Ravens Break Tradition on Trades — Will They Break it Again in the Draft?

The Ravens pulled out of a trade with the Raiders for All Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby that would have cost them two first round pick, a stark departure, at least in theory, for a franchise that has never traded a first-round pick for a payer before.

So now, with the 14th overall pick back in Baltimore’s possession, and with the Ravens signing top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson in the interval, rival executives are quite interested in what they do in this draft. 

Baltimore continues to have difficulty getting superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson signed to an extension, no team lost more talent in free agency than the Ravens, and they now have an offense devoid of athletic tight ends or a dependable outside receiver with any size (former first round pick Rashod Bateman has had one good season in his entire star-crossed career).

So what does that mean in the draft? 

If the Ravens were breaking tendency to make that trade for Crosby, might the Ravens also lean into another roster-building tactic that they have categorically shunned for years? Like moving up in the top round for one particular player?

“Do you think they go up and get the kid from Oregon (tight end Kenyon Sadiq)?” asked one general manager. 

“Lamar needs big downfield targets… If you are trying to get Lamar to do a long-term deal, and you have a bad offensive line, and one receiver (Zay Flowers), and there’s nothing left in free agency, what would you do?”

Trading for a veteran receiver like AJ Brown could be a possibility late in the spring, but the Ravens continue to whisper about how much faith they have that Bateman can bounce back. But trying to operate in the modern NFL without a size/speed tight end who can be deployed all over the field is tricky. 

New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, a total novice at 29 who has never called a single play, came from Chicago, where coach Ben Johnson inherited a tight end in Cole Kmet and the Bears still invested their top pick in Colston Loveland a year ago. 

Doyle is being sold as a Johnson product (he actually spent the bulk of his career under Sean Payton), and thinking he is going to devise and call an elite offense with the current group of play makers is a stretch.

As for sitting at 14th overall and thinking Sadiq is going to be available… “It’s too early to know, but I wouldn’t think so,” said another general manager. “He could go top 10.”

The Ravens are not accustomed to drafting this high, and expect rookie head coach Jesse Minter to be able to fix their broken defense as a proven elite defensive play caller. 

Assuming the same with Doyle would be foolish and the offense is devoid of talent as presently constructed. Baltimore could certainly lean into a receiver with its top pick, and Sadig is currently +750 to land with Baltimore (DraftKings).