The Baltimore Ravens are in the midst of an offseason where they need to be aggressive. They have more than their fair share of roster holes, and if they want to reach a Super Bowl in the Lamar Jackson era, it’s time to cash their chips in.
They already plugged some of those roster holes with the blockbuster signing of Trey Hendrickson, while also bringing back John Simpson to add stability along the interior of the offensive line. While the 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching, there’s still time to make one more splash: trading for Brian Thomas Jr.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have tirelessly said that there’s no truth to the Thomas rumors. However, we’ve seen crazier things happen once the NFL Draft arrives. If there’s any possibility that he’s traded, general manager Eric DeCosta should be on the phone.
Baltimore Ravens should be one team making calls for Brian Thomas Jr. ahead of NFL Draft
If the market is open for Thomas, it’ll be competitive. He had an excellent rookie year in 2024, totaling 87 receptions, 1,282 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He regressed in 2025 with a disappointing 48 receptions, 707 yards, and two touchdowns, struggling with drops on a weekly basis (13.8 drop percentage), but he remains an explosive weapon with plenty of room to grow.
Despite the Jaguars shutting down the trade rumors, media outlets have kept the fire around Thomas trade scenarios alive. Last month, Anthony Miller, a writer for Baltimore Ravens On SI offered his view on a potential Ravens-Thomas trade, among other moves. He had Baltimore deal a 2026 second-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick for Thomas and a 2027 seventh-round pick.
More recently, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report constructed a list of six trade packages for Thomas. While the Ravens didn’t make the list, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. The fact that there are so many rumors surrounding the 23-year-old means the door could be cracked just a little bit for a trade. Baltimore should try to force their way through that door.
In Davenport’s piece, each trade package involved a team’s first-round pick headed to the Jaguars. That could be too rich for the Ravens. They love their draft picks, and the thought of having to part with pick 14 for a rising star coming off a disappointing sophomore campaign could keep DeCosta and Jaguars general manager James Gladstone from agreeing on any deal.
Maybe the Ravens could get it done with their second-rounder being the centerpiece, though. If they packaged their pick at 45, along with other mid-to-late round selections, they could at least be in the conversation.
Rashod Bateman could also be a name to watch as a Ravens trade candidate, as his 2025 struggles and drama this offseason have him trending in the wrong direction. But moving his contract wouldn’t make sense for either Baltimore or Jacksonville. A pre-June 1 trade of Bateman would incur over $11 million in dead cap and $-5.5 million in cap savings for the Ravens. On the other end, the Jaguars have little room to work with at just $6.8 million in cap space.
Ultimately, DeCosta should at least make a call for Thomas. He’s an explosive deep threat who is certainly capable of bouncing back to his rookie ways in 2026. And for a Baltimore offense that is hunting explosive plays under new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, there may not be a better number two option to have next to Zay Flowers than Thomas.