One of the most popular spots for draft day trade prognostications has been the Ravens’ spot. With their propensity to gather as many picks as possible, it’s certainly a plausible one. If either Carson Wentz or Jared Goff, the top two quarterback prospects, is still available, it would be enticing for a team like the Rams to jump up ahead of the other quarterback-needy teams to grab one of them.
The argument for the Rams focuses on whom the trade would best serve. Los Angeles certainly fits that criterion. Of the teams who don’t play in Denver, they are probably the one with the most desperate need for a new signal caller. Case Keenum is the best option on their roster.
To put that in perspective, Keenum wasn’t even good enough to compete for the starting job with Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett in Houston. The Texans traded him to the Rams before the 2015 season for a seventh round pick.
It’s clear that San Francisco doesn’t consider Colin Kaepernick their franchise quarterback. They’ve shopped him all offseason. They’ve made it clear that they’re ready for another quarterback to compete with Kaep for the starting job and eventually become their franchise guy.
Of all of the quarterback-needy teams besides Cleveland, the 49ers are in the best position in the draft. The Rams will need to get ahead of them, and the Ravens’ spot will be the least costly way to do so.
Still, LA will likely have to give up at least a 1st, 2nd, and 4th round pick to move to the Ravens’ spot. It would make for an enticing trade for Baltimore, certainly. The additional ammo will give the Ravens flexibility to move around in the draft, which Ozzie Newsome loves to do. But the Ravens are rarely afforded the opportunity to pick this high. When they have, they have almost always found a cornerstone of the franchise.
Will they want to eschew a chance at a player like that for a couple of extra day 2 and day 3 picks in a rather weak draft class? The Ravens will, at the very least, consider any other alternatives.
Enter the San Francisco 49ers.
The Ravens could work two divisional rivals against each other. Neither will want the other to grab the quarterback they both desire. The Ravens will use that, like the Vikings used Trent Richardson’s appeal back in 2011, to move back one spot and acquire another pick. The opportunity cost of moving back to the 15th pick is just too high, and the Ravens should just use any offer as leverage to force the 49ers give them an extra pick.
A trade with either the Rams or the 49ers is my most likely draft day scenario for the Ravens. In the end, the 49ers will win the trade lottery. They can give the Ravens both an extra pick and a chance to grab one of their top 5 defensive players.
It will be the best of both words for Baltimore, and they won’t pass up the opportunity.
