The Baltimore Ravens were not shy about their priorities in the 2026 NFL Draft. Taking 6-foot-4 Ja’Kobi Lane and 6-foot-2 Elijah Sarratt with back-to-back picks made it clear they wanted to add some size and contested catch ability to their wide receiver room.
Lane flashed both of those traits on the second day of training camp. He made a few catches in the middle of the field, including a leaping grab over Marlon Humphrey during 7-on-7 work:
A few plays later, Jackson targeted Lane on a similar play, this time with an even higher ball. Lane could not get up and over Jaylinn Hawkins to reel it in, but it serves as an example of the early trust the rookie wideout has earned from his MVP quarterback.
Developing chemistry with Jackson has been a make-or-break task for the Ravens’ young receivers over the years. After practice, Zay Flowers, perhaps the best example of that, noted that Lane’s catches represented Jackson’s ability to adjust to his pass-catchers.
“He knows Ja’Kobi is going to make tough catches, like in the middle of the field today,” Flowers said. “He threw it high, he knew Ja’Kobi was going to get it.”
But, to play devil’s advocate, Lane’s ability to high-point the ball has never been in doubt. It is all over his college film. His slim frame and play strength, though, are legitimate concerns, especially considering how his size limits his route-running. He will need to not just go up and get the football, but come down with it as well, through contact. On his highlight play on Thursday, Ravens safety Malaki Starks was loading up to deliver a hit that may very well have jarred the ball loose, but current rules of engagement prevent him from doing so.
Making plays early in training camp is still crucial for Lane’s confidence, something Jesse Minter praised in his post-practice presser. But the first-year head coach stressed the important of repetition “day after day, period after period” to gain and maintain trust from teammates. The Ravens have seen plenty of wide receivers flash in camp in the past, but carrying that through the preseason into the regular season will determine Lane’s ability to get on the field as a rookie.
