The 5-2Ā Baltimore RavensĀ need to start thinking about the postseason before the Nov. 5 trade deadline as three other AFC contendersĀ recentlyĀ added star wide receivers.
Last week, theĀ New York JetsĀ traded for Davante Adams and theĀ Buffalo BillsĀ acquired Amari Cooper. On Thursday, the Chiefs finalized their trade with theĀ Tennessee TitansĀ for DeAndre Hopkins.
The Ravens’ offense has been explosive with the talent they already have on their roster, leading the league with the most touchdowns entering Week 8. Still, Baltimore’s memory of a 17-10 loss to the Chiefs at home in January’s AFC Championship should have their front office thinking about adding extra firepower for aĀ Super BowlĀ run.
QuarterbackĀ Lamar JacksonĀ has made efficient use of the pass catchers he has, throwing for 1,810 yards — fifth-most in theĀ NFLĀ — through the Ravens’ first seven games.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Second-year receiver Zay Flowers is a budding star in Baltimore, leading the team in receiving with 34 receptions for 412 yards and one touchdown. Rashod Bateman has 21 receptions for 394 yards and three touchdowns.
Behind that duo is a pair of tight ends, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, who have impressive stats entering Week 8.
Only two other Ravens wide receivers have caught a pass this season. Nelson Agholor has 134 yards on eight receptions. Tylan Wallace has two catches for 31 yards.
That situation is fine for a team that leads the league in rushing during the regular season. The Ravens are going to win enough games to earn a favorable seed in the AFC.
However, Baltimore needs to consider adding another legitimate option at wideout for when the team needs a formation with three wide receivers in the playoffs when contests tend to be tighter at the end and Jackson will be asked to engineer a game-winning score on a final drive.
Chris Licata with Athlon Sports came up withĀ 10 NFL tradesĀ that need to happen this season. Licata proposed that the Ravens should trade with theĀ Carolina PanthersĀ for veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen.
Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
The 1-6 Panthers aren’t going to be using Thielen for a postseason run in January. ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently suggested that Carolina will likelyĀ do the right thingĀ and set the 34-year-old free at the trade deadline so he can chase a ring. (The two-time Pro Bowler will carry a $8.4 million cap hit for the 2025 season.)
The All-Pro has eight receptions for 109 yards and one touchdown this season in the three games he’s played in 2024. (Thielen is working his way back from a hamstring injury and has missed the Panthers’ last four games.)
Thielen recorded 1,014 yards receiving for the 2023 season and has 645 receptions for 7,805 yards and 60 touchdowns in his 11-year NFL career.
Licata suggested the Ravens could send Carolina a 2025 sixth-round pick for Thielen.
Giving up a late Day 3 pick isn’t going to hurt Baltimore’s prospects for the future too much, but grabbing Thielen could help the Ravens get past a tough Kansas City or Buffalo defense in January and give Jackson his first opportunity to play in a Super Bowl.
