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New Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter at his introductory press conference on January 29, 2026.

The Baltimore Ravens had one of the most pressing tight end needs in the league going into Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. They moved quickly to fix it, making a move nobody quite expected.

According to the Baltimore Ravens’ official X account, the team traded their 154th overall pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers in exchange for the 133rd overall pick.

They then used that selection to take SMU tight end Matthew Hibner.

The Ravens entered the draft having lost both Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar in the offseason. That left Mark Andrews, who turns 31 this year, and veteran Durham Smythe as the only tight ends on the roster. Baltimore needed a young option at the position, and this draft was the place to find one.

That urgency is exactly what pushed them to move up. Trading from Round 5 to Round 4 might not sound like much, but giving up two picks to do it shows how seriously Baltimore wanted Hibner specifically, not just any tight end left on the board.

Why the Baltimore Ravens Targeted Matthew Hibner

Hibner spent four seasons at Michigan without ever really getting a shot, then transferred to SMU and made the most of his time there. In his final college season, he caught 31 passes for 436 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 14.1 yards per catch.

The athleticism is what got scouts paying attention. He ran a 4.57 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine and posted a 9.25 Relative Athletic Score, which ranked 110th among all tight ends in the database going back to 1987. For a Day 3 prospect, those are numbers that make teams move up the board.

He is not a finished product. His inline blocking needs work, and his route running still has room to grow. But the Ravens were among the teams with a clear need at the position, and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle runs a heavy two-tight end system, which fits exactly what Hibner does.

What Matthew Hibner Adds to the Ravens Offense

He profiles as a move tight end or H-back early on, someone who can work in space, compete after the catch, and contribute on special teams while the bigger role develops.

He showed at the Senior Bowl that he can win against better competition, which matters for a guy who spent most of his college career flying under the radar.

He is not coming in to replace Andrews. But as a second tight end who can stretch the seam and take pressure off the starter, Hibner fills a real gap on this roster.

Baltimore gave up two picks and moved a full round to land him. That is not a move you make for a guy you are not sure about.