The Baltimore Ravens may go off the radar and trade up this year, solely because Lamar Jackson could be involved in a trade. However, if you have followed the Ravens you know that they are far more likely to trade down.
The team has fewer picks than you normally see, and more holes as well. The combination tells you that a trade-down is most likely. However, it takes two to tango. If the Ravens do trade down, who are some teams to keep an eye on?
3. The New York Jets could be trading the Baltimore Ravens
The New York Jets may be one of the more likely teams to see calling the Ravens for a trade down. Joe Douglas, the Jets GM started his career in Baltimore and worked with Eric DeCosta years ago. The relationship is strong. Beyond that, the Jets happen to have two picks back-to-back in round two.
They pick 42nd and then 43rd in the 2023 NFL draft. If the Jets see someone they like they could package the picks to move up, or they could at least get rid of one, and still have the second pick in their range.
We saw last year that even after the Jets had two picks in the top ten, they ended up trading into the first round for Jermaine Johnson. The year prior they swung big by trading up for Alijah Vera-Tucker. Joe Douglas loves to trade up as much as the Ravens love to trade down.
The Jets have the ammunition, and they have a need to make a big splash at some point in this draft. On the flip side, the Ravens are a friendly face who would love to move down and grab a haul of picks. These two are shaping up to be trade partners.
2. Will the New Orleans Saints look to trade up with the Baltimore Ravens
Another team that tends to have an itchy trigger finger is the New Orleans Saints. We saw them trade into the first round for Marcus Davenport, as well as last year when they maneuvered Chris Olave and Trevor Penning. That featured a trade into the first as well as a trade-up in the first. They love this stuff.
Beyond that, they are at the crossroads here. Drew Brees is gone, and then Sean Payton left. They are trying to keep this thing afloat, but they are barely hanging on. Now they have Derek Carr, and we know they have to get him as much help as possible.
They also are dealing with house money a little bit knowing they only have a first-round pick because of Sean Payton. They could have had two first rounders, but the Eagles are picking 10 thanks to them. Still, that speaks to the reality that New Orleans will do crazy things with their draft picks.
For the Jets, they have to move up about 20 spots, so it is going to cost them something. The Saints are sitting at pick 29. That is only a seven-spot drop-off for the Ravens. So, the package may not be as big, but the drop is not that bad, and it sets up for a decent enough return that it could be a better overall deal.
1. The New York Giants would be a nice trade down for the Baltimore Ravens
One of the better options for the Ravens may be a simple trade down from 22 to 25. This makes sense because it helps the Ravens pick something up, but could still get them the player they may have wanted at 22 after all.
The reason this trade may go down is the Minnesota Vikings. We know the Vikings have two thoughts right now, quarterback and wide receiver. With Kirk Cousins, they could move on after this season, and they just moved on from Adam Thielen and need another name to step in.
For the Giants, they need receivers bad, and while they just extended Daniel Jones, they also have been interested in Hendon Hooker. They brought in Hooker, and the reality with Hooker is he will sit for a year. Do the Giants draft Hooker, give Jones a year, and then decide what to do after that? If they want this to happen they need to jump Minnesota.
If they want to jump Minnesota they need to get to to 22. The Ravens may love to see Hendon Hooker at pick 22, not because they will take him, but because others will trade up for them.