Baltimore Beatdown is all about Almost Ravens this week! In addition to our reader-driven bracket narrowing down the biggest near-acquisitions in team history, our staff will also be providing their opinions on their favorite moves the Ravens almost pulled off. Today, we’re focusing on trades:
This one is easy. Imagine a prime Cooper Kupp as Lamar Jackson’s WR1 from 2019 to 2021. He was one of the most complete receivers in the game and could have been the kind of do-it-all target Jackson has never
really had in his career. Does he still hit his receiving Triple Crown in Baltimore? Probably not, but Kupp was the kind of difference-maker that could have changed the outcome of a playoff game or two. – Nikhil Mehta
My favorite player the Ravens almost drafted is Puka Nacua. Nobody predicted Nacua would instantly become one of the league’s top wide receivers, evidenced by him falling to the fifth round, but he’s exceeded expectations in a major way. The Ravens selected CB Kyu Blu Kelly at No. 157 overall, 20 picks earlier then Nacua was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams. Blu Kelly went on to be released by the Ravens before Week 1. Nacua would have been a huge weapon for Lamar Jackson and an ideal fit alongside Zay Flowers as an elite possession-catch threat. Instead, the Ravens have struggled to get consistent production from their supporting wideouts over the last few seasons. – Frank Platko
I could do Jalen Ramsey here again, but I’m more upset that the Ravens never traded for Ramsey after the fact, considering they got Ronnie Stanley in the 2016 draft. The one I think about a lot is the 2010 draft and both Dez Bryant and Rob Gronkowski. It was also no secret that the Ravens coveted Dez Bryant in that draft, and probably would have taken him with their 25th overall pick but the Cowboys traded up to the 24th pick and nabbed him. Then, the Ravens nearly drafted Gronk…twice. Gronkowski recently told a story where he said the Ravens were going to pick him at #25 overall in 2010 draft, likely their top option once Bryant was taken. Instread of drafting Gronk once they were on the clock, the Broncos traded up with the Ravens to take that pick and draft Tim Tebow. Later, in the second round, the Ravens were prepared to take Gronk once again at #43 overall, probably thrilled that he had fallen so far after prepping to take him with the 25th pick. Instead, history will remember the Patriots swooping at 42, drafting the tight end, and the Patriot dynasty continued for another near-decade. You have to wonder what Joe Flacco and the Ravens could have accomplished with such a dominate tight end, a favorite position for Flacco to target. And maybe wonder what would have happened with the Tom Brady and Patriots without Gronk in New England. Instead the Ravens lost two high impact receiving threats that would go on to become legends in the game. – Zach Canter
I have to go with Rob Gronkoswki here. Possibly the greatest tight end in NFL history was so close to being a Baltimore Raven. Instead, Gronk’s name is forever etched in history as a key figure in the Patriots’ dynasty. While the Ravens certainly had quality tight ends over the years after failing to draft Gronk, you have to imagine just how much he could have helped Joe Flacco in the passing game as Baltimore struggled to field quality wide receiver corps following the 2012 Super Bowl. Not to mention Gronk’s dominance as a run blocker, which would have obviously fit in perfectly with the Ravens. – Dustin Cox
