The Baltimore Ravens have pulled off a few trades this offseason, including sending Alex Lewis to the New York Jets and Jermaine Eluemunor to the New England Patriots. Since this is the final week before the Ravens’ 53-man roster has to be set, we could see Baltimore attempt to move some other players that might not make the cut.
Looking over the roster, there are five players who make the most sense to trade before the 53-man roster deadline.
OLB Tim Williams
The Ravens have given Williams two seasons to figure it out, and he hasn’t met expectations. Defensive line coach Joe Cullen talked this preseason about how the clock had already ticked on Williams, outright saying he had to produce this preseason. Yet, Williams still hasn’t done very much this preseason, notching just four tackles and half a sack in 86 defensive snaps.
The talent is clearly there and Williams has tons of potential, but Baltimore might just be done waiting for it to emerge consistently. However, pass rushers are perhaps the hottest commodity in the NFL, giving Williams quite a lot of value in any trade. If the Ravens are looking at potentially cutting Williams, getting even a late-round pick in exchange would be some return on their investment.
CB Maurice Canady
At one point, Canady looked to be the next Ravens steal. Selected in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft, Canady flashed over the summer as a rookie, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. But each of his three seasons has ended on injured reserve, and with tons of depth at cornerback, Baltimore just doesn’t seem to have a spot for him any longer.
Canady was a long shot to make the team this offseason but was given new life with the injury to Tavon Young. However, Canady’s poor showing against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third preseason game might have been the nail that finished his tenure with the Ravens.
With Baltimore well known around the league for drafting and developing talent at cornerback and teams desperately in need of starting-caliber guys in the secondary, the Ravens could find a trade partner that’s willing to give him more chances.
RB Kenneth Dixon
Dixon is a really good running back when healthy. The problem is that he just can’t stay healthy and with the depth Baltimore has, there isn’t really a role for him any longer. Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards should handle the heavy workload between the tackles, while rookie Justice Hill has shown serious speed and agility in the open field and tenacity when taking on defenders.
After he didn’t play in the third preseason game against the Eagles, it seems as though the book has been written for Dixon with the Ravens. But there’s still some value to be had for a player who could start on plenty of teams if he could stay healthy. There are two teams that make the most sense as a trade destination for Dixon this offseason.
WR Jaleel Scott
This offseason, the Ravens cut Jordan Lasley, the wide receiver drafted a round after Scott was last year. That should have Scott looking over his shoulder. With Seth Roberts performing well throughout training camp and Michael Floyd coming on strong last week in practice and against Philadelphia, Scott’s roster spot is far from guaranteed.
At 6 feet 6 and 209 pounds with a 4.56-second 40-yard dash, Scott offers tempting physical traits. But with so few roster spots open at wide receiver this year, Scott might be the odd man out. If Baltimore is going to cut him, they could look to trade him instead and recoup something from a team that sees the potential and believes they can develop him.
QB Trace McSorley
In my latest 53-man roster prediction, I have McSorley making the team. His performance against the Eagles was enough, in my mind, to ensure he’d get snagged off the waiver wire if Baltimore tried to sneak him to their practice squad. Coach John Harbaugh even said McSorley was in the team’s plans one way or another.
While some are taking that to mean he’s cemented himself on the Ravens’ 53-man roster, it doesn’t necessarily mean that. There are undoubtedly some teams that liked what they saw from McSorley and would be willing to part with a pick to get him. If Baltimore doesn’t have the room for him and they know he’ll get poached off the practice squad, they’d be wise to get something in exchange for him now.
