Tag: Baltimore Ravens trade

Ravens trading for DE Yannick Ngakoue from Vikings

The Baltimore Ravens revamped their pass rush by trading for former Jacksonville Jaguars and current Minnesota Vikings DE Yannick Ngakoue.

[jwplayer QlS9A4eV-ThvAeFxT]

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense has been playing at a high level this season but they’re missing just a little something. With the NFL trade deadline quickly approaching, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta once again got aggressive this season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baltimore is finalizing a trade with the Minnesota Vikings to land defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. In exchange for the Pro Bowl pass rusher, the Ravens are sending a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Ngakoue’s presence should be felt immediately by Baltimore. In six games with the Vikings this season, Ngakoue has five sacks and seven quarterback hits. Though Ngakoue is coming off two relatively down seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he still accounted for 17.5 sacks from 2018-2019.

Ngakoue should help free up outside linebacker Matthew Judon, who has largely disappointed this season after getting handed the franchise tag in the offseason. Judon has just two sacks, both coming against the Washington Football Team.

[vertical-gallery id=52513]

Ravens’ attempt to land star players this offseason points to hungry GM

The Baltimore Ravens have been in the mix for a few star players this offseason, even making some big moves of their own.

The Baltimore Ravens aren’t playing around when it comes to the 2020 season apparently. After getting so close to Super Bowl LIV, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has been quietly and carefully bold this offseason. With plenty of time remaining before the NFL’s trade deadline, it seems like Baltimore is on the hunt for the missing piece to get them there.

DeCosta and the Ravens wasted little time addressing their biggest flaw this offseason. Before free agency even opened up, Baltimore pulled off a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell. The Ravens even moved an impact player of their own, sending tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons.

But it’s the deals Baltimore didn’t pull off that might be more telling of their hunger this year. The Ravens tried to trade for former Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. At the close of training camp, Baltimore made a push for free-agent outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, even trying to pull off a sign-and-trade deal along with the Jaguars. While they failed to bring in either player, those are the types of deals that would have taken the Super Bowl-favorite Ravens to a completely different level.

DeCosta hasn’t been afraid of pulling off trades and searching for big names he can bring in. At the trade deadline last year, Baltimore traded linebacker Kenny Young and a fifth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for cornerback Marcus Peters. The move helped settle down a talented but underperforming Ravens defense, seeing the unit become the best in the league in the second half of the 2019 season.

With a salary cap that could actually decrease next season, some teams might be looking to preemptively free up some money for the 2021 season if things don’t start off well this season. And with quite a few selections in the 2021 NFL Draft and the seventh-most cap space next season, don’t be shocked if DeCosta and the Ravens look to make some other big moves ahead of the 2020 NFL trade deadline.

Baltimore is making it clear to the 31 other teams around the NFL: If you’ve got a star player you’re trying to move and the price is right, give the Ravens a call.

[vertical-gallery id=52513]

NFL Top 100 list: Ravens CB Marcus Peters comes in at No. 53

After not making the list last year, Baltimore Ravens CB Marcus Peters is No. 53 on the NFL’s Top 100 Players of 2020 list.

The Baltimore Ravens continue with their dominance on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2020 list. The three-part program used its second episode to dive into the middle of the list — 70-41. After putting four players on the bottom third of the list, the Ravens made yet another appearance with cornerback Marcus Peters coming in at No. 53.

Peters was originally with the Los Angeles Rams last year before a midseason trade sent him to Baltimore at the trade deadline. Peters’ placement on this list only highlights how big of a steal he was for Baltimore, getting a star player for relative peanuts. The Ravens sent reserve linebacker Kenny Young and a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to Los Angeles for Peters’ services, eventually locking him up to a three-year contract extension as well.

In 10 games for the Ravens, he accounted for three interceptions, returning two of them for touchdowns. Impressively, Peters has six pick-sixes over his five-year career, showing a knack for not only making a big play but rubbing a little salt in the wound in the process. Peters isn’t just all about the splash plays as a defender, however. When targeted, Peters allowed a ridiculously low 63.4 passer rating in 2019, helping create one of the most feared secondaries in the game last season.

Peters making the NFL’s Top 100 list is a bit of redemption after not making the cut last year. He was No. 79 on the 2018 edition of the list and No. 32 in 2017.

[vertical-gallery id=50970]

Jamal Adams says Jets still open to trade this offseason

The Jamal Adams and Jets seem destined for a split according to the All-Pro safety, who said the team is still open to an offseason trade.

The public feud between the New York Jets and safety Jamal Adams just won’t seem to go away. After seeing Adams’ name pop up in trade talks dating back to last year’s trade deadline, the All-Pro safety is apparently still available for the right price.

In an interview with Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News, Adams said Jets general manager Joe Douglas has “conveyed his willingness” to trading him this offseason. Mehta notes New York hasn’t given Adams’ agent permission to discuss a trade with teams yet though. However, Adams already laid out where he’d be interested in landing, with the Baltimore Ravens one of a handful of teams on his shortlist after the team had shown interest in him at last year’s trade deadline.

Adams is undeniably one of the best young defensive backs in the NFL right now. In just three seasons with New York, Adams has two interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, four fumble recoveries with one returned for a touchdown, 273 combined tackles, 28 tackles for a loss, 12 sacks, and 23 quarterback hits. In just the last two seasons, Adams has allowed passer ratings of 74.7 (2018) and 75.2 (2019) when targeted by opposing quarterbacks. Adams would make almost every team in the league better if he was on their roster, and the Ravens are certainly no exception.

Adams told Mehta he wants to “be with an organization that wants to win and do things the right way.” There’s little doubt Baltimore would hit on both of those marks after receiving rave reviews from former safety Eric Weddle. Unfortunately, the Ravens simply aren’t in a good spot to make a real run at Adams right now.

With roughly $7.5 million in available cap space right now, according to Over The Cap, Baltimore isn’t exactly flush with money to make blockbuster trades. At least not trade for Adams and give him the contract extension he’s been trying to get from the Jets. Furthermore, the Ravens already have their starting safeties after signing Chuck Clark to a contract extension this offseason and signing Earl Thomas as a free agent last year. Though Adams would be a huge addition for Baltimore, it’s hard to envision the Ravens realistically making a play for him right now. But if Adams is willing to wait a bit, things become a little more interesting.

Thomas is a potential cap casualty next year and would free up $6 million if cut after this season. That would be on top of the $63.48 million in cap space the Ravens are currently expected to have in 2021, according to OTC. That could be enough for Baltimore to make serious inquiries for Adams if New York is truly open to trading their star defender. Then again, if the Jets are willing to move him this offseason and can find a suitable trade partner, the timing might not work out in the Ravens’ favor.

With Baltimore already showing interest previously and Adams returning their wandering eye, it’s easy to get excited about what could happen.

[vertical-gallery id=47779]

Report: Ravens 1 of 7 teams Jets S Jamal Adams would welcome trade

The Baltimore Ravens showed interest in safety Jamal Adams last season and he’s open to the idea of being traded there.

The idea of the Baltimore Ravens trading for New York Jets safety Jamal Adams simply won’t go away. After Baltimore was one of a few teams to inquire about Adams at the trade deadline last season, the Ravens have frequently popped back up in rumors of a potential trade for Adams this offseason.

While Baltimore would surely love to have one of the best defensive players in the league on their roster, it’s often a two-way street. Though New York likely could move Adams without his permission, few teams would agree to a trade unless he was also happy with the deal. That’s especially the case since Adams has been feuding with the Jets over a contract extension and would undoubtedly have the same demands from any new team.

The Ravens don’t have to worry about Adams being OK with the idea apparently. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Baltimore is one of just seven teams Adams would be happy to be traded to.

It’s all well and good that Adams is on board with joining the Ravens but in order for a trade to actually happen, Baltimore would undoubtedly want to have a contract extension locked up as well so it doesn’t become a two-year rental. It’s what happened when the Ravens traded for former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell this offseason. Any trade would also have to make sense in terms of draft capital, further complicating things.

While anything can happen in the NFL, especially with active general managers like Eric DeCosta and Joe Douglas, it seems like a longshot for a deal to actually get pulled off. It also isn’t very practical for the Ravens, who have their starters in place at safety and far more pressing needs.

Baltimore already has a starting safety duo in Chuck Clark and Earl Thomas. The Ravens signed Clark to a three-year contract extension at the end of last season and signed Thomas in free agency just a year ago. Baltimore would actually lose cap space just by cutting either of them right now, according to Over The Cap, which they can’t really afford even if they wanted to. Furthermore, giving Adams a contract extension before locking up guys already on the roster like Matthew Judon, Marlon Humphrey, or Ronnie Stanley would be a head-scratcher.

But with Adams and the Ravens the topic of frequent rumors and reports, this is likely the last we’ve heard about a potential trade.

[vertical-gallery id=49895]

Should the Ravens trade for Jets S Jamal Adams?

With Jamal Adams fighting with the New York Jets over his contract, the Baltimore Ravens could swoop in for a trade. But should they?

The Baltimore Ravens had an interest in New York Jets safety Jamal Adams before, but could they make another play at the All-Pro safety once again? More importantly, should the Ravens pull off what would surely be a costly trade for Adams?

The topic comes up once again as Adams and the Jets continue their rocky relationship in public. Adams has been very vocal in wanting more commitment from New York in the form of a contract extension. However, it seems the Jets have been proceeding slower than Adams is comfortable with. With some contention between the pair, talk of a potential trade has again swirled around them.

This isn’t the first time Baltimore has been mentioned as a potential trade partner for Adams. At last season’s trade deadline, the Ravens showed interest in Adams but weren’t able to pull off a deal. Though Baltimore has Earl Thomas on the roster and it just gave a contract extension to Chuck Clark, Adams would be a sure fit in the Ravens’ defensive scheme. With Adams once again the topic of trade talk, Baltimore is a team many immediately looked at as a potential destination. Former Ravens safety Tony Jefferson added fuel to the speculation on Instagram Live, where he told Adams that he’d be a great fit in Baltimore.

If trade cost and salary cap ramifications weren’t an issue, a trade for Adams makes sense for Baltimore. Adams is one of the best safeties in the league and as a versatile player, he fits the Ravens’ defensive scheme well. Baltimore is also in the middle of a Super Bowl window with a lot of cap space available next season, checking all the boxes most players want out of a new landing spot. But alas, the NFL doesn’t quite work that way and trading for Adams would be expensive for the Ravens.

The first question is how much the Jets would want in return for Adams. An elite player like Adams isn’t going to come cheap and New York wouldn’t be out of line asking for a first- and mid-round pick in exchange for their starting safety. Even if Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta was ready to pull the trigger on that deal, it’s not the only consideration.

The Ravens would still need to hand Adams the contract extension he’s been trying to get from the Jets. If Adams wants to become the highest-paid safety in the NFL, an extension would cost Baltimore around $15 million per season on average. The Ravens certainly don’t have that type of cash lying around in 2020, with just $9.04 million available right now per Over The Cap. But even if they could work out a deal that would fit within their cap this season, the deal would likely balloon pretty quickly over the next few years. Would the Ravens really be able to afford another highly-paid defensive player at a time they’re hoping to reach deals on long-term extensions with left tackle Ronnie Stanley and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s likely record-breaking contract on the horizon as well?

Furthermore, we need to question if Baltimore even needs Adams. Though Adams is a better player than Clark, and Thomas is near the end of his career, the Ravens simply don’t have the type of need at safety to warrant spending that type of money and draft capital on a trade. Barring Baltimore cutting or trading Thomas along with bringing in Adams, it’s difficult to see how they’d get all three the number of snaps to warrant their cap hits.

Bringing in Adams would surely boost the Ravens’ defense, there’s no real question about that. When they initially showed interest last season, Baltimore had just lost Jefferson for the season due to injury and had yet to extend Clark. At that time, the trade would have made far more sense from the Ravens’ standpoint. But now, the salary cap space would be far better spent on signing their own players to long-term deals, and the draft capital could be better used in a trade for another pass rusher.

If Adams is destined to join the Ravens, it probably isn’t going to happen this season. The clearest path towards Adams wearing purple and black would be after the 2020 season when Baltimore could cut Thomas, freeing up $6 million according to Over The Cap, while opening up a roster spot for him. Unless the Jets are willing to let the Ravens practically steal Adams from them and the safety is willing to sign a relatively cheap contract, Baltimore seemingly closed the door on this deal months ago when they locked up Clark to a three-year contract extension.

[vertical-gallery id=48195]

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

[jwplayer dNhfWIQr-ThvAeFxT]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=46658]

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.

[vertical-gallery id=43099]

Ravens trade picks Nos. 60, 129 to Patriots for two 3rd-round selections

The Baltimore Ravens moved out of the third round after their first pick of the night, sending No. 60 to the New England Patriots.

The Baltimore Ravens are often movers and shakers come draft day, and the 2020 NFL Draft is no different. Entering Day 2 holding eight more picks, the Ravens are moving back from the No. 60 pick into the third round.

Baltimore is trading its No. 60 and No. 129 picks to the New England Patriots. In exchange, the Ravens are getting picks No. 71 (third round) and 98 (third round), according to ESPN’s Field Yates and Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.

There is a ton of depth at a number of key positions of need for Baltimore in the middle rounds. By moving back, the Ravens will likely find a player they still have rated highly on their draft board while getting even more chances at picking up immediate contributors. It could also be a case where all the guys they really liked in the second round are gone and they’d rather take a few more shots in the third round to pick up more important needs.

[vertical-gallery id=45802]

Report: Ravens tried to trade for former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins

The Baltimore Ravens clearly want to continue adding weapons around QB Lamar Jackson and were interested in former Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins

The Baltimore Ravens don’t necessarily need to grab the top wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft but they could use more help at the position. After remaking their wide receiver corps over the draft and free agency for the last two offseasons, Baltimore has a formidable group of young players. But that won’t stop them from going after a legit No. 1 guy if the opportunity presents itself.

According to Sports Illustrated’s Michael Silver, the Ravens were one of the teams that tried to trade with the Houston Texans for All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The Texans ended up trading Hopkins to the Arizona Cardinals for a second-round pick and running back David Johnson instead.

Though a second-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, Baltimore certainly has the draft capital to make that work. They enter the 2020 NFL Draft with two second-round picks (No. 55 and No. 60) in addition to two third-round picks (No. 92 and No. 106). If they wanted Hopkins bad enough, there seems little doubt they could have put a package together to get him from Houston.

However, any trade is likely going to come with a new contract and Hopkins is considered to be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. A new deal for him would have been very costly and though Baltimore could have worked the numbers to make it fit into their 2020 salary cap, it would have been tough down the road.

Hopkins has caught 632 passes for 8,602 receiving yards and 54 receiving touchdowns over seven years with the Texans. He’s put up 1,500-plus receiving yards twice and led the league in touchdown catches in 2017. That type of receiving talent combined with Marquise Brown and 2019 NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson would have made the Ravens’ offense deadly.

With the 2020 NFL Draft about to kick off, it seems likely Baltimore is going to show interest in a historically deep wide receiver class.

[vertical-gallery id=44750]