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No trade deadline move for Ravens: 3 big things

By Chris Schisler

General manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
General manager Eric DeCosta of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks rolls in the pocket while Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens applies pressure during the game at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Baltimore Ravens top the Seattle Seahawks 30-16. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – OCTOBER 20: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks rolls in the pocket while Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens applies pressure during the game at CenturyLink Field on October 20, 2019 in Seattle, Washington. The Baltimore Ravens top the Seattle Seahawks 30-16. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

The Baltimore Ravens didn’t make a move at the NFL trade deadline. Here are three big things to think about moving forward:

1. The problems the Ravens didn’t address with the trade deadline:

The Baltimore Ravens have a need for a pass rusher so the NFL trade deadline seemed like a good chance to help the defense. A lot of names were floating around for possible trades including Yannick Ngakoue and Ryan Kerrigan yet nothing was all that realistic. There could be some options in free agency or on the waiver wire, however what the Ravens have is what they can count on. The defense has recorded just 12 sacks and pass rush has ranged from lukewarm to nonexistent. The Ravens will have mostly the same cast and crew (minus Pernell McPhee) for the rest of the season and they need to have different results.

The Ravens defense with Marcus Peters is improved and that will help the pass rush. It’s nice to have the requisite cornerback help because challenging receivers knocks off an offense’s timing. This is all well and good (and it did pay off against the Seattle Seahawks) however it’s not a completely solved problem. The Ravens still have a defensive line that generates little pass rush and an outside linebacker group that has been mostly unimpressive this season. Don Martindale’s newfound flexibility to bring pressure is nice, players winning one on one matchups up front would be nicer.

According to reports, the Ravens were interested in Jamal Adams from the New York Jets. This move was never realistic however it would have helped. The Ravens have lost Tony Jefferson and DeShon Elliott for the season. Chuck Clark is a decent player yet Adams would have been a complete upgrade. The Ravens also could have used another wide receiver. The offense missed Marquise Brown too much for comfort the past two weeks.

The Ravens were wise not to overspend. No move really lined up for them. The Peters trade was a perfect move and the roster still could have used a little more help via trade. The purple and black need more of what Martindale brought to the table in Seattle. They need better play from players like Tyus Bowser, Jaylon Ferguson and Matt Judon. Pass rush was the one thing that the Ravens could have helped with a trade. That didn’t happen and now the team needs to find another answer.

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