Should the Ravens have been more aggressive during the NFL Trade Deadline in 2023? Here are a couple of sensible trades.
The NFL Trade Deadline for 2023 has passed, and it was relatively quiet. Chase Young and Montez Sweat were moved by the rebuilding Washington Commanders to the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, respectively. However, those were by far the most significant mid-season adjustments in the NFL. The Baltimore Ravens, like many other clubs, avoided making any bold additions despite the fact that they are ready to make a deep playoff run.
So, what position groupings could the Ravens have strengthened, and what deals should they have made at the 2023 Trade Deadline?
Davante Adams, wide receiver for the Las Vegas Raiders
Many NFL teams should have made decisions regarding Davante Adams on Tuesday. Adams was irritated on the bench after QB Jimmy Garoppolo sailed two fourth-quarter passes that would have been 60-yard touchdowns right over Adams’ head. The Raiders went on to lose the game 26-14 on Monday night. Instead of trading Adams, the team sacked its general manager, head coach, and offensive coordinator, and benched Garoppolo in favor of fourth-round rookie quarterback Aiden O’Connell.
Perhaps the Ravens and other clubs inquired about Adams, but Las Vegas simply refused to sell him. In any case, Adams is an outstanding wide receiver at a position that is more crucial now than it has ever been. This offseason, Baltimore addressed their receiver need by choosing Zay Flowers in the first round and signing veteran Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham, on the other hand, hasn’t played much, and neither Rashod Bateman nor Flowers is a clear number one choice.
The Ravens should have been willing to invest a significant amount of draft money on a wide receiver. So far this season, Baltimore’s defense has been outstanding. It leads the NFL in scoring and is second in total yardage allowed per game. On offense, the Ravens’ bad luck with running back health continues, but Lamar Jackson is so good that he compensates for the run game on his own. The Ravens actually just require one more top offensive weapon.
The Ravens are first in the AFC North and have the best record in the conference with a 6-2 record. They also boast the NFL’s second-best point differential. Everything they desire is directly in front of them. Baltimore’s general staff should be in win-now mentality, and Davante Adams would dramatically improve the squad.
Sweat was eventually traded to the Bears for a second-round pick, as previously stated. That was an expensive price to pay for a player on an expiring rookie contract, especially given that the Bears’ draft pick is expected to be at the top of the second round. The Bears made a terrible move by giving up top draft capital for a player who is going to become far more expensive. Chicago is far from a contending team, and they cannot afford to fill out an entire roster in this manner.
Now, if the Ravens could have gotten Sweat for their own second-round pick, the move makes more sense for a team that should be in the market to buy before the trade deadline. Sweat is a premier pass rusher, and his presence would greatly strengthen Baltimore’s defensive front. Although they are adept at both, the Ravens are already better at defending the pass than the run. This trade would have given them more physicality up front, making life much more difficult for opposition quarterbacks. That final point is critical for a long playoff run in the AFC, which is stacked with elite quarterbacks.
Other Ravens Trade Suggestions
The Ravens don’t have many needs right now. So any movement leading up to the trade deadline would have helped to obtain one more difference maker on the field. Baltimore would like to add another talent player to their offense. As previously stated, injuries in the running back room have left a gap on the Ravens’ depth chart. Some teams were allegedly interested in trading for Tennessee Titans star running back Derrick Henry. However, Henry is past his prime and pricey, so that is not the most likely scenario for the Ravens.
Maybe Zack Moss of the Indianapolis Colts may have been an option at running back now that Jonathan Taylor has been paid and is healthy again.
The Ravens must be content with what they have, but winning it all in the NFL is incredibly difficult. Having one additional high-impact player would boost Ravens fans’ confidence as the playoffs near.
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