Free agency has yet to even start, and the NFL world has been buzzing with news already. Fortunately for a team like the Baltimore Ravens, this is a positive.
The Ravens enter this free agency period with just over $10 million in cap space, at the moment, and some necessary holes to fill. That’s not a ton to work with, but things change in a hurry.
One of the bigger storylines since the Ravens’ playoff exit has been how quarterback Lamar Jackson has done so much of the heavy lifting. And, while Derrick Henry has certainly earned his keep, the offense still needs help.
The common theme, for a few years now, has been the lack of an alpha wide receiver at Jackson’s disposal. This week, though, we’ve seen some news that could impact the Ravens in that department.
On Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf officially requested a trade. This now brings up the Ravens as an immediate possibility.
The idea of giving Jackson a physically-giften specimen like Metcalf is a tantalizing thought.
What would it take for the Ravens to trade for DK Metcalf?
First of all, the latest report includes the notion that Metcalf wants a new deal around $30 million per year. For the Ravens to do that, they’d certainly need to do some shuffling with their current cap situation.
Aside from figuring out how to make the money work, Baltimore would have to potentially meet the asking price from Seattle which happens to be a first and a third-round pick.
That’s steep.
Maybe in the coming days, Seattle doesn’t see another team meet that price. If Baltimore came in by offering a second rounder, and was willing and able to work out a contract extension for Metcalf, then that would seem a bit more realistic for both sides.
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The likelihood of any team offering a first-round pick for Metcalf seems absurd (and adding in a third rounder, at that).
Even a team like the Kansas City Chiefs, who own the no. 31 pick in this year’s draft, might rather use that selection on the offensive line.
There could be a world where the Ravens offer Seattle pick no. 27 and their third-round pick (no. 91) in exchange for Metcalf and the Seahawks’ third rounder (no. 82). However, that seems like the furthest the Ravens should go. That way, at least, they only give up a first but are able to move up in the third round as well.