Not counting some wheeling and dealing during the NFL Draft itself, Eric DeCosta has made five major trades as the Baltimore Ravens general manager. It’s time to rank all four trades.
5. Trading Alex Lewis to the Jets for a conditional 7th round pick:
As Baltimore Ravens general manager, Eric DeCosta has made a habit of getting something for nothing. The Ravens came into the preseason with questions at the left guard position but the Ravens figured out early on that Alex Lewis wasn’t going to make the team. The Ravens traded Alex Lewis for a conditional 7th round pick. Trade compensation is always better than cutting a player and getting nothing.
The Ravens letting Lewis go was a bit of a surprise. He was a former starter for the Ravens. Lewis always had potential on the offensive line. He was a converted offensive tackle so there was some good versatility there. If Lewis had come into training camp healthy and ready to go, this could have ended up differently. The Ravens spent a fifth round pick on Lewis. They got some starts out of him. Parting with him for a seventh round pick, was kind of like breaking even. It helped the Ravens simplify their position battle so it was a move that had to happen.
What Lewis has done or will do for the Jets is irrelevant for the Ravens. Lewis was never going to be anything more than an on and off starter for the offensive line. The Ravens left guard competition was a mess this preseason. If Lewis was on his way out the door in that grouping, it’s all you really need to know. This trade won’t go down as one of the more memorable moments in DeCosta’s career. It is however a great example of him seeing value in every pick he can get his hands on.