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The NFL trade deadline for 2023 passed with little fanfare, particularly for the Baltimore Ravens.
Over the last few years, fans have been treated to a number of spectacular treats, such as the trade deadline deal that sent star linebacker Roquan Smith from the Chicago Bears to Baltimore in return for a second-round pick last year.
The Washington Commanders traded star pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young for Day 2 draft selections, just down Interstate 95. However, the commanders have a different plan in mind: a rebuild. The Ravens would have bolstered their rising roster with more firepower if they were interested in making a trade.
What then transpired?
Eric DeCosta, the general manager and executive vice president of the Ravens, was probably not sitting on his hands. According to reports, the team had tested out players like Derrick Henry, the running back for the Tennessee Titans. With the loss of J.K. Dobbins earlier in the season, strengthening the backfield would have made sense.
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Occasionally, the cost simply isn’t reasonable. The Ravens place a high value on future draft capital, which is the money needed to lure good players away from rival teams.
The Ravens like their guys, to put it plainly. John Harbaugh, the head coach, stated as much on Monday.
We boast a stellar roster. I adore each and every player. They’re becoming healthier,” stated Harbaugh. “I adore our guys. We should have everything we need to succeed, in my opinion.”
As of Week 9, the team does not have any obvious weaknesses. With only unproven commodities in the secondary after cornerback Marlon Humphrey went down with an injury at the start of the season, there were questions raised in the secondary. Marcus Williams, a safety, has also struggled with injuries.
Despite being one of the players in the league who is targeted the most in the passing game, cornerback Brandon Stephens has played well. Other veterans who have held their own include Arthur Maulet, Kevon Seymour, and Rock Ya-Sin. Perhaps the most crucial factor in the defense’s rapid start is safety Geno Stone, who leads the league in interceptions and is currently one of the best ballhawks in the back end of the game.
The team’s biggest weakness is probably its pass rush, but Jadeveon Clowney, a former first-round pick, has caused havoc for opposing quarterbacks. With 6.5 sacks this season, Justin Madibuike is truly emerging on the inside.
And those running backs—what about them? This week, against the Cardinals in Arizona, Gus Edwards made three trips to the end zone. The Ravens backfield, which includes Justice Hill, isn’t lighting the league on fire like it did in the days of Mark Ingram, Justin Forsett, and Alex Collins, but they are contributing to an offense that is finally finding its rhythm under offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s new playcalling scheme.
The defense saw a dramatic improvement upon acquiring Smith in 2022, but the team was willing to pay him. They paid him, and Smith became the NFL’s highest-paid linebacker.
It cost a pretty penny to acquire Sweat and Young. The San Francisco 49ers sent a third-round pick to acquire Young, while the Bears sent a second-round pick to the Commanders for Sweat. These teams will attempt to sign each player to a long-term contract in order to receive the full value of those draft picks. The Ravens’ current cap space is only $6.8 million, according to Spotrac, which limits their ability to sign free agents.
The team is probably considering its options for keeping hold of its own core players, such as Madibuike, veteran guard Kevin Zeitler, and linebacker Patrick Queen, who are nearing the end of their contracts.
DeCosta, Harbaugh, and the Ravens are placing their money on this team to keep getting better. It would be reasonable to wonder what might have been if that had not occurred.
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