Making Moves: Potential Trade Targets for the Ravens Ahead of the Deadline

The NFL's 2024 regular season has reached its midpoint, with several teams reviewing their records and analyzing areas of their roster to improve their playoff chances and make a deep run. The Baltimore Ravens, who sit at 5-3 and in second place in the AFC North, are coming off a stunning road loss to division rivals, the Cleveland Browns, on Sunday afternoon. In his first start in nearly two years, Browns quarterback Jameis Winston had success against the Ravens. The Ravens have rebounded successfully from their poor start to the season, dropping their first two games before rattling off five straight wins prior to yesterday. However, there are still major areas of improvement the Ravens need to focus on in order to reach the Super Bowl for the first time with Lamar Jackson as the starting quarterback. As the NFL trade deadline approaches, now eight days away from the Nov. 5th, 4:00 p.m. EST cutoff, here are some potential trade targets that Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta should consider adding to the roster.

1. Jadeveon Clowney, Defensive End, Carolina Panthers

One of the most popular candidates the Ravens have already been linked to, and who makes a ton of sense, is Carolina Panthers veteran edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The three-time Pro Bowler signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Panthers this past offseason after a resurgent 2023 season with the Ravens, following a disappointing 2022 season with the Browns. Last season with the Ravens, Clowney, 31, had a career year, playing in all 17 games, tying his career high in sacks with 9.5, setting a new high in assisted tackles with 19, and recording 43 combined tackles and two forced fumbles. Clowney’s production didn’t let up in the postseason, as he added four combined tackles and a sack in the Ravens’ two playoff games last season.

Through eight weeks this season, the Ravens' pass defense has been their most blatant struggle under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr. While the Ravens' decision to re-sign fellow veteran edge rusher Kyle Van Noy, who leads the team in sacks with seven, has paid off, the rest of the pass rush has left much to be desired. The team has not generated consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks outside of Van Noy, resulting in the Ravens having the worst pass defense, a stark contrast to last season’s dominating unit under former coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the Seattle Seahawks head coach. If the Ravens want to make any meaningful noise in the postseason, adding Clowney to their roster would greatly help by providing another veteran voice on the defensive line and much-needed production up front.

2. Budda Baker, Safety, Arizona Cardinals

Another area of concern for the Ravens' defense is the safety position. The team entered this season hoping that 2023 Pro Bowler Kyle Hamilton would continue to showcase his versatility in the secondary, and that 28-year-old Marcus Williams would have a bounce-back year after dealing with injuries in his first two seasons in Baltimore following his lucrative five-year, $70 million contract in March 2022. While Hamilton has remained a reliable third-year starter, almost single-handedly winning the game against the Browns on Sunday with a strip-sack and a near-game-winning interception, Williams has been a severe liability through eight weeks. He currently ranks as one of the league’s worst safeties, which ultimately led head coach John Harbaugh to give veteran Eddie Jackson the start alongside Hamilton against the Browns.

A potential trade target the Ravens could pursue to strengthen their depth at safety is Arizona Cardinals six-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker. Since entering the league in 2017, Baker has been one of the NFL’s most reliable players, ranking third in solo tackles this season with 48, and has excelled as a run defender. However, if the Ravens were to trade for Baker, they would be relying on the 28-year-old to improve his performance against the pass, which is the Ravens’ biggest defensive issue. Any slight improvement over Marcus Williams, who hasn’t shown signs of regaining his form, could prompt general manager Eric DeCosta to consider pulling the trigger on a trade for Baker before the deadline.

3. Diontae Johnson, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers

While wide receiver isn't the Ravens' most pressing concern compared to the defense, adding depth at the position could be beneficial in case one of their more talented wideouts, like Zay Flowers, suffers an injury during the season. A potential trade target for the Ravens could be former Pittsburgh Steelers and current Panthers receiver Diontae Johnson. Johnson, who spent his first five seasons with the Steelers, has shown the potential to be a top target, as evidenced by his 1,161 receiving yards in 2021. This season in Carolina, Johnson has been the number-one target for both Bryce Young and veteran Andy Dalton, who have alternated at quarterback for the Panthers. While Johnson's 2024 stats may not be as impressive as those of other wide receivers, it's important to remember that he plays on a struggling offense that doesn’t generate many points and is part of a 1-7 team. If Johnson were traded to the Ravens, he would add another weapon to Lamar Jackson’s offense and could be a reliable target, especially considering the crucial drops by Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor on Sunday against the Browns, which could have changed the outcome of the game. 

4. Za’Darius Smith, Defensive End, Cleveland Browns

Lastly, another familiar face who could be a well-suited trade acquisition this season is former Ravens edge rusher and current Brown, Za'Darius Smith. In his 10th season, Smith has continued to be an impactful player, building an excellent NFL career after starting his first four seasons in Baltimore. In Sunday’s game against the Browns, Smith wreaked havoc on the Ravens' offensive line, applying consistent pressure on Lamar Jackson, recording a sack, four total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a QB hit. Despite being on a 2-6 Browns team that has struggled on both sides of the ball until recently, Smith remains a force on the defensive line and should attract Eric DeCosta's attention if the Browns decide to sell off pieces after their Week Nine game against the Los Angeles Chargers. A loss would almost eliminate their already slim playoff hopes. If trading for Clowney doesn’t work out, shifting focus to Smith would be a smart move for a Ravens' pass rush in need of added depth and production.