Tag: 2020 NFL draft trade

Ravens trade up to No. 201 and pick SMU WR James Proche

The Baltimore Ravens pull off a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and get SMU WR James Proche at No. 201

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With just one final pick remaining, the Baltimore Ravens had to get one last trade-in. They trade with the Minnesota Vikings for the No. 201 pick in the sixth round and grab SMU wide receiver James Proche.

According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the Ravens packaged their No. 225 (seventh round) and a 2021 fifth-round pick in order to move up to No. 201 and gain a seventh-round pick (No. 219).

Despite being a sixth-round selection, Proche was highly productive at SMU. He played in 49 games, catching 301 passes for 3,949 yards and 39 touchdowns over four seasons.  Part of the reason for Proche’s excellent production was because he knows how to get open, using route running and good footwork to find open space. Proche is physical in jump-ball situations and tracks deep passes well, which should come in handy with Baltimore’s aggressive offense.

More importantly and likely why the Ravens were interested in him here, is that Proche has experience as a return specialist, both on punts and kickoffs. With no clear-cut starter at either return spot, adding a capable player there is a smart move this late in the draft.

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Analyzing the Ravens’ 2nd-round trade with Patriots

The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a deal with the New England Patriots that ended up being as equal as possible for both teams.

The Baltimore Ravens are movers and shakers almost every year and the 2020 NFL Draft proved to be no different. Though many expected the Ravens to move up at some point to get a player they loved, Baltimore actually traded out of the third round. The Ravens sent a package of two picks that included their No. 60 selection to the New England Patriots for two third-round picks.

Trades nowadays rarely involve one team “fleecing” the other and this one is no exception. Though that should be expected with general managers Eric DeCosta and Bill Belichick, two of the best in the business. Taking a look at our draft trade value chart, we can see it’s a perfectly equal number, which is near impossible to pull off given the varying values for each pick and the likelihood a team has those exact picks. But if any two teams can have that happen, it would be the Patriots and Ravens.

Ravens get:

Pick Value Player
71 235 DT Justin Madubuike
98 108 LB Malik Harrison
Total 343

Patriots get:

Pick Value Player
60 300 LB Josh Uche
129 43 Not picked yet
Total 343

New England moved up to get a linebacker while Baltimore fell back and found two more defensive pieces that should get meaningful snaps as rookies. Even that seems to be a pretty even trade with both teams filling needs with solid players.

For the Ravens, the trade back made a lot of sense. Several players that were rated highly by draft analysts were still on the board and though they could have picked a player they likely would have been happy with, they got to move back and still get two guys they’re thrilled with.

All in all, the trade was a no brainer for both teams. Of course, how those players pan out will really determine the winners and losers of the deal but for right now, it’s an equitable trade.

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