Ravens considered "buyers" ahead of NFL trade deadline

We're less than two days away from the NFL trade deadline so rumors and whispers will only keep ramping up for the next few hours as we approach 4 pm ET on Oct. 31.

In a column written after knowing the results from the Sunday slate of NFL games of Week 8, Sports Illustrated's Conor Orr labeled the Ravens as a "buyer" ahead of the trade deadline.

"The Ravens are now two games up in the AFC North, which feels significant but is less so considering they face both the contending Browns and Bengals in the next month. Baltimore’s efficient offense has been the story of this season, but in a win over the Cardinals on Sunday, it showed an ability to still grind it out with a Lamar Jackson-free (or less involved) running game."

- Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated

As Orr correctly noted, the win against the Cardinals and the rest of the weekend's results have Baltimore leading the AFC North by two games over all other teams in the division.

The Ravens, to Orr's eyes, "showed an ability to still grind it out with a Lamar Jackson-free (or less involved) running game," which in turn led the analyst to highlight the main trade target of Baltimore ahead of Tuesday.

"Baltimore doesn’t really need anything, but top-end running back help would only ease the concerns with its offense moving forward. The Ravens should also be a destination for rotational pass rushers. This team is so good at generating stress on the offense, with Justin Madubuike and Jadeveon Clowney both logging 10 or more pressures so far this year. Clowney, at age 30, is having another great season but is better with stylistic complements. I recently suggested Danielle Hunter for Baltimore in a dream trades post. "

- Connor Orr, Sports Illustrated

Orr thinks that Baltimore "doesn't really need anything," although he acknowledged that getting "top-end running back help would only ease the concerns with its offense moving forward."

On top of a rusher to make up for the season-ending injury of RB1 J.K. Dobbins, Orr thinks the Ravens "should also be a destination for rotational pass rushers."

There are two obvious targets for the Ravens to pursue in the next few hours: Titans running back Derrick Henry and Vikings pash rusher Danielle Hunter.

The former is looking like a tough-get with Tennessee winning their Week 8 matchup against Atlanta and still in contention for a postseason berth.

Hunter, on the other hand, might have suddenly become much more available following the Vikings' win on Sunday that saw starting QB Kirk Cousins getting injured and lost for the season, forcing Minny to move on and look for a tank-job more than a contending one.

The best news, however, is that even if Baltimore ends up with no trade completed, the Ravens are in an extraordinary position halfway through the regular season sporting a 6-2 record and looking as strong as any other team in the NFL.