Tag: Hayden Hurst trade

Best remaining players to complete Cardinals’ 2021 roster

After a solid wave of talent in the NFL Draft, the Cardinals are still looking to upgrade their roster in the league’s top division.

The highly anticipated NFL Draft is behind us with the Arizona Cardinals having added many quality players at positions of need. Still, for the team to reach their postseason goals, there are some remaining holes on the roster.

As of right now, the Cards have around $15 million in cap space to use before draft pick signings. They still have contracts to redo or terminate, such as those of receiver Andy Isabella and linebacker Devon Kennard. There is money to work with, particularly at a (hopefully) discounted free agent class this late into the offseason.

Here are some of the top options at Arizona’s on-paper positions of need that could be available this summer.


Here’s where the Ravens are picking on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft

Here’s where the Baltimore Ravens are scheduled to pick on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft

[jwplayer 8oWxhFXu-ThvAeFxT]

We are a third of the way through the 2020 NFL Draft, with Round 1 firmly in the rearview mirror. The Baltimore Ravens are no doubt be pleased after the first round, spending the 28th overall selection on LSU linebacker Patrick Queen. But it’s time to focus on the day ahead and Baltimore’s four picks on Friday.

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said there were still 25-30 players available he felt could be an immediate contributor. With starter-quality talent still on the board, the second and third rounds of the 2020 NFL Draft are sure to be exciting.

Entering Day 2 of the draft, Baltimore is scheduled to first pick at No. 55 — the 23rd pick of the second round. But they’ll quickly turn around and pick again at No. 60. However, all that ammunition could be enough to see the Ravens trade up and grab a player they love instead.

Take a look at where Baltimore stands on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Baltimore Ravens Day 2 2020 NFL Draft picks:

Second round – No. 55 (acquired from the Atlanta Falcons)

Second round – No. 60

Third round – No. 106 (Compensatory selection)

Third round – No. 129 (acquired from the New England Patriots)

[vertical-gallery id=46348]

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta: 3 or 4 teams were interested in trading for Hayden Hurst

The Baltimore Ravens apparently had a few teams vying for tight end Hayden Hurst, according to general manager Eric DeCosta.

[jwplayer 0eeBt3cc-ThvAeFxT]

The Baltimore Ravens shipped off tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. While the move came as a shock to many fans, it was a decision that was apparently in the works for a little while according to Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta.

On the Ravens Lounge Podcast, DeCosta spoke at length about the process of trading Hurst and why the former first-round pick wanted to get out of Baltimore.

There’s no denying Hurst had been buried on the Ravens’ tight end depth chart. With the way Mark Andrews stepped up last season and the blocking proficiency Nick Boyle brings to the table, Hurst was the odd-man-out in Baltimore. Though the Ravens still put him on the field a bunch, he wasn’t able to truly excel in the way he would if he was the obvious top option. DeCosta said Hurst was feeling “anxious to prove what he could be” and wanted a better opportunity to do that.

With a decision made to at least listen to trade offers, it then came down to what DeCosta called getting “fair compensation” in return. DeCosta revealed that three or four teams were “in the mix” but the Falcons ended up being the best scenario for both the Ravens and Hurst. Though DeCosta didn’t say which teams had shown interest, the list of teams that covet tight ends in their offense and needed help there is pretty small.

With a chance to start and a capable quarterback in Matt Ryan throwing him the ball, Hurst will get a chance to prove his worth in the NFL. In return, Baltimore got an extra second-round pick to continue building towards a Super Bowl. It’s a rare win-win-win deal that works out for everyone involved.

[vertical-gallery id=43099]

Instant analysis of Ravens trading TE Hayden Hurst to Falcons

The Baltimore Ravens shocked fans by sending TE Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons. What does it mean for the Ravens now?

[jwplayer 0eeBt3cc-dH7yyuP5]

Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta clearly isn’t afraid to pull off trades this offseason. After putting together a deal for Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell, DeCosta and the Ravens are set to trade tight end Hayden Hurst to the Atlanta Falcons in return for two draft picks.

Considering how valuable tight ends are in Baltimore’s scheme, the move is surprising. That’s especially the case considering Hurst was a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and had started to come into his own last season. Hurst’s 349 receiving yards in 2019 ranked third on the team behind fellow tight end Mark Andrews and rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown.

However, the deal also makes some sense for Baltimore when looking at their depth chart. They had trouble getting Hurst into an impactful role in the lineup considering the emergence of Andrews as the team’s top receiving weapon and Nick Boyle as one of the league’s best blocking tight ends. Though there should be little doubt Hurst can be an effective weapon both in the receiving game and as a blocker, his value was limited on the Ravens’ roster.

In return, Baltimore gets an additional second-round pick, which will be incredibly valuable this year. The 2020 NFL Draft is considered very deep at wide receiver, and there are a number of early-round pass rushers who could make an immediate impact. The additional second-round pick gives Baltimore four top-100 picks, which should give them plenty of chances to pick up impact players.

The move does complicate the Ravens’ offseason needs, though. While Hurst only caught 30 passes last season, Baltimore will need more receiving help to fill the void left by the trade. They could look to free agency to find a suitable replacement, but tight end is thin there as well in the draft. It will be interesting to see how the Ravens fill their depth chart at tight end and whether they make a stronger push to add wide receiver help.

[vertical-gallery id=44016]

Ravens trade TE Hayden Hurst to Falcons

The Baltimore Ravens received two picks in the 2020 NFL Draft from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for TE Hayden Hurst and a fourth-rounder

After more than a month of speculation, the Baltimore Ravens have officially traded tight end Hayden Hurst. The Ravens have traded Hurst and a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2nd- and a fifth-round pick in 2020, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

With the emergence of tight end Mark Andrews last season as Baltimore’s best receiving threat and Nick Boyle as one of the best blocking tight ends, Hurst was ultimately third on the depth chart for the Ravens. Though Hurst still held value to Baltimore given their love of using multiple tight end sets, it seems the value the Ravens got in return from the Falcons was just too much to ignore.

It looks as though Atlanta is set to lose their top tight end in free agency as Austin Hooper is set to sign with the Cleveland Browns, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Falcons will get a former first-round pick in Hurst, who caught 30 passes for 349 yards and two touchdowns last season.

[vertical-gallery id=44016]