The Baltimore Ravens’ offseason decisions have sparked optimism and concern. Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson recently outlined his key takeaways about the team’s roster following the 2026 NFL Draft.
Woodson, 61, spent 17 years in the NFL, playing for the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. Now an analyst for Ravens Gameday Radio, Woodson defended the Ravens’ decision to draft a guard with the 14th overall pick, pushing back on criticism about positional value.
“I think you’re going to take the highest player you have graded on your board, irrelevant of the position,” Woodson said on Glenn Clark Radio April 28.
Baltimore selected Penn State guard Olaivavega “Vega” Ioane at No. 14. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound guard allowed zero sacks in 310 pass-block snaps in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus.
“The way that the Ravens have played over the years with a run-first mentality, you’ve got to have solid interior offensive linemen,” Woodson said.
Woodson said that while guard isn’t a “marquee” position, they are essential for a team, especially one with uncertainty along the offensive line. The lack of an established starter at center “is a little concerning,” he said.
The current center candidates are Corey Bullock, Danny Pinter and Jovaughn Gwyn. Woodson said the team should hope “one of those guys becomes the lead dog” during the offseason.
Aside from the offensive line, Woodson also mentioned the lack of depth at the tight end, a position that has typically been a key piece of the Ravens’ offensive identity. The Ravens have veterans Mark Andrews and Durham Smythe and rookies Josh Cuevas and Matt Hibner at the position right now.
Woodson mentioned that the Ravens have operated well in two-tight-end sets in the past. He explained that Baltimore’s heavy use of multiple tight ends has helped maximize quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“I’m more concerned, who’s the second tight end?” Woodson said. “That’s what concerns me more than anything because they’re going to be in 12 personnel. They like being in 12. I think Lamar [Jackson] plays better. His [best] RPOs and zone reads are out of the 12 personnel package.”
Defensively, Woodson said veteran edge rusher Trey Hendrickson is an impactful addition, saying he can still be a dominant pass rusher.
However, Woodson also stressed the importance of the interior line. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike is still recovering from a serious neck injury suffered early in the 2025 season. He reportedly underwent surgery in April.
“My key concern for the whole defensive line, because this player is going to make it go or not go, that’s Nnamdi Madubuike,” he said.
Woodson said that Madubuike’s absence last season from the injury showed how critical he is to the unit’s success.
“If Nnamdi comes back, man, that’s a really good defensive line,” Woodson said. “Nnamdi doesn’t come back, I think it really hurts.”
Looking ahead, Woodson said the defense new head coach Jesse Minter runs must match the roster. Minter was previously the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2024-2025 and was an assistant for the Ravens from 2017-2020.
“I think you’ve got to see what the players do well and to put them in those situations consistently,” Woodson said. “That’s where you get your best outcomes on game days.”
For more from Woodson, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Mark Selders