Ravens: 3 moves the team could have made at the trade deadline

1. The Ravens could have traded for OT Andre Dillard

This is easily the most impactful, but also least realistic, trade on this list. Andre Dillard was somewhat of a dream target for the Ravens.

The 22nd overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Dillard looked well on his way to becoming the Philadelphia Eagles’ long-term starting left tackle before a preseason injury sidelined him for the entire 2020 season.

Dillard, who was expected to take over as the starting left tackle, instead watched as former rugby standout Jordan Mailata took his job.

He entered the year as the team’s top backup tackle with trade rumors swirling in the offseason, but it didn’t take long for him to be inserted into the starting lineup for four games with Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson both sidelined for periods of time.

The Eagles weren’t just going to give Dillard away, but the belief was that he could be had for a Day 2 pick. It’s worth considering if the Ravens should have paid that price.

Eric DeCosta doesn’t like giving away draft capital, but having just turned 26-years-old, Dillard would be a pick for the future as much as he is the present.

The former Washington State star could have immediately stepped in as the team’s starting right tackle with Patrick Mekari sidelined and hopefully taken over that role for the foreseeable future.

If he played as well as the Eagles expected him to, it would have been well worth the trade.

Again, this trade was always unlikely to happen simply because Philadelphia’s asking price was simply too high for teams to reach, the Ravens included.

But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a move worth exploring.