The Baltimore Ravens already made one trade earlier today when they shipped cornerback Shaun Wade to the New England Patriots. But could another rookie be on the move?
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported on Thursday that the Ravens had heard from teams who were calling about the availability of undrafted rookie kicker Jake Verity.
It’s unclear how serious those discussions have been, but at the very least, the Ravens have been talking with teams about a potential trade.
Verity has had a strong summer making all three of his preseason field goals and both of his extra points. But his roster spot is blocked with Justin Tucker standing in his way.
The Ravens have been here before.
Could the Ravens turn Jake Verity into a draft pick?
Just two years ago, the Ravens traded the now-infamous Kaare Vedvik to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a fifth-round pick. That pick would be used to select defensive lineman Broderick Washington who will hopefully play a role in the defensive line rotation this season.
As for Vedvik, he was waived less than three weeks after the trade, claimed off waivers by the New York Jets, only to be waived again following one regular-season game.
The Ravens have an extensive history of developing undrafted kickers, even aside from the obvious in Tucker.
Wil Lutz, Graham Gano, and Stephen Hauschka are all examples of successful NFL kickers who got their start in Baltimore. Dating further back, there’s Robbie Gould who’s spent more than a decade in the NFL.
Could Verity be the next undrafted kicker the Ravens help develop into a stud? That’s the question other teams around the league will be asking.
One potential trade partner found their target on Thursday when the Carolina Panthers traded for New York Giants kicker Ryan Santoso. But there are still plenty of other teams out there in need of a kicker before the season starts.
Some that come to mind include the New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, and even the Minnesota Vikings. Would the Vikings really go down that path again, though? Don’t rule it out.
The Ravens might just get something for Jake Verity after all. As for the destination and the compensation, that remains to be seen.