravens has drawn major praise after Baltimore beat the Indianapolis Colts 41-23 in Week 1. The rookie guard, selected as the 14th player in the 2026 NFL Draft, was described by CBS Sports’ Mike Renner as “the closest thing I saw to a Pro-Bowler” among rookies for Week 1—while noting he’d want a few reps back in pass protection. The article links the performance to the Ravens’ evolving offensive approach under coordinator Declan Doyle and defensive successor Jesse Minter, emphasizing Ioane’s 6-foot-4, 326-pound size combined with mobility. It also says Ioane repeatedly executed in zone-based blocking schemes, moving to the second level and working on run and pass sets, aligning with Doyle’s needs for linemen to reach linebackers quickly and help protect Lamar Jackson’s bootlegs.