The 2026 NFL Draft combine is underway at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and the Baltimore Ravens are searching for help on the defensive side of the ball as they enter a new era under head coach Jesse Minter.
The Ravens were tied for the third-fewest sacks during the 2025 season, and with two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike facing uncertainty following a severe neck injury, Baltimore will be closely evaluating pass rushers in Indianapolis. However, they are also expected to look at offensive prospects to support star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore’s offensive line struggled throughout the season, with Jackson taking the second-most sacks of his career (36) despite playing just 13 games. Meanwhile, the passing attack lacked a reliable option beyond Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. As a result, the team will also closely monitor offensive talent at the combine.
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Meanwhile, away from Indianapolis, a troubling development is unfolding in the recruiting world. Sports Illustrated’s Tommy Reamon Jr. reported that some high school players have been using artificial intelligence to manipulate their highlight reels. Jackson was unimpressed by the tactic and urged players to rely on hard work instead.
"Please don't fake it to u make it 🙆♂️🤣," he wrote on his Instagram story.
As AI technology continues to advance, Reamon, who has coached at the college level, warned that the line between illusion and evaluation is becoming increasingly blurred.
"A three-to-five minute reel can spark scholarship conversations, camp invitations, and national attention. However, a troubling development is emerging. Some athletes are now using AI tools to insert fabricated plays into their highlight tapes. This goes beyond sharpening video quality or adding professional graphics. In certain cases, it involves generating or altering performance that never actually occurred," he wrote.
Recruiters will likely need to exercise greater caution and may lean more heavily on in-person evaluations if the issue escalates. But as Jackson suggested, faking performance ultimately will not help a player develop the skills necessary to succeed at the NFL level.