Welcome back to Loose Feathers, a regular round-up of the latest news and analysis of the Baltimore Ravens. In today’s edition, we cover trade rumors about the team’s running backs, the case for Eric DeCosta to sell at the deadline, and an assessment of first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, Let’s dive in:
Ravens RBs involved in trade rumors
Let’s be honest: the Ravens were never going to engage in a fire sale, especially not with some hope about the potential return of Lamar Jackson. Trade talk about players like Derrick Henry
is silly. But moving veterans on expiring contracts who may not be re-signed or net a valuable compensatory pick in the offseason could make sense.
Baltimore’s No. 2 running back, Justice Hill, fits that bill. He has been an effective third-down back and could be worth retaining on a cheap extension, but investing in two veteran running backs is the kind of resource allocation mistake DeCosta has to avoid moving forward.
Hill seems unlikely to net much, until you consider his rumored suitor: the Giants – John Harbaugh’s new team, aka Ravens North. He threw all sorts of money at his players in free agency and has demonstrated a hands-on approach to the deadline. Getting a friendly deal for a solid Day 3 pick from his longtime friend could have been a tidy piece of business for DeCosta, but the team’s win-now mindset will likely keep Hill in Baltimore.
Ravens Will Not Trade Derrick Henry; Giants Called About RB Justice Hill – Adam La Rose (Pro Football Rumors)
In the event a trade received consideration, the Giants and Patriots represented logical landing spots. Henry began his career under Mike Vrabel, who is now in New England. During the 2024 and ’25 campaigns, meanwhile, he played under John Harbaugh. Harbaugh’s Giants are known to be in the market for a running back addition, and Schefter reports the team called about Ravens backup Justice Hill.
Hill has spent his entire eight-year career in Baltimore, making him a highly familiar face for Harbaugh. The former fourth-rounder has carved out a role as Baltimore’s top pass-catching back over time, and his work in pass protection and on special teams add to his value. Hill is attached to a salary of $2.75MM in 2026 and is a pending free agent.
The case for Ravens selling at deadline
NFL Trade Deadline: Biggest needs for all 32 teams – Gordon McGuinness (Pro Football Focus)
The Ravens are trading for quarterback Jacoby Brissett from the Arizona Cardinals in an effort to save a season that has been derailed by injuries. That means they probably won’t be as active as sellers as they could have been before that trade. They could still look to move some players who won’t be around in 2027. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey has earned a 64.7 PFF coverage grade this season and is a candidate to be shipped out. His contract isn’t the most team-friendly for the acquiring team, but if the Ravens could get a late-round pick for him, this could make sense.
Declan Doyle tabbed as NFL top first-year coordinator
Drafting the first-year NFL coordinators: Who is making a real impact? – Jourdan Rodrigue and Ted Nguyen (The Athletic)
Pick 1
Ted selects: Declan Doyle, Baltimore Ravens OCThe 30-year-old fits the mold of the most in-demand coaches: a hot young play caller from a strong coaching tree. Doyle could be the first branch of the Ben Johnson tree, and you can see the shared DNA in his system with the Ravens. When Lamar Jackson was healthy, we saw a glimpse of how explosive this offense could be, as Doyle got Jackson to play under center more often. Production is hard when you’re down to your third-string QB — and the Ravens agreed to trade for Jacoby Brissett on Wednesday — but Doyle’s creativity and ability to put players in position to emphasize their obvious strengths, albeit in a short sample size. — Ted Nguyen
