Ravens could be primed to trade up for a wide receiver

The Ravens are ready to be aggressive in the 2020 NFL Draft. The team is strongly considering a move up the board to grab a wide receiver.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense steamrolled opposing defenses in 2019. The higher-ups in Baltimore are working to make the unit even more dangerous in 2020. Trading up for a wide receiver might be enough to transform the Ravens into Super Bowl favorites.

As it stands, the Ravens have the No. 28 overall selection in Round 1. That certainly won’t be good enough to secure the rights to Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb. It might also be too late to nab Henry Ruggs III or Justin Jefferson.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Ravens “could trade up” to grab one of the elite wide receiver prospects in this year’s class. It’s unclear who their target would be, but it’s safe to say that selecting any of the top four consensus prospects would be enough to keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

The overall strength of the Ravens roster gives them the flexibility to sacrifice draft capital to move up. It’s entirely possible that Baltimore could try to move all the way into the top 10 to grab the prospect of their choice. Teams like the Panthers at No. 7 and the Jaguars at No. 9 are certainly willing to move down if the price is right.

The challenge the Ravens might run into is that their own first round pick is too late in this draft to satisfy a team trying to rebuild.

That makes a move into the teens more likely. That’s the spot where either Ruggs or Jefferson should come off the board. Either would give Jackson another much-needed weapon in the throw game. Marquise Brown had an excellent rookie campaign, but Baltimore’s offense needs a target who can provide Jackson with a more consistent target.

That’s why the smart money should be on Jefferson to be the object of any move up the board the Ravens might make. He’s an excellent route runner with the versatility to line up on either the boundary or the slot at the next level. More importantly, he’s got the skill level to come in and provide Jackson with a security blanket right away.

Expect the Ravens to be active on draft night. Adding one of the top receivers in this class might be the difference in a good season and a special playoff run for Jackson and his teammates.