The Baltimore Ravens will not be featured in tonight's Thursday Night Football matchup, but that doesn't mean there shouldn't be interest in the AFC East clash.
The Buffalo Bills travel down the east coast to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, FL to take on the Miami Dolphins in tonight's highly anticipated matchup. Both teams come into the game undefeated at 1-0 and hope to secure a coveted division win over the other.
Ravens fans should be interested in this matchup as there are a few players on both teams who could help this 2024 Ravens team. When watching tonight's game, Ravens fans should keep their eyes peeled on two 25-year-olds in particular, who have shown some promise but just haven't quite yet been able to fully capitalize on it.
The Ravens recently lost Kyle Van Noy due to an eye injury, so the pass rush could use some reinforcing. Look out for Bills' defensive end A.J. Epenesa and Dolphins' defensive end Jaelan Phillips as both would be welcomed additions to the Baltimore Ravens.
2 ideal Ravens trade targets to watch in Bills vs. Dolphins clash on Thursday Night Football
Buffalo Bills: A.J. Epenesa (Defensive End)
Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa is a tough cookie to crack. On one side of the spectrum, he's a 6-foot-6 and 260-pound monster who can wreak havoc with his strength and athleticism. On the other side, he has 59 NFL games played with only 15.5 career sacks to his name. The fifth-year pro needs to be more consistent as a pass-rushing threat.
However, you shouldn't read too much into the lack of production. Epenesa has been on a team that has gone the 'rotational-edge-rusher" route. So his opportunities have been limited. The thought here is that the Ravens make a move for Epenesa, move into a 4-3 defensive scheme, and have defensive tackles Travis Jones and Nnamdi Madubuike anchor the interior with defensive end Odafe Oweh taking care of the other edge position.
Regardless, be on the lookout for big number 57 tonight and imagine how well he'd fare in the Purple and Black.
Miami Dolphins: Jaelan Phillips (Defensive End)
Miami Dolphins defensive end Jaelan Phillips is in an awfully similar-sized boat to Epenesa. Phillips is in his fourth NFL season and to date, he's played in 43 games and has 23 career sacks. Much like Epenesa, Phillips is a big athletic end who uses his 6-foot-5 and 260-pound frame to bend opposing offensive linemen to their will.
Phillips could be the odd man out in Miami. The Dolphins just spent this year's 2024 draft pick on defensive end Chop Robinson. They also added veterans Shaq Barrett and Calais Campbell to bolster their pass-rushing presence.
It'll be interesting to see how the Dolphins view Phillips regarding their long-term plans. His future is firmly up in the air with his contract situation not settled. So, if the Dolphins feel like they should move on from him the Ravens should come calling immediately to bet on the potential he could have on a Ravens team known for being disruptive in the backfield.