Ravens Get an 'A' Grade for Dre'Mont Jones Trade
It was widely believed the Ravens were in the market for a pass rusher, and General Manager Eric DeCosta got one Monday by acquiring outside linebacker Dre'Mont Jones from the Tennessee Titans for a conditional fifth-round pick that could turn into a fourth-rounder, pending the passing of a physical.
The 28-year-old Jones, whose 4.5 sacks this season have all come in his past four games, has recorded at least 3.5 sacks in all seven of his seasons, with a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2020 and 2022 with the Denver Broncos. Jones has proven to be versatile, as he has experience playing inside.
This is the third trade the Ravens have made in the past four weeks, and it won't be a surprise if DeCosta makes additional moves before today's 4 p.m. deadline.
The consensus from pundits is that the Jones acquisition is a sound move for the Ravens.
CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo: "Grade: A. With 11 sacks in eight games, Baltimore desperately needed to bolster its pass rush. The Ravens not only got that with Jones, they also got a player who appears to be in the middle of a career year. The cherry on top of this deal is that the Ravens didn't have to give up one of their top picks in next year's draft to acquire him. The Eagles, for example, gave up a third-rounder to acquire former Dolphins pass rusher Jaelan Phillips, who hasn't played as well as Jones has during the season's first nine games. Baltimore got arguably a better player and gave up less trade capital to acquire him. Given their need for a pass rusher, it's hard to find many flaws in this trade from Baltimore's perspective."
Sports Illustrated’s Gilberto Manzano: "Grade: B. The Ravens rolled the dice last month by giving up depth on their defensive front with hopes of improving a secondary that struggled for the first six games of the season. And the decision to trade edge rusher Odafe Oweh to the Chargers in exchange for safety Alohi Gilman has paid off in a huge way. The Ravens had the flexibility to regain that depth on the defensive front thanks to the two moves they made before Monday's trade, gaining a fifth rounder from the Chargers and turning a seventh-round pick into a sixth rounder in the Jaire Alexander trade with the Eagles.
"Not only can Jones rush the passer, he's capable of playing on the inside, providing a similar skill set as Nnamdi Madubuike, who was lost for the season due to a neck injury. Jones, 28, has appeared in 99 career games with 61 starts since entering the league as a 2019 third-round pick…. It's wild how well Baltimore has recovered from its 1-5 start and GM Eric DeCosta deserves a ton of credit for making the necessary moves to give this talented team a fighting chance to make a playoff push."
The Athletic’s Jeff Howe: "Grade: B. Jones, now in his seventh season, has been a steady pass rusher throughout his career with the Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks and Titans. He has 35 sacks, though he's never registered more than 6.5 in a season. Jones could easily eclipse his career high if the Ravens figure it out defensively. But good for the Ravens, who will not sit idly by and are actually trying to make something happen."
The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer: "Grade: B. Jones is a versatile pass rusher with good plug-and-play experience. He will also give them some rotation help against the run."
ESPN’s Seth Walder: "Grade: B-. He has been a bit better than expected in Tennessee, racking up 4.5 sacks, up from 4.0 last season. That's even more impressive considering how often the Titans are behind, which reduces pass-rush opportunities. His pass rush win rate at edge has ticked up from 10.5% last season to 11.6% this season. … Ultimately, Baltimore needed to make a move and Jones fills the need. I'm just not sure if he moves the needle."
Baltimore Beatdown’s Nikhil Mehta: "This is a classic example of right player, right price. Jones is a known quantity off the edge with the size to flip inside for some pass-rushing situations. He has been a consistent player throughout his career against the pass and the run and immediately injects some much needed depth into Baltimore's outside linebacker room. A Day 3 pick is a good price for a solid veteran edge rusher, and it does not preclude Eric DeCosta from making another move before tomorrow's deadline. Jones may not be the kind of season-changing addition fans are hoping for, but he is a rock-solid defender who will absolutely help out a depleted defensive line."
What Is the Best Trade Ravens Ever Made?
With trade deadline day having arrived, Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox identified each team's best trade of all time. For the Ravens, the choice was a no-brainer, and it occurred during the draft, not at the deadline.
It was the 2018 trade with the Philadelphia Eagles that allowed the Ravens to jump back into the first round and select Lamar Jackson at No. 32 overall.
"Baltimore essentially dealt a pair of second-round picks — along with a fourth-round swap — to move back into the first round and secure Jackson," Knox wrote. "Doing so gave the Ravens a fifth-year contract option on one of the most unique players in NFL history.
"Since becoming the Ravens' starter as a rookie, Jackson has racked up more than 20,000 passing yards, more than 6,300 rushing yards, five playoff berths, four Pro Bowls and two league MVP awards. He's become one of the faces of the modern NFL, and the cost to get him was relatively minimal."
Sports Business Journal Says The Castle Might Be 'Best-Kept Secret in Sports'
Sports Business Journal publisher and executive editor Abraham Madkour visited the Ravens facility in Owings Mills last week and came away very impressed with The Castle, calling it possibly "the best-kept secret in sports."
"It's a remarkable headquarters and training facility, built in 2004 but having undergone multiple renovations over the years," Madkour wrote. "Set in the quiet, leafy suburb, it's one of the most elite team facilities I've ever seen, and another indication of the mindset of owner Steve Bisciotti, who is one of the most low-profile but also underrated owners in sports.
"Everything is state of the art, from the traditional practice fields, weight training and recovery spaces, to an elegant auditorium, extensive broadcast studios and grand stairways and hallways lined with paintings from games during the team's Super Bowl years. There is also a team dining hall that was buzzing on a Tuesday, as players, staff and guests eat for free."
Madkour added that the prominently displayed portrait of late owner Art Modell was "another classy touch in an incredibly classy facility."
