Eric DeCosta
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Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta "agonized" over the future of a versatile defensive back.
The 2025 season for the Baltimore Ravens has been nothing short of disastrous, especially given theSuper Bowl aspirations the team had coming into the season.
Injuries and underperformance have been the main plagues for the Ravens, who are off to a 1-5 start. After their bye week, the Ravens are looking to regroup and salvage their season, unfortunately, without their MVP starting quarterback, Lamar Jackson, whowon’t play this week.
However, even with all of these obstacles in theRavens’ way, current ESPN analyst and former New York Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaumdoesn’t believe the Ravens should be sellers at the trade deadline.
Tannebaum Thinks Ravens Will Stay Put
The Ravens are 1-5 and could be 1-6 when they face the 4-2 Chicago Bears without Lamar Jackson. Still, former general manager Tannenbaum feels like the Ravensshouldn’t have a fire sale at the trade deadline.
Tannenbaum, speaking to Jonas Shaffer of theBaltimore Banner, said the Ravens were unlikely to move any big-name players at the trade deadline.
“I thinkthere’s very few players thatwill actually be traded like a [Raiders defensive end] Maxx Crosby,”Tannenbaum said. “But ifyou’re eliminated, or it looks likeyou’re going tobe eliminated the way the Raiders are, you can get multiple picks for him, I thinkyou’ve got to consider it. I think typically, what you see in the NFL is a little more of the depth [acquisition] — the extra corner, the extra safety, things like that. To me, Idon’t thinkwe’ll see blockbuster trades.”
While Tannenbaum feels confident the Ravenswon’t trade one of their valued players, a loss to the Bears this Sunday changes theseason’s math and could prompt the Ravens to recalibrate that position.
Ravens Calling About Defensive Help
The Ravens will not go away quietly this season, and despite already being in a holeand fielding one of the worst defenses in the league, general manager Eric DeCosta has been calling around to try to obtain help on defense.
DeCosta has already traded linebacker Odafe Oweh to the Los Angeles Chargers for safety Alohi Gilman.
According to an October 18 report by NFL InsiderIan Rapoport, DeCosta is trying to plug the holes left by an injury-ravaged defense.
“The Ravens have been calling around the league for defensive help, which makes sense given GM EricDeCosta’s trade-happy ways and their laundry list of injuries.”
One of the players many teams hoped to be available, the Tennessee Titans’ Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, appears not to be someone the Titans are willing to part with, according to Rapoport.
“Opposing general managers and fan bases can fantasize about Simmons playing in theiruniform, however, the demoralizing effects from fire sales can break down teams that are already struggling on the field.”
Simmons is 28 years old and tied for the most sacks by a defensive tackle in the league with 4.5. However, Simmons will also be looking for a massive contract extension this offseason, which will limit the teams available as suitors.
TheRavens’ 2025 season could come down to their game against the Bears and determine whether they are buyers or sellers.