1 player from each AFC North rival the Ravens should want to steal
By Kristen Wong
Ravens’ Steal No. 1: T.J. Watt, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers
This hardly needs an explanation. The Ravens’ depth chart is running painfully thin at pass-rusher. The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the league’s best in T.J. Watt.
The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year shows no mercy to quarterbacks and has recorded a whopping 72 sacks in his career, 10 of which came against the Ravens. Watt also plays in a 3-4 defensive system in Pittsburgh, so he would theoretically fit in the Ravens’ defense with ease.
Baltimore’s current projected starters at outside linebacker are Tyus Bowser and Odafe Oweh. Watt had as many sacks last season as both Bowser and Oweh combined (22.5), so it’s safe to say he would represent a massive upgrade in the Ravens’ pass-rushing corps.
Only eight teams had fewer sacks than the Ravens last season despite Baltimore’s heavy blitzes, and going into this season the team still hasn’t really addressed its edge rush.
The Ravens failed to sign Za’Darius Smith, drafted an injured prospect in David Ojabo, and don’t have many talented options left in free agency. Baltimore did bring back Justin Houston, but he alone won’t solve the team’s pass-rush concerns.
Robbing the Steelers of their best player and at the same time adding a franchise-changing defender at a major position of need just makes too much sense.
Next. Two pros and two cons for the Ravens making a blockbuster WR trade. dark
Given Pittsburgh’s rebuilding phase right now, would you really take anybody else?