The Baltimore Ravens could look to dangle some of their top picks in the 2024 NFL Draft if they have the chance to add a genuine star player to the mix. Perhaps that big name could come on the defensive line after what has been a hectic offseason.
Justin Madubuike is locked up long-term, but the loss of Jadeveon Clowney and generally unspectacular depth at the position could set Baltimore up for disappointment in a very competitive AFC North.
The Ravens could look for impending free agents available on a discount, like Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark. If Baltimore wants to get Brian Gutekunst on the phone, they better be prepared for a long and difficult negotiation.
Lombardi Avenue, FanSided's Green Bay Packers site, proposed a hypothetical trade in which the Ravens were to acquire Clark in exchange for the No. 30 pick in this draft and a third-round pick next year. That's a big price to pay, given Clark's situation.
Grade the Mock Trade: Ravens acquire Kenny Clark from Packers
Let's get the positives out of the way. Clark is one of the best defensive tackles in the NFC, and bringing a three-time Pro Bowler to a defensive line that is largely Justin Madubuike and a bunch of question marks could be worth pursuing. The problem is the price, which is way too rich.
If this trade was proposed a year ago, the Ravens should have pulled the trigger. In 2024, however, Clark is a free agent with only one year left on his contract. Even with him getting a career-best 7.5 sacks last season, parting ways with the best resource the team could use to improve their offensive line and wide receiver rooms comes off as very irresponsible.
If the Ravens want to add a defensive tackle in this draft (which wouldn't be the best use of No. 30, but hey, knock yourself out), there's a good chance one of Illinois' Johnny Newton, Missouri's Darius Robinson, or Texas' Byron Murphy slide down into that range. This would make the trade for Clark less impactful.
Acquiring Clark would be a nice windfall in a perfect world, but it seems like a Green Bay team that is starting to build another contending team would be hard-pressed to surrender a talent like him. As such, the Ravens may find his price tag is a first-round pick, which is too rich for an impending free agent.
Grade: C+