The Baltimore Ravens did not make any blockbuster moves ahead of the NFL trade deadline, but they were active in making defensive changes that should help shore up their defense. Entering their Week 10 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings, their defense is starting to turn their disastrous campaign around, and Baltimore’s recent transactions should only propel them forward.
The trade for safety Alohi Gilman is already sparking a defensive surge. Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s group has really figured it out over the last three games, a stretch that started when Gilman first arrived. Now, there are even more reinforcements ready to keep this run going.
On Monday, General Manager Eric DeCosta struck a deal with the Tennessee Titans for outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones. Jones has tallied 4.5 sacks in 2025, all coming within his last four games. He joins a duo of Kyle Van Noy and Mike Green, that has found some momentum in recent weeks.
Veteran Carl Lawson also seems ready to suit up against the Vikings, potentially bringing a new sack squad to Charm City that could start making opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable in the second half of the season.
Dre’Mont Jones and Carl Lawson poised to be threats off the edge in Week 10
Jones and Lawson are not headliners by any means, but both should be effective contributors in the coming weeks. Lawson was signed to the practice squad on October 23, and while it took some time to get him up to speed, he should be ready for action on Sunday.
Head Coach John Harbaugh mentioned earlier in the week that Lawson is “probably ready to go.” He will have to be elevated from the practice squad, but as more practice reps start coming, he should be able to find his role with the Ravens and suit up for the game in Minnesota.
Since being drafted in 2017, Lawson has accumulated 32 sacks. He has a career-high of 8.5 in a single season, and has tallied at least five sacks in every year he has played 12 or more games. In his most recent season with the Dallas Cowboys, he brought the quarterback down five times in 15 contests.
In Jones’ case, he has also been a consistent sack producer. He has 35 sacks to his name across his seven-year career, tallying at least four in every year, excluding his rookie campaign. He brings a ton of versatility across the defensive line and should act as the perfect replacement for outside linebacker Tavius Robinson as he recovers from his foot injury.
On Wednesday, Harbaugh also confirmed that Jones will be on the field on Sunday and should transition seamlessly.
“[Jones] is a good fit for us. The system he’s been in for the last three years is the same system, so he picks it up quickly,” Harbaugh said. “We absolutely will get him weaved into it right away, and he’ll be playing on Sunday.”
The group of Van Noy, Green, Jones, and Lawson sounds miles better than anything the Ravens have put out on the field this year. That is especially true for their group as of late, which has been just three guys in Van Noy, Green, and David Ojabo. Even if the new acquisitions do not make an immediate impact, they should help bring more consistent pressure as a unit moving forward.