The Baltimore Ravens made another potential game-changing trade on Monday, acquiring outside linebacker Dre’Mont Jones from the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick that could become a fourth-round pick.
It is the team’s second significant upgrade on the defensive side of the football, joining a Baltimore defense that has been reformed since trading for safety Alohi Gilman from the Los Angeles Chargers in early October.
The Ravens should not be done, though. With the deadline looming on Tuesday at 4 p.m., General Manager Eric DeCosta will have to act fast to mold this team into a true playoff contender in the second half of the 2025 NFL season.
They have won two in a row, and have jumped into second place in the AFC North with a record of 3-5. Still, if they want to successfully dig themselves out of that 1-5 hole they dug themselves into, reinforcements need to come soon.
One of the most significant areas of concern has been the offensive line, specifically the lackluster guard duo of Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele. However, it appears that DeCosta has his full attention focused on the defense, and Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr certainly needs more upgrades. The most critical area of need remains the pass rush, particularly the interior defensive line.
Ravens need to beef up interior defensive line
Jones provides some versatility. He can play all across the defensive line, and should allow Orr to run fronts of Jones, Kyle Van Noy, and Mike Green. Outside linebacker Tavius Robinson is also expected to return in 2025, despite breaking his foot in Baltimore’s Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, so it seems like outside linebacker rotation is set in stone. They still need to beef up the interior, though.
The Ravens lost two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike for the year following their Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns. While defensive linemen like Travis Jones, John Jenkins, and C.J. Okoye has put forth admirable effort in Madubuike’s absence, the defensive front still lacks that game-wrecker. If Baltimore is serious about contending this season, that replacement should come via the trade market.
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has been the big name floated around in possible trades ahead of the deadline. It would take a king’s ransom to make a deal for Williams, but the Ravens may have the picks to do it.
Cheaper interior options could be Arizona Cardinals’ Calais Campbell, Dallas Cowboys’ Mazi Smith, and Tennessee’s T’Vondre Sweat. While none of those players would be elite threats along the interior, they could help stack a strong rotation.
Campbell seems like the best option in terms of trade value and success in 2025, but watch out for DeCosta to make a potential blockbuster deal.