Baltimore Ravens trade-up candidate: Isaiah Simmons
The Cost:
In 10 runs through The Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, Isaiah Simmons went fourth overall to the New York Giants every single time. If that ends up being true, the Ravens would likely be dipping into some 2021 draft capital to swing a deal for Simmons. The Draft Network’s value calculator suggests the Ravens don’t have the necessary 2020 capital to make a move, and in the few simulations they did, it took the entire stock of 2020 picks; a likely non-starter.
The Ravens could go after the fifth or sixth overall picks, but with the Dolphins and Chargers likely going with either quarterbacks or tackles at five and six, the next logical threat to take Simmons would be the Carolina Panthers at seventh overall.
Luckily for the Ravens, the consensus is much less set on the Simmons-Giants connection than TDN’s simulator. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports pegged Simmons heading to Carolina, while WalterFootball.com and NFL.com’s Charley Casserley have him going eighth to Arizona and ninth to Jacksonville in their respective mocks…
According to The Draft Network, it would cost the Ravens picks 28, 55, 60, 129, and 134 to trade up into the Panthers’ seventh overall spot. For those keeping score at home, Baltimore would be left with picks 92, 106, 170, and 225 after the deal, in addition to the Carolina pick. While not ideal, our own Richard Bradshaw has observed that the Ravens’ defense already looks nearly complete, so Simmons could be the last major piece to finish things off on the defense side. That would also leave Eric DeCosta and company four more picks (including a pair of third-rounders) to find a lineman, put more pieces around Lamar Jackson, and/or add another depth piece on the defensive side of the ball.
With Jacksonville, it would cost picks 55, 92, and 170 along with pick 28 to nab Simmons at the nine spot. This would still leave Baltimore with a second-rounder, along with a third, two fourths, and a seventh to piece together a strong draft class and address other needs. If Simmons does fall to Jacksonville (or further), it becomes much harder to make the case the Ravens shouldn’t pounce.
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A move like this would’ve been almost unthinkable in the Ozzie Newsome era, but his protege has shown a willingness to be more aggressive when necessary. DeCosta has raved about how much he loves having picks to play with, but with minimal cap space to make another splash, fresh off a playoff disappointment, and pressure to win with their MVP quarterback on his rookie contract, the stars seem to be aligned for Baltimore to get aggressive in April. If they opt to make a play, Isaiah Simmons checks all the boxes.