The NFL trade deadline quickly approaches. All trades have to be completed by Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. ET, but we’re already starting to see players move around as teams get antsy.
The Baltimore Ravens have already made a few trades this year, dealing offensive linemen Alex Lewis and Jermaine Eluemunor this offseason. Last week they pulled off a trade with the Los Angeles Rams, sending linebacker Kenny Young and a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft in exchange for cornerback Marcus Peters.
There are three players the Ravens are most likely to get calls about and make sense to trade away. That’s not to say they are bad players or couldn’t help Baltimore this season, just that they’re players the Ravens could afford to part with.
We’ll kick off this list with the guy most likely to be traded:
CB Jimmy Smith:
Smith carries the largest cap hit on the team at $15.85 million. That alone makes him the ideal trade candidate. If Baltimore is looking to free up some cap space to make a move of their own, trading Smith would open up about $5.5 million immediately.
Smith has not offered much value to the Ravens this season. He played just six defensive snaps before suffering a sprained knee and missing the last six games. And with Baltimore trading for Peters to join Marlon Humphrey, the Ravens have their two starting outside cornerbacks already on the roster playing well.
Smith would arguably be worth more as a compensatory pick with the Ravens not likely to re-sign him this offseason. Given how valuable starting cornerbacks are, Smith could net Baltimore a fourth-round comp pick in the 2021 NFL draft. So if the Ravens were to put Smith on the trading block, it would almost assuredly be because they need the cap space for another deal.
TE Hayden Hurst:
Hurst didn’t have the best rookie season, dealing with a foot injury that required surgery. He came into his second season with a chip on his shoulder and has played well in limited snaps. But with Nick Boyle the primary blocker and Mark Andrews clearly ahead of Hurst as a receiver, Hurst is in a weird spot on Baltimore’s roster.
Hurst is a solid blocker and has shown good hands this season when given a chance, catching 14 passes. As a good all-around tight end that is buried on the depth chart, Hurst is undoubtedly going to draw some attention from teams as a trade candidate.
The Ravens haven’t given up on Hurst by any means, and as a first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, he has quite a bit of value to a Baltimore team that loves using tight ends. But if another team has a need and is willing to pony up a big pick in return, I can’t imagine the Ravens would automatically turn it down.
T James Hurst:
If we’ve learned anything this season, it’s that offensive linemen — tackles especially — are worth their weight in gold.
The Ravens re-signed Hurst last season, paying him starter money to play right tackle. Hurst was quickly supplanted by Orlando Brown Jr. last season and entered this year as a backup at both tackle and guard. Though Hurst isn’t starting right now, his versatility and experience in Baltimore make him a valuable member of the roster.
But with plenty of teams still desperately needing help on the offensive line, Hurst could be an attractive target at the trade deadline. The Ravens could also use the salary cap space trading Hurst would free up. If Hurst were to be traded right now, Baltimore would gain back roughly $2 million.
I think it’s unlikely Hurst gets traded, but if a team is willing to pay out the nose for a guy the Ravens aren’t starting, Baltimore would undoubtedly be willing to listen.
