The 2023 NFL trade deadline came and went rather unceremoniously, especially for the Baltimore Ravens.
Fans have been spoiled with blockbuster treats over the past several years, including last year’s deadline deal that brought star linebacker Roquan Smith to Baltimore from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second-round pick.
Just down Interstate 95, the Washington Commanders shipped away star pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young for Day 2 draft picks. But the Commanders are headed in a different direction — toward a rebuild. If the Ravens were looking to make a deal, they would have added new firepower to their ascending roster.
So, what happened?
It’s unlikely Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta was sitting on his hands. Reports indicated the team had kicked the tires on players like Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry. Adding to the backfield would have made sense, given the loss of JK Dobbins earlier this season.
Sometimes, the price just isn’t right. The Ravens put a lot of value in future draft capital, the currency required to pry away talented players from other teams.
Simply put: the Ravens like their guys. Head coach John Harbaugh said as much on Monday.
“We have an excellent roster. I love our players. They’re getting healthy,” Harbaugh said. “I love our guys. I think we have everything we need to be successful.”
Indeed, the team doesn’t have any glaring holes entering Week 9. At the beginning of the season, there were concerns in the secondary with cornerback Marlon Humphrey going down with an injury and only unproven commodities lined up behind him. Safety Marcus Williams has also battled injuries.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens has performed well despite being one of the league’s most targeted players in the passing game. Other veterans — including Rock Ya-Sin, Arthur Maulet and Kevon Seymour — have held their own. Maybe most important to the defense’s hot start, safety Geno Stone is currently among the league’s best ballhawks on the back end, leading the league with five interceptions.
Pass rusher is arguably the team’s biggest weakness, but former No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney has been disruptive to opposing quarterbacks. On the inside, Justin Madibuike is having a true breakout season with 6.5 sacks.
And, what about those running backs? Gus Edwards paid three visits to the end zone in Arizona this week against the Cardinals. Along with Justice Hill, the Ravens backfield isn’t setting the league on fire like the Mark Ingram, Justin Forsett, Alex Collins days of old, but they’re getting the job done on an offense that’s finally getting into a groove with offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s new scheme.
Salary cap struggles
The acquisition of Smith in 2022 completely turned things around for the defense, but the team was prepared to pay him. Pay him they did, making Smith the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL.
Sweat and Young cost a pretty penny to acquire. The Bears sent the Commanders a second-rounder for Sweat, and the San Francisco 49ers sent a third for Young. To get the full value of those draft picks, those teams will look to sign each player to a long-term extension. According to Spotrac, the Ravens have just $6.8 million in cap space right now, limiting their options in terms of bringing in new talent.
The team is likely evaluating how to retain key players of their own, including Madibuike, linebacker Patrick Queen and stalwart guard Kevin Zeitler, who are in the final years of their contracts.
DeCosta, Harbaugh and the Ravens are betting on this team to continue ascending. Should that not happen, it might be fair to wonder what could have been.
Leave a Reply