On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens snuck out a win against the Cleveland Browns to the tune of a 23-20 victory. It was far from a convincing victory, nor a dominant performance, like many of the Ravens recent contests. The team has played good football but could use reinforcements. While not as bad as in 2021, the Ravens are still dealing with injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Marcus Williams, and Michael Pierce, amongst others.
At 4-3, the Ravens are more than capable of making noise down the stretch and in the playoffs. However, here are some potential Ravens trade targets that could improve their playoff odds…
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Baltimore Ravens Top Targets for 2022 Trade Deadline
Wide Receiver D.J. Moore
The Carolina Panthers are currently seeing an exodus of their offense. Elite running back Christian McCaffrey was dealt to the San Francisco 49ers just days after the team traded Robbie Anderson to the Arizona Cardinals.
With the rumors not slowing down any time soon, the Panthers are reportedly looking to trade D.J. Moore away. The Ravens have struggled at wide receiver for a few seasons now. They struggled, even more, when Rashod Bateman was absent. While Bateman and Devin Duvernay have been sufficient this season, it is clear that a more experienced WR1 is needed. Moore is a perfect fit in the Ravens scheme as a versatile wide receiver, and he would offer more as a primary receiver than any of the current Ravens receivers.
It is rumored that the Panthers are unwilling to trade Moore, but how true that remains to be seen.
Another wide receiver that could be among the Ravens trade targets is Denzel Mims, who has been on the trade block for a few weeks now. The New York Jets is frustrated at his usage (or lack thereof) and would like an expanded role with a new team. At the Ravens, he would be among the top options at receiver.
Safety Jonathan Abram
The Las Vegas Raiders are currently fielding calls for some players and Jonathan Abram is believed to be among the star players who could be dealt.
Marcus Williams’ injury landed him on Baltimore’s injured reserve. This meant that the Ravens have been forced into relying on rookie Kyle Hamilton and Geno Stone as the safety tandem. While Stone is a serviceable starter, the Ravens could look to bring in Abram to fill in for now.
This trade would also provide the Ravens with more playmakers in the secondary. Outside of Hamilton, Marcus Peters, and Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens have struggled. At the very least, Abram adds another quality player to the secondary. Additionally, once Williams returns, Abram’s presence on the team would allow the Ravens to utilize Hamilton in a more versatile manner.
Running Back James Robinson
James Robinson would be a quality addition to the Ravens. The Jacksonville Jaguars are far from the playoff hunt and Robinson appears to have lost the starting job to Travis Etienne.
Robinson would be an ideal starter as the bell-cow running back for Baltimore. They managed a solid running game against the Browns but none of their backs have been consistent. Kenyan Drake had a breakout game against the New York Giants but followed it up with a dud. Dobbins was performing alright, but his injury rules him out for four to six weeks. As it stands, Gus Edwards is projected to be the primary back. He is primarily, however, a short-yardage situational player.
Robinson has had experience being the featured running back for the Jaguars, and he could do a job in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson has had a poor run of form of late, especially in the second half of games, and a strong running back could alleviate some pressure off him. It would also help the Ravens finish games better. Baltimore has struggled to finish their opponents off and a more consistent running game to maintain leads could be just what the team needs to have a more controlled game plan at the end of close games.
Many believe that Robinson has been largely misused and disrespected in Jacksonville. The former undrafted free agent has been effective for the Jaguars when relied on but has been shown to the bench on multiple occasions.
Cam Akers of the Los Angeles Rams could also be among the Ravens trade targets at running back, and he could serve a similar role as the one Robinson would provide. But Robinson would be a cheaper alternative given that Dobbins will return later in the season.
Main Photo: Embed from Getty Images
