Ravens Trade Up 21 Spots to Snag SMU TE Matthew Hibner in 4th Round of 2026 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens continued their all-offense Day 3 strategy by trading picks 154 and a 2027 sixth-rounder to the 49ers for pick 133, selecting SMU tight end Matthew Hibner in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Hibner is a late-bloomer with a unique résumé. He spent four seasons at Michigan as a core special-team contributor, logging just two receptions before transferring to SMU, where he exploded for 31 catches, 436 yards and four touchdowns in 2025 while earning second-team All-AAC honors. That one-year breakout convinced Baltimore to leap ahead of tight-end-needy teams and secure a successor to departed backups Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar. At 6-4, 252 pounds, Hibner profiles as a versatile “Y” who can block in-line yet threaten the seam—an ideal complement to All-Pro Mark Andrews and newly signed veteran Durham Smythe. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s heavy play-action scheme routinely deploys two-tight-end sets; Hibner’s blend of leverage as a run blocker and surprising burst up the hash should keep linebackers honest and free space for Lamar Jackson’s RPO game. Ravens scouts also lauded Hibner’s special-teams pedigree, a trait head coach John Harbaugh values. Expect the rookie to carve out immediate snaps on kickoff and punt units while competing with Smythe for TE2 reps in camp. If his SMU production translates, fantasy managers in tight-end-premium formats may want to flag Hibner as a deep sleeper, especially given Baltimore’s red-zone emphasis. The pick continues general manager Eric DeCosta’s physical-pass-catcher trend—SMU’s Hibner follows earlier selections of WR Ja’Kobi Lane and WR Elijah Sarratt. With Andrews drawing double teams and Zay Flowers stretching the field, Hibner could emerge as the draft’s mid-round steal, turning a one-year college breakout into a long-term role in a perennial AFC contender’s offense.