The Baltimore Ravens swiped Jesse Minter from the LA Chargers after two successful pro seasons under Jim Harbaugh and now, the former Chargers defensive coordinator could end the Chargers' likely NFL Draft dream before it even begins.
Minter and the Ravens own the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, eight selections before the Chargers are on the clock. With a similar need on the offensive line, Baltimore has widely been covered as a real threat to steal the best-possible first-round pick for the Chargers, Olaivavega Ioane.
The Ravens' need to draft an offensive lineman potentially grew even more on Wednesday. Two-year starter Daniel Faalele signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants to reunite with John Harbaugh. While not unexpected, Faalele's departure does highlight just how badly the Ravens need an interior offensive lineman.
And that hurts the Chargers.
Ravens seem even more likely to steal Olaivavega Ioane from the Chargers
Granted, there are seven other teams that would have to pass on Ioane if the Ravens take someone else, but that isn't the tallest task. Guard isn't a first-round need for many teams in the NFL, meaning Ioane could actually fall to No. 22 if he gets past the Ravens.
It just seems fairly unlikely that will be the case. Baltimore lost both its starting center and starting right guard and replaced them with a minimum signing and a mediocre option in John Simspon. That's not even factoring in left guard, which is currently penciled in to go to Andrew Vorhees. Vorhees is not someone who the Ravens should want starting at left guard.
Ioane would be an instant fix for the Ravens, just like he would be for the Chargers. It's no surprise that the two teams with similar front office's and head coaches with real connective tissue are likely in on the same player.
What makes it harder to swallow for Chargers fans is the fact the Ravens weren't even supposed to have this pick. The No. 14 pick originally was meant to go to the Las Vegas Raiders as part of the Maxx Crosby trade before the Ravens backed out. Granted, the Raiders also could have taken Ioane, but it would have increased the Chargers' chances.
Baltimore has been a threat to draft Ioane all along. Faalele's departure doesn't necessarily change the calculus; it's just a reminder that Chargers fans shouldn't fall in love with the idea of drafting the Penn State standout.
But hey, who knows? Nobody expected Rashawn Slater to fall to the Chargers in the 2021 NFL Draft and he somehow did. Maybe the same thing can happen with Ioane this year. He just has to get past the Ravens first.