Pundit Says Ravens Should Be Buyers As Long As Lamar Jackson Is Healthy

With the Nov. 4 trade deadline less than three weeks away, speculation about buyers, sellers, and available players is heating up.

Typically, 1-5 teams are firmly in the “sellers” category. The Ravens, however, are not a typical 1-5 team.

The Ravens entered the season as Super Bowl favorites because they have an abundance of talent. While it’s true that Baltimore was not playing up to its standard (at least defensively) even before suffering a rash of injuries to key players, there’s no question that injuries have been a factor in the team’s rough start.

The good news is that the Ravens figure to be close to full strength coming out of this week’s bye. The best news is that Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is expected to return for the Week 8 contest against the Chicago Bears after missing the past two games.

The Athletic’s Mike Sando said Jackson’s health should be the deciding factor as to whether the Ravens should be buyers or sellers.

“If Lamar Jackson is playing, then I would still be in the mode of, ‘Let’s go. Are there a couple of these holes that we could possibly fill?'” Sando said on “Glenn Clark Radio.” “You usually don’t fix everything at the trade deadline. … I do think, though, sometimes just making a move if you feel like your team needs a jolt … do you make the type of move that people go, ‘Wow, we’re serious, we’re in this?’ I think as a GM, you have to be measuring your locker room that way.

“If you think [Jackson] is going to be OK, maybe you do send a message to your locker room: ‘Hey guys, we’re serious. Are you?'”

Ravens players and Head Coach John Harbaugh have made it clear that they are committed to overcoming the odds and making the playoffs.

“The Ravens are a fascinating team to watch ahead of the trade deadline,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote. “They’ve already been active. Last week they traded Odafe Oweh [to the Los Angeles Chargers] from an already thin pass-rush group to get safety Alohi Gilman. That’s an unconventional in-season move, but Baltimore is now 1-5 and desperate for any kind of answers in a season that had carried Super Bowl hopes.

“Will it go out and add more pass-rush help on the trade market? Are there players on the roster we might not assume are available (like Oweh) but could be if Baltimore determines it could solve a problem with another player-for-player deal? If the Ravens lose in Weeks 8 and 9 and are 1-7, could they be dealing players for picks at the deadline? These next few weeks are critical ones for the organization, which has another Lamar Jackson extension situation looming and could have big decisions to make if this season continues to get away from them.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named running back Keaton Mitchell as another player the Ravens might be willing to part with in a trade.

“He has game-changing speed but is the odd man out in the Ravens’ backfield,” Fowler wrote. “It’s worth noting that Chargers GM Joe Hortiz was with Baltimore when the team signed Mitchell as an undrafted free agent in 2023.”