Baltimore Ravens Q&A: Talking pass rush and wide receivers
A couple more big questions:
@parham_russ asks: Who is the most versatile Ravens defensive player?
Answer: First I want to thank Russ here. I think he’s been a part of every Q&A I have done recently and that is absolutely awesome. Secondly, I got an answer ready. This is a hard question because there is a lot of talent on the defense. Ultimately, I would say that Matt Judon is the most versatile player on the defense. Judon is a lot of things for the Ravens defense. Here is a list of all the things he provides in Baltimore.
- Pass rusher off the edge
- Outside Linebacker who can cover
- Inside linebacker in sub packages who can blitz or cover
- Edge setting run stopper
Other players I considered where Chuck Clark, Jimmy Smith and Calais Campbell. Clark can do a bit of everything at safety. Smith can lock down on receivers on the outside or in the slot. He could play safety if he was needed to and he’s proficient in man and zone coverage. Campbell can line up anywhere on the defensive front (including as an outside linebacker) and make the man across from him look undersized and ill-equipped to challenge him. There are no defensive ends for a 3-4 defense more versatile than Campbell has been.
@edthehead84 asks: With all the talk about trading for Jamal Adams or Yannick Ngakoue or signing Antonio Brown, what would be fair to give up for each player. Which would be your pick out of the three?
Answer: Jamal Adams is the best player of the three. Ngakoue would fit the bigger need for the defense and would be less of a headache than Antonio Brown. So I would pick Ngakoue if I could have any of these players and could magically make it work out. I’d be on board with signing Brown if the Ravens go into with the right idea.
All three of these moves are at least a little unlikely. With Adams and Ngakoue not only do you need to spend draft picks, you have to agree to a new long-term contract.
The cost for Adams has to be lower than the Jets want. If the Jets were really going to get the massive bundle of picks that they were hoping for, why is it taking this long. There’s a ton of interest but it doesn’t seem like any NFL team is desperate for Adams to wear their jersey and helmet. A first round pick is obviously an included part of any package but I don’t think multiple first round picks are in the cards for the Jets. A first, a third and a player is what I bet would get the deal done. It should be noted that I’m not a real general manager or a player’s agent so I could be wrong here.
I don’t want Adams because I’m not willing to say goodbye to Earl Thomas. Thomas is a good free safety. Adams has range and can do just about anything but he’s a strong safety. If the Ravens added Adams they would have nothing but strong safeties (assuming Thomas is part of this deal).
At this point I kind of wonder if the Jaguars would be willing to take a second and a fourth round pick for Ngakoue. This has to end at some point. Unless the Jaguars can get him to willingly play for them again, they have to trade him. Even if they can they are in a spot where they really have to trade him. If DeCosta can get Ngakoue for less than a first round pick, he’s objectively the master of NFL trades.
Next. Top 10 draft picks in Ravens history. dark
Brown would come cheap as a free agent signing. Ngakoue and Adams would cost picks. Both players will want to get a new contract and while only one of them is an edge rusher, you’d end up paying top tier edge rusher money for both of them. A lot of fans don’t want to hear this however, if the Ravens are giving a long-term deal to any edge rusher it’s going to be Judon.