The NFL trade deadline is catching fire. We’ve seen some huge deals over the past few weeks, and Monday kept that intensity up. It definitely looks like it's shaping up to be a seller’s market. Could that swing the direction a 4-5 Baltimore Ravens team opts to go in on Tuesday?
The Jacksonville Jaguars made most of the moves, trading a first and future second for Jordan Davis, a second and future fifth for Jessie Bates, and a sixth for Davon Godchaux. The Lions also acquired Andre Cisco for a future sixth.
Those were in addition to trades that included Joey Porter Jr., Cam Jurgens, Quenton Nelson, Jeffery Simmons, and DeForest Buckner over the last two months.
There’s reason to believe things could ramp up. If the iron stays hot, the Ravens might be crazy not to capitalize on the market.
Baltimore Ravens may want to contemplate selling even more amid crazy trade deadline
The Ravens have actually played a part in the trade deadline frenzy. They dealt a 2028 second-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Cam Jurgens deal, and traded a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Arizona Cardinals for Jacoby Brissett and a 2027 fifth-round pick.
Those acquisitions were made out of desperation, though. The offensive line lost every starting center to injury, and the offense was down to their QB3. Adding Jurgens and Brissett made sense.
However, Baltimore has no reason to be aggressive anymore. They’re on the outside looking in, and are in real danger of falling further and further back in the playoff picture. Eric DeCosta should either stand pat or sell what he can.
Given the way the deadline is trending, the organization should lean toward selling. They might get a little bit more than what they’d usually expect for some of their players.
Sure, the Ravens don’t have many realistic trade candidates. But things can change in the coming hours if teams are desperate enough.
For example, despite having no interest in trading Derrick Henry, rumors keep piling up. If the Denver Broncos and Minnesota Vikings can’t land Jonathan Taylor, it wouldn’t be a shock if they try an aggressive pivot for Henry.
Rashod Bateman has also been named as a trade candidate. Baltimore seeks to deal a player under contract through 2029, but the Los Angeles Rams are an undeniable suitor after losing Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Everyone knows they’re ready to meet any asking price and then some.
Veterans on one-year contracts like Calais Campbell and Chidobe Awuzie might make way too much sense to move, too.
Campbell could retire after this season, and he deserves a better shot to contend elsewhere. Trading him would also open up a slight opportunity for the younger Aeneas Peebles.
In Awuzie’s case, he’s struggled to crack the rotation consistently. It doesn’t look like he’ll hang around under Jesse Minter, and T.J. Tampa may be a better fit for Minter’s zone schemes anyway.
You probably won’t get anything more than a sixth- or seventh-round pick for those guys, but it’d be worth recouping draft picks in a season that appears to be heading down the wrong path.
Eric DeCosta shouldn’t go full sell mode — this team still has tons of talent. He should be open to trade offers, though, and if buyers make captivating offers, he shouldn’t hold back from striking deals.
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