The Baltimore Ravens have had a weird season so far. Some weeks, they look like the best team in the league, but then they are unable to beat teams with losing records like the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns.
A week ago, the Ravens walked into Cleveland and could’ve got an easy win but missed chance after chance, and now they are sitting with a record of 5-3 second place in the AFC North, and they need to add some help at this Tuesday’s trade-deadline if they want to win the division.
Many different outlets are making many rumors and predictions about players that could be on the move this week, and NFL.com has the Ravens trading for a player they know a lot about.
Baltimore Ravens Trade For AFC North Rival
Kevin Patra from NFL.com published an article titled Player-team fits ahead of 2024 NFL trade deadline: Pass rush help for Lions? WR for Bucs? And has the Ravens trading for Cleveland Browns pass rusher Za’Darius Smith?
Patra has many great reasons why the Ravens should try to trade for the Cleveland Browns defender, and here are his thoughts.
The most surprising part of the Ravens’ loss to Cleveland on Sunday was all the time Jameis Winston had in the pocket to pick apart a banged-up Baltimore secondary. Zach Orr’s unit needs aid. The Ravens could trade for DB help, but getting more pass rush would be optimal. Kyle Van Noy has played well this season, generating a team-high seven sacks, but at 33 years old, he could use a few more breaks than he’s been allotted early this season. Adding another piece alongside Van Noy and Odafe Oweh would help buoy a Ravens defense that has struggled to get off the field in 2024.
Smith (who spent the first four seasons of his career in Baltimore) is one of several former Ravens who could potentially return to provide a boost, with Calais Campbell (currently in Miami) and Jadeveon Clowney (currently in Carolina) being others. Yes, this move would be an in-division trade between rivals, but even after Sunday’s upset, the 2-6 Browns should be in sell mode. The Ravens, meanwhile, should be heavily motivated to make the most of 2024; Tuesday’s addition of Diontae Johnson to the passing attack should not preclude them from shoring up this weakness. Smith is 32 but still has punch off the edge (he has five sacks so far this season), and his size against the run would help fortify a Ravens defense that can’t stop a nosebleed of late.
Smith spent his first four seasons in the league with the Ravens from 2015-2018 before heading to Green Bay, and now he could return home and help get pressure on opposing teams’ quarterbacks.
It will be interesting to see what players are traded at this week’s deadline and what players the Ravens add to their team.
