While an all-out fire sale was never truly likely for the Baltimore Ravens at the trade deadline, it was fair to expect them to part ways with at least one of their veterans. Instead, the Ravens were (kind of) buyers, trading for Atlanta Falcons center Ryan Neuzil while giving up Andrew Vorhees and a 2028 sixth-round pick in the process.
It remains to be seen whether Neuzil is a pure depth piece or someone the Ravens view as a solution to their John Simpson problem, as he could, in theory, play guard. Nevertheless, the Ravens' trade deadline makes it clear that Eric DeCosta and the front office aren't ready to give up.
Some would argue that the Ravens could've sold high on Derrick Henry, but his importance to the offense made trading Henry a non-starter in my book, even if he has lost a step.
In my view, though, there would have been real advantages to trading guys like Marlon Humphrey, Rashod Bateman, and Calias Campbell. The Ravens could've gotten some future assets and created some cap flexibility. In the case of Humphrey and Campbell, both players are on expiring contracts, so getting some draft capital (granted, it wouldn't be premium) would be valuable.
None of these players have been integral parts of the Ravens' success (Humphrey has been a liability). However, if the Ravens want to make a playoff push, they'll need all hands on deck. Still, losing one or more of Humphrey, Bateman, and Campbell while not getting any players back would, at the very least, have an adverse effect on the Ravens' depth, regardless of what you think of them.
Why the Baltimore Ravens didn't sell at the deadline
While I expected DeCosta to make some seller-like moves, I respect the direction he took to maximize the Ravens' playoff chances. In addition to keeping the Ravens' depth intact by holding onto the veterans, Neuzil has the chance to be an impact player. Neuzil has started 38 career games and, encouragingly, ranks 16th in PFF grades among starting centers. Giving up Vorhees and a sixth is solid value for a starting-level player.
Yes, the Ravens just traded for Cam Jurgens. As noted earlier, though, Simpson has been a liability at left guard, and Neuzil could be an option there. At the very least, DeCosta upgraded the depth at a positional weak point, and as they try to make a playoff push, this move has the potential to pay off.
Currently, it feels unlikely that the Ravens will make the playoffs. They have a 16 percent chance of doing so, according to NFL.com. At the same time, Baltimore is just one game out of the playoff picture, and Lamar Jackson has told his teammates that he will return this season.
When you have a player as talented as Jackson, it makes sense to always go for it. This is especially true given Lamar's need for an extension this offseason.
If the Ravens sold at the deadline and missed the playoffs, it would be fair for Jackson to question their commitment to surrounding him with a Super Bowl-level roster. Maybe he still has these questions. I wouldn't blame him. This at least shows Jackson that the front office is willing to surround him with talent.
Realistically, the Ravens aren't going to win the Super Bowl, but making the playoffs could be enough to signal to Jackson that the front office is serious about winning. From this standpoint, DeCosta's trade deadline direction makes perfect sense.
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